Our newsletter, 10 September 2026
Trades training = thousands of jobs. But there are challenges
The BC government is talking of nearly 100,000 job openings across 100 trades in BC over the next decade. And it has promised to add 5,000 trades training seats in every region of BC in 2026-27.
It declares: “There’s never been a better time to get into the trades.”
But for young people the cost of trades training and certification can be a challenge: Depending on where they live, they could be in for hefty expenses for travel, accommodation and food while they take courses away from home.
We look at how the Prince George Nechako Aboriginal Employment and Training Association (PGNAETA) tackles such challenges. It’s a non-profit society serving a region that encompasses 17 First Nations Territories.
“We’ve had some wonderful successes,” says PGNAETA executive director Karin Hunt. “Right now we are boasting some 10 First Nations women who now are Red Seal electricians.”
- Read more, about PGNAETA and other programs: https://bit.ly/4xeD1ns
More power for northern BC
Construction has finally begun on BC Hydro’s North Coast Transmission Line, running from near Prince George to the Terrace region.
The 500-kilovolt line will more than double available power, meaning more electricity for industry — including the planned Ksi Lisims LNG project involving the Nisga’a Nation — and for mining and other projects. And it means more reliable power service for a string of communities.
It also means more for First Nations communities. BC Hydro says 14 Nations are involved, with BC Hydro offering participating Nations the chance to become 50/50 equity partners in the transmission infrastructure. The government expects to conclude agreements by the end of this year.
The first shovels now are in the ground for Phase One, a 165-kilometre stretch from Prince George to near Fraser Lake. Phase 2 is to break ground in 2027. Phase 3 awaits funding and scheduling.
Both Ottawa and the B.C. government estimate the project will create close to 10,000 direct, full-time jobs once operational, as well as 1,400 jobs at peak construction.
- More, from Resource Works: https://bit.ly/4rgSulP
Our natural gas in the news
From Canada’s TC Energy: “Energy demand is accelerating. ‘The conversation is no longer whether energy demand is growing. It’s how we’ll meet it.”
It sees growth in demand of some 51 billion cubic feet of natural gas, per day, by 2035. At last count, in 2025, demand for Canada’s gas was around 14.5 billion cubic feet per day.
TC Energy (an affiliate partner of our Alliance) sees the soaring demand being driven by power generation, the power needs of AI data centres, LNG exports and industrial growth.
“Importantly, nearly 70 per cent of this demand growth is concentrated in the U.S. heartland, Alberta, and Mexico,” said CEO François Poirier.
- Read more: https://bit.ly/4690WcY
- From Heather Exner-Pirot of the Macdonald-Laurier Institute: Alberta has a surplus of natural gas. Data centres offer an incredible opportunity to gain value from it: https://bit.ly/46qpi1R
- Shell completes its $16.5-billion acquisition of ARC Resources in the giant Montney natural-gas play: https://bit.ly/4xvxbPr
- Westcoast Energy (Enbridge) seeks a federal OK for the Birch Grove program to increase capacity of its T-North natural-gas pipeline system in BC: https://bit.ly/4y9ZnHu More info: https://bit.ly/4yjltHU
- The BC Environmental Assessment Office completes its assessment of the proposed Tilbury LNG Phase 2 expansion project: https://bit.ly/4gp2llE
- From Resource Works: BC faces a power crunch that only natural-gas power may address: https://bit.ly/3TbMEoX
- And: Natural gas and liquids are moving from promise to steel, contracts and export cargoes. A potential boom is taking shape: https://bit.ly/4y56lgX
Indigenous Clean Energy
While our Alliance focuses on natural gas and LNG, especially when First Nations are involved, we also support, and keep an eye on, Indigenous clean energy:
- Ontario’s new rules for hydro-electric power development give projects with Indigenous ownership a powerful competitive advantage: https://bit.ly/4qZo9Ik
- Two First Nations in New Brunswick explore nuclear power project: https://bit.ly/4qTsFIf See also: https://bit.ly/4iKQGPs
- Deninu Kue First Nation in NT pulls support for the Taltson hydro expansion project, saying the Nation has been sidelined: https://bit.ly/3UzySwU
EVENTS
- Sept. 14: Get it Done BC event from Resource Works, Vancouver: https://bit.ly/4g5BgEb Alliance CEO Karen Ogen is on a panel.
