Our newsletter of 20 July 2023
The Alliance scored a quick hit with our new website at https://indigenouslng.ca/, with its message: “Canadian LNG is Indigenous. Indigenous values are powering Canada’s low-carbon LNG opportunity.”
The content also appeared as a full-page national ad in The Globe and Mail. And we had an electronic billboard sign (pictured above) at Canada Place, and national online ads in addition.
The new website, timed to coincide with the world LNG2023 conference in Vancouver, quickly recorded more than 1,600 pageviews, and the online ads reached almost 1.43 million people.
On social media, the campaign reached almost 250,000 people, and generated more than 1,660 audience engagements and reactions.
As well, LNG Canada shared the campaign with its more than 34,000 followers on Facebook and its 13,600 fans on Twitter.
Also on Twitter, Coastal GasLink shared with almost 3,600 followers the video about the HaiSea Wamis, the world’s first fully electric tugboat — a First Nations star of the LNG2023 conference in Vancouver July 10-13. The video also featured our Alliance chair, Crystal Smith of the Haisla Nation and Cedar LNG; President Eva Clayton of the Nisga’a Nation and Ksi Lisims LNG, and our Alliance CEO, Karen Ogen.
Cedar LNG also hosted an event on the tugboat.
Our thanks to those who helped make the special campaign happen: Coastal GasLink, TC Energy, Ksi Lisims LNG, LNG Canada, FortisBC, and Seaspan. And the web wizards and communicators at Kirk and Co. in Vancouver.
(At the same time, we had heavy traffic to our regular social-media posts during the week of the LNG2023 conference. We posted 114 items, compared with 64 during an average week.)
Feds endorse LNG development
Few in the liquefied natural gas sector will forget Prime Minister Trudeau’s off-the-cuff declaration in 2022 that there has “never been a strong business case” for LNG exports from Canada’s East Coast to Europe.
Or forget his push instead for hydrogen, and his suggestion that we could perhaps best help European allies by shipping our natural gas to the U.S., so that the Americans could liquefy it, and sell their LNG to Europe.
Now we have what sounded like stronger federal support for LNG exports:
Randy Boissonnault, Canada’s tourism minister and associate minister of finance (photo above) said in a keynote address to the LNG2023 conference in Vancouver that “the development of an at-scale LNG economy is a strategic priority for Canada.”
He added: “The world’s major economies are moving at an unprecedented rate and pace to fight climate change, retool their economies and build the net-zero industries of tomorrow.
“Canada must keep pace because we cannot afford to fall behind – that is why the development of an at-scale LNG economy is a strategic priority for Canada. . . .
““The fact is, we are facing a changing climate, and to use a very Canadian statement, we must skate to where the puck is going. In this context, Canada is well positioned to be a stable and reliable global supplier of choice.
“We . . . have the ability to produce LNG with the world’s highest environmental standards and lowest emissions.”
But federal environment minister Steven Guilbeault promptly called for the world to agree to “phase out unabated fossil fuels”, and said he expects that Canada’s oil and gas sector will reduce production by 50% to 75% by 2050.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe hit back, with Moe declaring: “The Trudeau government doesn’t want to just reduce emissions in our energy sector, they want to completely shut down our energy sector.”
Alberta’s Smith went further: “Alberta will not recognize any federally imposed emission-reduction targets for our energy and electricity sectors under any circumstances unless such targets are first consented to by the Government of Alberta.”
Smith also declared: “I think we’re finally seeing some movement on LNG. . . . The world simply cannot decarbonize without more LNG. . . . There is a business case for LNG.”
And she also disclosed that Alberta has begun talks with B.C. on expanding the reach of Canadian natural gas in the global market.
Indigenous clean-energy news
- B.C. says new call for electrical power will be designed with input from First Nations, and will include requirements for Indigenous participation: https://ow.ly/KecG50Pe3EQ
- Feds put $160 million into nine Alberta solar projects with Indigenous partners: http://bit.ly/44k2OwQ
- New wind turbines set for Kwanlin Dün First Nation project, to feed power to Yukon: https://ow.ly/5Zv150P7zlp
- Two Ontario nations get isotope revenue from Canada’s largest nuclear plant: https://ow.ly/EuJr50P4Glt
- Ontario pumped storage project, proposed by TC Energy with prospective partner Saugeen Ojibway Nation, moving to final evaluation: https://ow.ly/TZUb50P80kK
- Indigenous communities are involved in hundreds of large renewable energy projects and thousands of small ones: https://ow.ly/cKPG50P7IqU
- Ontario pushes clean energy, with “participation and leadership from Indigenous communities and partners.” https://ow.ly/HK2n50Pcoht
- Sagkeeng First Nation youths in Manitoba building solar-powered greenhouse: https://ow.ly/rp2i50Pcojk
- The First Nations Major Projects Coalition says small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs) offer ‘a very unique opportunity’ for remote Indigenous communities: https://ow.ly/7FRx50PconT
- Assembly of First Nations calls for funding from all levels of government to implement climate strategies: https://ow.ly/sp0v50PftZq
ALSO IN THE NEWS
- Last pre-fabricated module for LNG Canada project arrives from China: https://ow.ly/TU8Q50Pfmk9
- LNG Canada and its partners look to be on track to begin commercial exports at some point in 2025: https://ow.ly/HICF50Pa67M
- Ksi Lisims LNG has its ‘process order’ from the BC Environmental Assessment Office, and so can ‘complete a full application for an environmental assessment certificate.’ https://ow.ly/Rkel50PbCA6
- Indigenous low-carbon LNG initiatives were showcased at LNG2023 conference in Vancouver: https://ow.ly/X6Sw50Pc1xs
- LNG could keep BC’s economy firing for years to come. But Canada has been slow to get projects vetted, financed and under constructions: https://ow.ly/9Wcs50Pc1Ui
- Canada has the LNG the world wants, ‘but we need to do a much better job of getting it . . . to the countries that desperately need it.’ — former BC Premier Christy Clark: https://ow.ly/mwUY50P968L
- ‘In Canada, the LNG industry continues to see growing support and participation from Indigenous communities.’ Page 18 of Global Voice of Gas: https://ow.ly/YgSl50Pa8IA
DATES
July
- The sixth annual national Indigenous Clean Energy Forum, July 28, Vancouver. Info/register: http://ow.ly/CvbA50NteNK
September
- Carbon Capture Canada, Sept. 12-14, Edmonton: http://ow.ly/3iBP50LRo0R
- Renowned energy expert Vaclav Smil on what will it take to reach net-zero emissions targets, Sept. 25, Vancouver, hosted by Resource Works. Tickets here
October
- Nation2Nation’s 7th annual forum in Terrace BC, Oct. 17-19: https://nation2nation.ca
2024
- The 21st annual BC Natural Resources Forum, Prince George BC, Jan. 16-18: https://bcnaturalresourcesforum.com
- The International Gas Research Conference, May 13-16. Our Alliance CEO, Karen Ogen, is on the national organizing committee. Conference website: https://igrc2024.org/
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