Our newsletter, 24 September 2026
Canada’s next LNG advantage: Indigenous partnership
David Keane, former president of the BC LNG Alliance and of Woodfibre LNG, and a special advisor to our Alliance, says it could become one of Canada’s greatest competitive advantages.
“Increasingly, First Nations are looking beyond simply receiving benefits from projects developed within or near their traditional territories. They are seeking meaningful participation in the economic opportunities those projects create, through ownership, equity investment, procurement, employment, training, and long-term business development.
“And we are increasingly seeing projects where First Nations are not simply bystanders. They are partners, proponents, and owners. That distinction matters.”
And he concludes: “Canada can demonstrate a model of major-project development in which Indigenous peoples participate not simply as communities affected by development, but as owners, partners, and beneficiaries of the economic opportunity these projects create.
“If we get that right, Indigenous partnership will not simply be an important feature of Canadian LNG. It could become one of Canada’s greatest competitive advantages.”
- Read more: https://bit.ly/46FnhPL
LNG, net zero, and the power to get there
BC’s original policy for new LNG plants was clear: They must produce net-zero emissions by 2030.
But here was no way that BC Hydro could provide enough clean power to run a new string of such “clean” LNG facilities. And so, in 2025, the policy was rewritten: LNG proponents now need only to provide “a credible plan” to be “net-zero ready” by 2030.
Energy Minister Adrian Dix says the new requirement for LNG proposals simply means having an LNG terminal “ready” to be powered by grid electricity — if BC Hydro can provide enough electricity.
Which it couldn’t then and can’t now.
But there’s some light on the horizon, now that preliminary construction work has begun on Phase 1 of the North Coast Transmission Line (NCTL) and its expansion of BC Hydro power from Prince George to Terrace. (Map above)
The new line, says the BC government, “will meet surging clean electricity demands from regional mining, ports, liquefied natural gas (LNG), and industrial electrification.”
- Read more: https://bit.ly/3VpUYlL
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:
- Atlantic Canada’s offshore wind ambitions mean benefits for First Nations. Included is the Henvey Inlet project, Canada’s largest Indigenous wind-partnership: https://bit.ly/3VfjUwc
- FifteenFirst Nations-led energy projects get $3.2 million in funding from Ontario’s Independent Electricity System Operator,: https://bit.ly/4yNGUAP
- The Lower Nicola Indian Band and Capstone Infrastructure rename their wind project in BC ‘Winds of Syex̣t’: https://bit.ly/47fV3Ls
- Two First Nations parter in 200-megawatt wind farm proposed for northern New Brunswick: https://bit.ly/3SZ1Y8y
- Public meeting set for wind farm planned by two First Nations in Ontario: https://bit.ly/4yKR1Gy
- Indigenous-led energy: Putting community leadership and consent first: https://bit.ly/4hlnqN6
ALSO in the NEWS
- Abu Dhabi’s XRG investment arm explores a stake in LNG Canada: https://bit.ly/4Amz56R
- Natural gas led the way as investment in oil and gas production in BC nearly tripled, to almost $6 billion, between 2015 and 2025: https://bit.ly/3Ttrums
- Kitimat Mayor Phil Germuth, long a supporter of responsible LNG development, receives the Community Achievement Award from Resource Works: https://bit.ly/4gY8cyH
- New Brunswick put a hold on natural gas development in 2014, and now has opened a review of whether that still makes sense: https://bit.ly/3TrB8WG
- The Ksi Lisims LNG project in BC signs an initial agreement to supply Australia’s Santos with 1 million tonnes a year of LNG for 20 years. https://bit.ly/4xuULv4
- Indigenous-led Kino Aski LNG and Ukraine’s Naftogaz Group (explore partnership to supply Europe with Canadian LNG: https://bit.ly/4xrzNgl See also: https://bit.ly/4gSHXcM
EVENTS
- Sept 28: Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and Ontario Premier Doug Ford speak on energy, at Enserva event, Calgary: https://bit.ly/4cDMT2S
- 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. 29: Greater Vancouver Board of trade, discussion with Frances Donald, RBC’s chief economist: https://bit.ly/4xRPvTc
- 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 . 2: Greater Vancouver Board of Trade: Indigenous Consultation & Engagement training, Level One: https://bit.ly/4iXOdkN
- 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. 7: BC Hydro webinar: how Power Smart 2.0 is making it easier to reduce operating costs and improve energy performance: https://bit.ly/4xwrqAn
- Oct. 14-16: BC Assembly of First Nations, annual general meeting, Vancouver: https://bit.ly/4Abug01
- 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. 22: Greater Vancouver Board of Trade Business Distinction Awards event, Vancouver: https://bit.ly/3Tos84z
- Oct. 23: Resource Works event: Energy, mines & progress: from coast to coast to coast, Toronto: https://bit.ly/46Tgcef A private lunch will be held with Energy Minister Tim Hodgson and others: https://bit.ly/4hnt56p
- 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/3ViBLT1
- Oct. 28-29: Vancouver International Security Summit: https://bit.ly/4hwy70V. Our CEO Karen Ogen is a speaker.
- Nov. 13: Greater Vancouver Board of Trade, Energy and Natural Resources Forum, Vancouver: https://bit.ly/4yFDi47
- 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/4vcSF25
- Feb. 1-4, Assembly of First Nations’ National Natural Resources Forum, Montreal: https://bit.ly/4r5VGQZ
- 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
- July 6-8: Assembly of First Nations’ annual general assembly, Edmonton. Details TBA.
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(Posted here 27 September 2026)