- Sept. 14: Nominations close for Business in Vancouver’s 2026 BC Export Awards: https://bit.ly/3S4MeA7
- Sept. 14-15: The first Canada Investment Summit, in Toronto, where Ottawa will make its case for $1 trillion in new investment into energy and more: https://bit.ly/4wY3y8m
- Sept. 21-23. Energy Storage Canada conference, Toronto: https://bit.ly/4eCvDuZ
- Sept. 21-25, International Pipeline Conference and Expo, Calgary: https://ow.ly/NmxS50Y5Kag
- Sept. 22-23: Canadian Institute forum on Indigenous energy ownership and governance, Edmonton: https://bit.ly/3QXGKqs Our Karen Ogen co-chairs this event, and will be a panellist.
- Sept. 24: Webinar on Truth & Reconciliation, with author and journalist Waubgeshig Rice: https://bit.ly/4x8x1N7
- Sept. 25: Greater Vancouver Board of Trade’s annual Indigenous Opportunities Forum,Vancouver: https://bit.ly/3SnEBof
- Sept. 28: Nominations close for Business in Vancouver’s 2026 Influential Women in Business Awards: https://bit.ly/4gp7WIu
- Sept 29: Fraser Institute Atlantic Dinner, Halifax: https://bit.ly/4gPDyI1
- Sept. 30: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (formerly known as Orange Shirt Day), a holiday in some regions: https://bit.ly/4q8ZlNg
- Oct. 2: Resource Works event: ‘Look West. Now Look Closer.’ Calgary: https://bit.ly/4zWcIFf
- Oct. 5-8: Assembly of First Nations’ National Climate Gathering, Hamilton ON: https://bit.ly/4i8w839
- Oct 6: Indigenous Trailblazers fundraising gala, Enoch AB: https://bit.ly/45zy4ug Crystal Smith, Alliance strategic advisor on external relations will attend.
- Oct. 15-16, First Nations Leading the Way Conference, Vancouver: https://bit.ly/4qegLrU
- Oct. 19-21, Electricity Transformation Canada conference, Toronto: https://bit.ly/4g1G51w
- Oct. 20-22: Nation2Nation Forum, Kitimat: https://bit.ly/4nvUogl
- Oct. 26-28: World Indigenous Business Forum, Winnipeg: https://bit.ly/4wYCir7
- Oct. 26-29: Canadian Gas Association, CGA Energy Week, Toronto: https://bit.ly/4vs7f5J
- Oct. 28-29: Vancouver International Security Summit: https://bit.ly/4hwy70V. Our CEO Karen Ogen is a speaker.
- Nov. 17-19: Marine Renewables Canada Conference, Ottawa: https://bit.ly/4ezd2Bj
- Nov. 30-Dec. 1: Clean Energy BC’s First Nations Energy Summit, Vancouver: https://bit.ly/4xMQfci
- Dec. 2-4 (new date, changed from Oct. 20-22): National Coalition of Chiefs’ energy and natural resource summit, Calgary: https://bit.ly/4qSEVZo
2027 EVENTS
- Jan. 19-21, BC Natural Resources Forum, Prince George: https://bit.ly/46b6EuW
- Feb. 1-4, Assembly of First Nations’ National Natural Resources Forum, Montreal. Details TBA.
- April 11-13: First Nations Major Projects Coalition conference, Toronto: https://bit.ly/3TkH57K
- April 12-14, Canada Gas and LNG conference, Vancouver: https://bit.ly/4hIupkQ
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(Posted here 12 September 2026)
