Our newsletter, 13 August 2026
Indigenous equity in infrastructure
Governments in Canada have dramatically expanded help for Indigenous communities seeking ownership stakes in major project developments.
Among the programs, the federal Indigenous Loan Guarantee Program has grown from $5 billion to $10 billion. The Canada Infrastructure Bank’s Indigenous investment target has tripled to $3 billion.
And for project developers, the message is clear: Indigenous equity partnerships are no longer optional or aspirational — they are increasingly imperative for major infrastructure projects in Canada.
Thanks to law firm Dentons in Canada, part of Dentons global, for a look at the seven principal government programs and initiatives facilitating Indigenous equity ownership in Canadian infrastructure — and for identifying key themes for clients considering Indigenous equity partnerships.
- Read it here: https://bit.ly/4z8TiMV
And another law firm, Fasken, carried Part 3 of a series: Indigenous Partnerships and Investment: Indigenous support is critical to energy, infrastructure and resource project success in Canada: https://bit.ly/4xnirBP
Read also our Alliance CEO, Karen Ogen, on how Canadian LNG is indeed Indigenous LNG.
“First Nations have been on the vanguard of energy development and have shown an eagerness to share their territories and grow the economy, for everyone. . . .
“By our estimate, at least 60 First Nations have an agreement or ownership interest in natural gas. It’s historic and it’s happening, with consent.”
- Read more: https://bit.ly/4wOhsL3
Alliance affiliates in the news
Our Alliance has six affiliate members, five of whom have been in the news lately:
- FortisBC’s plans for Tilbury Island LNG expansion (picture above) are expected to cost close to $6 billion. ‘Our next step is to advance the engineering design of the project.’ https://bit.ly/4bwuqVn, https://bit.ly/4hkdGEt and https://t.co/M5TyZYT3bz
- The expansion means more LNG marine fuel, and lower emissions from ships, on the Pacific Coast. This from Barry Penner of the Energy Futures Institute at https://bit.ly/4w28fO1
- TC Energy issued its latest report on sustainability, including news on reducing methane emissions intensity, and on advancing Indigenous partnerships. Read it here: https://bit.ly/4q0pAWr
- Enbridge surveyors are out in communities across BC conducting annual maintenance inspections of the natural-gas distribution system: https://bit.ly/3RHcjFf
- And LNG Action reported that Enbridge’s Sunrise natural-gas pipeline expansion project is creating over 1,300 construction jobs in northern BC: https://bit.ly/3RUcDRm
- Tourmaline Oil, and Clean Energy Fuels Corp. have opened compressed natural gas (CNG) refuelling stations, for trucks, in BC and Alberta: https://bit.ly/3TJ82Ss (Tourmaline is Canada’s largest natural-gas producer.)
- LNG Canada is regularly in the news, most recently for sponsoring Healthy Kids Day at Kitimat on Aug. 9: https://bit.ly/4pINi9u
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:
- Little Black Bear First Nation in Saskatchewan opens electric-vehicle charging station: https://bit.ly/3TGERj3 (Photo above)
- Ontario puts up $25 million to support Indigenous-led electrical-power initiatives: https://bit.ly/3RqY8UW
- The Williams Treaties First Nations, with government support, will put $700 million into the Darlington New Nuclear Project in Ontario: https://bit.ly/4xrLp3F
- Feds set $1.13 million for Bingwi Neyaashi Anishnaabek Nation in Ontario for a biomass heating system: https://bit.ly/4z0yNly
- Champagne and Aishihik First Nations to work with Yukon government and Yukon Energy toward a new water licence for the Aishihik hydro facility: https://bit.ly/4waB6jp
ALSO IN THE NEWS
• Middle East buyers are interested in LNG from Canada, says Pacific Energy, 70% partner in Woodfibre LNG: https://bit.ly/4q9szfi
• BC Hydro is buying Island Generation at Campbell River, a natural gas-fired plant, ‘to support periods of peak electricity demand.’ https://bit.ly/4hcsOnh
• PRGT pipeline names Surerus Pipeline of BC as a joint-venture builder for the 750-km line to feed natural gas to Ksi Lisims LNG: https://bit.ly/4wRrMln
• Commentary: Natural gas is ‘flying under the radar,’ but big growth is coming: https://bit.ly/4fsHHR6
• Construction of the REEF terminal at Prince Rupert (to export propane and more) now is some 85% complete, and commercial operations will begin in early 2027: https://bit.ly/4g326fF
• The Cedar Link pipeline will deliver natural gas to Haisla Nation’s Cedar LNG, the world’s first Indigenous majority-owned LNG project. https://bit.ly/4yVo5wL
EVENTS
• Aug. 26: Macdonald-Laurier Institute webinar: Can Canada grow again? https://bit.ly/4xleZYn
• Sept. 14: Get it Done BC event from Resource Works, Vancouver: https://bit.ly/4g5BgEb
• Sept. 14: Nominations close for Business in Vancouver’s 2026 BC Export Awards: https://bit.ly/3S4MeA7
• 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 Alliance CEO Karen Ogen co-chairs this event.
• 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. 19-21, Electricity Transformation Canada conference, Toronto: https://bit.ly/4g1G51w
• Oct. 20-22: Tenth annual Nation2Nation Forum, Kitimat: https://bit.ly/4nvUogl
• Oct. 26-29: Canadian Gas Association, CGA Energy Week, Toronto: https://bit.ly/4vs7f5J
• Nov. 17-19: Marine Renewables Canada Conference, Ottawa: https://bit.ly/4ezd2Bj
2027 EVENTS
• Jan. 19-21, 24th annual BC Natural Resources Forum, Prince George: https://bit.ly/4vcSF25
• April 12-14, Canada Gas and LNG conference, Vancouver: https://bit.ly/4hIupkQ
(Posted here 16 August 2026)
