Newsletter: Karen Ogen on the air, Tilbury LNG grows, and more . . .

Our newsletter, 05 November 2026

Karen Ogen on the air

In an interview with guest host Jason D’Souza on CBC’s On The Coast radio show, Alliance CEO Karen Ogen looked ahead to LNG development under B.C.’s new Conservative government, which talks of tripling LNG output and expanding LNG exports:

Among her points:

• “I think it’s ambitious, but I think we’re up for the challenge. LNG Canada is already doubling in size, and more projects are lined up, so the growth is coming.”
• “With more major projects coming, I think that comes with equity, equity ownership (by First Nations), and in order to get equity ownership, we need to get access to capital, which means we’ll be looking at the loan guarantees as well. So those would need to increase as production increases.”
• “I think it’s a long time coming because when we look about 12-15 years ago, there were 20 projects in the queue, and then it went down to a handful. Now we’re . . . on a trajectory where we want to be able to bring more gas to Asia and potentially Europe.”
• Listen to the interview: https://bit.ly/47L3Vcq

Earlier, Karen spoke at the Vancouver International Security Summit, sharing how First Nations are moving from benefit agreements to ownership and a stronger voice in our energy future.

“As a former Chief, I know what it means to manage poverty. We want opportunities to build prosperity, support our communities and create good careers for our young people. Early partnerships, access to capital and trades training in the North are essential.”

From the left: Todd Stone (CEO of the Association for Mineral Exploration), Karen Ogen, moderator Heather Exner-Pirot (a senior fellow of the Macdonald-Laurier Institute) and Susanna Zagar (CEO, Canadian Gas Association) at the Vancouver International Security Summit.

Tilbury LNG grows, with First Nation

In our latest blog, we looked at FortisBC’s planned Phase 2 expansion of its Tilbury LNG plant in Delta.

Says Fortis BC: “We are proud to partner with the Musqueam Indian Band on this project that will benefit the region for decades to come.” FortisBC says it includes options for Musqueam to acquire equity ownership.

And the B.C. government said: “The expansion also represents an opportunity to . . . advance economic reconciliation through First Nations ownership opportunities.”

• Read more: https://bit.ly/4iPb55w

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:

• Indigenous-led power and wind projects win awards from the Canadian Renewable Energy Association: https://bit.ly/4yR6HYw
• Eagle Lake First Nation in Ontario partners with a French company to build a battery storage plant. It will store electricity from Ontario’s power grid during periods of lower demand and release it to the grid when demand peaks: https://bit.ly/4idPqnw
• Developers of a $700-million wind farm in Ontario share environmental plans and economic benefits. The Fort William First Nation and Red Rock Indian Band are partners in it: https://bit.ly/4yQgazm
• Wasauksing First Nation members in Ontario hold a community open house about Hydro One’s proposed 300-km Sudbury-Barrie transmission-line project. Hydro One offers an option to invest and become up to 50% owners of the line: https://bit.ly/4ioIfaL
• Indigenous-led energy: Can nuclear power meet the Seven Generations principle? https://bit.ly/4zVwTCc

Also in the news

• Coastal GasLink pipeline deal gives five First Nations in B.C. an equity stake. “This is what economic reconciliation looks like,” said Karen Ogen, CEO of the First Nations Natural Gas Alliance: https://bit.ly/3U6DYAX
• How Woodfibre LNG is projected to generate over $11 billion in government revenue — $6.9 billion in provincial revenue, $4.2 billion in federal corporate and personal income taxes, and $485 million in municipal taxes: https://bit.ly/4yR3aJM See also: https://bit.ly/3UtsXK5
• Canadian pension funds and U.S. company Blackstone invest US$3.1billion in stake in LNG Canada stake: https://bit.ly/3WpZQrA
  • Japan’s Kyushu Electric Power signs up for 12 cargoes of LNG year, for 15 years, from Phase 2 expansion of LNG Canada: https://bit.ly/4ip21D2
• Canada and the European Union launch the Canada-EU Alliance for the Future. “This will include a joint long-term feasibility study on Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) exports to Europe.’ https://bit.ly/4ipNmaL
• Phase 2 of the Coastal GasLink pipeline means opportunities for Indigenous communities, workers and businesses. ‘And will prioritize employment, contracting and procurement opportunities for communities along the 670-kilometre route.’ https://bit.ly/4BtMbzU

EVENTS

• Nov, 8-14: Canada China Business Council missions to China: Alliance CEO Karen Ogen will attend. https://bit.ly/3Uzj6m0
• Nov. 13: Greater Vancouver Board of Trade, Energy and Natural Resources Forum, Vancouver: https://bit.ly/4yFDi47
• Nov 13: Lunch with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith as speaker, Calgary: https://bit.ly/4fb5dkS From the Canadian Association of Energy Contractors and the Explorers and Producers Association of Canada
• Nov. 17-19: Marine Renewables Canada Conference, Ottawa: https://bit.ly/4ezd2Bj
• Nov. 18-19: Assembly of First Nations, National First Nations Homelessness and Mental Wellness Forum, Toronto: https://bit.ly/3W4CUy8
• Nov. 25: Free webinar on natural gas in Atlantic Canada: https://bit.ly/4isgnmd
• Nov. 27: Greater Vancouver Board of Trade and Indigenous Corporate Training Inc., online Indigenous Consultation & Engagement: Level 2: https://bit.ly/4rOJzYN
• Nov. 30-Dec. 1: Clean Energy BC’s First Nations Energy Summit, Vancouver: https://bit.ly/4xMQfciDec. 8-10: Assembly of First Nations, Special Chiefs Assembly, Ottawa: https://ow.ly/fg9E50ZWkhA

2027 EVENTS

• Jan. 12-14: National Coalition of Chiefs’ energy and natural resource summit, Calgary: https://bit.ly/4A5UHnb
• Jan. 13-14: Future Fuels Forum, Prince George: https://bit.ly/4iCD1IG
• Jan. 19-21: BC Natural Resources Forum, Prince George: https://bit.ly/4vcSF25 •See also: https://bit.ly/4sT9cIz
• Jan. 22: Greater Vancouver Board of Trade’s 38th annual Economic Outlook Forum, Vancouver: https://bit.ly/47atuTS
• Jan. 22-24: Indigenous Skills and Employment Training (ISET) National Gathering, Ottawa: https://bit.ly/4BABThu Karen Ogen will attend.
• Feb. 1-4: Assembly of First Nations’ National Natural Resources Forum, Montreal: https://bit.ly/4r5VGQZ
• Feb. 10-11: Assembly of First Nations Education Forum, Halifax: https://ow.ly/Rc4j50ZYCjz
• April 11-13: First Nations Major Projects Coalition conference, Toronto: https://bit.ly/3TkH57K (Early-bird pricing, available through Dec. 31: https://bit.ly/4iCjnfL)
• 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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