Canada has LNG for the world
Ellis Ross, BC Liberal MLA, former elected chief councillor of the Haisla Nation, and long a champion of LNG exports, was interviewed by BNN Bloomberg in Ottawa.
Key comments:
- “In BC, back in 2004, it was actually First Nations that first brought the idea of exporting LNG to places all around the world. . . . At that time, we were lobbying the federal government at that time, the provincial government, and anybody else who would listen to us and said energy is needed around the world, and First Nations, we’re the ones behind driving this need to get our energy products around the world, to Europe, Asia, and India.
- “And it seems to me, I’m right back where I started, in Ottawa, to come talk to the same people. But now, I’m talking to, hopefully going to talk to, more European representatives. Not only to come to BC and talk to First Nations leaders, but also encourage the idea of First Nations leaders going to Europe, to go see for ourselves, exactly what they’re going through.”
- “Partly why I’m here is because I now understand that government officials are now willing to look at economically viable LNG projects in relation to what’s happening in Europe. Well, we’ve got a number of economically viable projects including Nisga’a LNG, we’ve got Woodfibre LNG out of Squamish, we’ve got Cedar LNG coming out of Haisla. (And LNG Canada, which he mentioned earlier.) If Canada is now willing to look at the viable projects, we’ve got a number of them in BC waiting and if they can streamline that partnership with the BC government, I think we can actually help with LNG supply around the world.”
Ross met Conservative Party and German officials in Ottawa. He wasn’t able to meet with Liberal government representatives, but they suggested a future meeting, possibly in Vancouver.
- Watch his interview: http://ow.ly/9GsR50LhBQM
Time for real federal action on LNG
Our latest blog noted an outpouring from federal ministers of doublespeak, fuzzwords, and mediaspeak on the fate of exports of Canadian LNG.
The latest example was when Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland joined the bafflegab brigade, saying Canada will look at supporting more LNG terminals — as long as they are “economically viable” and as long as they can be proven to be displacing coal-fired power generation.
But she never explained what “economically viable” means. Nor did she explain how exporters would have to “prove” (to Ottawa’s satisfaction) that their LNG displaced coal?
And that’s just one example of the bafflegab.
We spoke more clearly: “We need clear answers. . . .
“As the Business Council of BC says: ‘The saga of LNG amounts to a truly epic Canadian policy and political failure. . . . a significant lost economic and environmental opportunity for B.C. and Canada.’
“And lost opportunities for First Nations, too.
“We are on the brink of a recession here, Canada needs some strong new revenue streams for our endangered economy, and opportunity for Indigenous peoples.
“It’s long beyond time for Ottawa to make a genuine plan for LNG exports — and deliver on it.”
- Read the full blog here: http://ow.ly/hSj450LgNHU
ALSO IN THE NEWS
- BC says Haisla Nation’s Cedar LNG ‘would not have significant adverse effects on GHG emissions,’ and ‘could have a positive impact on GHG emissions globally.’ Pages 385-398 at http://ow.ly/vep650Lj4px
- Haisla and Nisga’a LNG developers sign MOU with Halfway River First Nation: http://ow.ly/jqha50Lcrto
- LNG Canada’s opportunities for First Nations include new contracts: http://ow.ly/aiNE50Lh41Z
- And LNG Canada means a new look for Kitimat’s skyline: http://ow.ly/onHe50Lg0IA
- Six to plead guilty to criminal contempt after blockades against CoastalGasLink http://ow.ly/NhOq50LknkT
DATES
- Nation2Nation has set new dates for its Prince Rupert community session: Nov. 8 and 9 at the Highliner Hotel and Conference Centre. You can register here: https://events.eply.com/Nation2Nation
- Registration is open for the 20th annual BC Natural Resources Forum, Jan. 17-19 at Prince George: http://ow.ly/rKKq50KPCLz
- The seventh Indigenous Resource Opportunities Conference is scheduled for Feb. 28-March 1: https://www.bciroc.ca/
- The First Nation’s Major Projects Coalition has set its 2023 Values Driven Economy Conference for April 24-25 in Vancouver. Early-bird discount ends Dec. 15. Register here: http://ow.ly/aKUX50KKKnh
- The Canada Gas and LNG Exhibition and Conference runs May 9-11, 2023, in Vancouver: http://ow.ly/YxcZ50LjFM1
- The Forward Summit’s 2023 event is set for May 17-18, at the Grey Eagle Resort & Casino near Calgary. Registration: http://ow.ly/Q8ZV50K7FYb (Note that there’s an Indigenous discount.)
- The Global Energy Show is set for Calgary June 13-15, 2023. Info: http://ow.ly/UvTL50LjFlM
- The Carbon Capture Canada convention comes to Edmonton, Sept. 19-21, 2023; http://ow.ly/UBnw50LjFu0
- And the International Gas Research Conference will be held in Banff AB in May 2024. Our Karen Ogen-Toews is on the national organizing committee. Conference website: https://igrc2024.org/
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(Posted here 30 October 2022)
