Our newsletter: 29 August 2024
LNG and First Nations in the news
News media have been buzzing with stories and headlines about Canadian LNG, and the role of First Nations in its development.
Geoff Russ, for example, wrote in National Post: “B.C.’s transformation into a major player in oil and gas has been a triumph. . . . Liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities are springing up along B.C.’s coastline, driving technological innovation and unprecedented reconciliation with First Nations.”
Meanwhile, reporter Nelson Bennett took a look in Business in Vancouver at the Ksi Lisims LNG project proposed by the Nisga’a, with Rockies LNG and Western LNG as partners. And at the planned PRGT pipeline that, with some re-routing, will feed natural gas to Ksi Lisims.
The story quoted Rebecca Scott, senior manager of communications for Nisga’a partner Western LNG, as saying benefits agreements signed with First Nations along the original PRGT pipeline route will be honoured and refreshed.
She said nations will also be offered the opportunity to take equity positions in the pipeline. This will include First Nations whose core territory now will be bypassed because of a reconfigured pipeline route.
And the story quoted Karen Ogen, CEO of our First Nations LNG Alliance, as saying First Nations communities that signed benefits agreements with Coastal GasLink (CGL) — including her own Wetʼsuwetʼen Nation — are seeing economic benefits flow from the CGL pipeline.
- Geoff Russ in National Post: https://ow.ly/mkUP50SZhq4
- Nelson Bennett in Business in Vancouver: https://ow.ly/EB2A50SZBl7
- Karen Ogen in The Toronto Star: https://ow.ly/1zIJ50SZGVp
- Our blog: https://ow.ly/xhbC50T62SQ
More industries slap new greenwashing law
LNG and oil/gas companies are not the only ones criticizing Ottawa’s new law that requires them to “prove” claims about the climate benefits of their products and programs.
Now industries from automotive to mining to manufacturing are raising alarm over the anti-greenwashing rules of Bill C-59, warning that they limit companies’ ability to promote environmental achievements and could even hinder access to capital.
Dennis Darby, CEO of the Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters Association, called the changes “quite heavy-handed” and said his member companies worry about possible legal challenges for any environmental claims they make on emissions-reducing technologies.
- Story from The Logic: https://ow.ly/e6kP50T63ey
- Our Alliance view: https://ow.ly/tjrQ50T63ex
- Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers: https://ow.ly/VZio50T7q82
- Enbridge: https://ow.ly/pZ6Z50T7tWS
(Note: The Logic will ask you to enter your email address to read its story. That will give you access but will be followed by invitations to sign up for services and programs.)
Senate appointment under fire
First Nations chiefs in Manitoba calling for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to rescind the appointment of veteran broadcaster Charles Adler to the Senate.
The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs says Adler’s past comments toward Indigenous Peoples are “grossly offensive” and perpetuate stereotypes.
Grand Chief Cathy Merrick: “The appointment of Charles Adler to the Senate is a grave insult to all First Nations in Manitoba and across Canada. His history of racist and derogatory remarks against First Nations people should disqualify him.”
Acting Grand Chief Angela Levasseur of Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak (northern Manitoba chiefs) said Adler must be removed for “vile” and “racist” remarks.
At issue are remarks Adler made on his Adler OnLine show on Radio CJOB in Winnipeg, following a 1999 First Nations protest at the Manitoba Legislature.
Adler complained Indigenous people “want a free ride through life, often get a ride that’s free, and then complain when the ride isn’t rich enough.”
Adler depicted First Nations members as uncivilized “boneheads” who “haven’t got a clue” but “might get you a bullet” when criticized.
“Get a job,” he added.
- Story in Western Standard: https://ow.ly/mqGl50T62HK
Indigenous clean-energy news
- Malahat Nation and Energy Plug Technologies break ground on Vancouver Island for “Canada’s first Indigenous-led Gigafactory” — to make energy battery storage systems: https://ow.ly/fYBw50T9mYC (Graphic above)
- See also: https://ow.ly/6QOJ50T9n1X
- Hesquiaht Nation in BC celebrates run-of-river hydro, solar system at Hot Springs Cove: https://ow.ly/koEv50SYsNg
- Kitselas Nation and City of Terrace to work towards a BC plant to produce hydrogen: https://ow.ly/Wgnm50SYGmA
- Qalipu First Nation from Newfoundland signs agreement with a trade school in the Netherlands to train band members on green energy: https://ow.ly/iKAO50T62tc
- Tobique First Nation in New Brunswick to partner in hydrogen development: https://ow.ly/95xg50SYGIm
- Wind farm led by Cowessess First Nation in Saskatchewan is s close to completion: https://ow.ly/1aL650T8H7g
- The First Nations Power Authority invites initial supplier qualifications related to a proposed solar facility in south-central Saskatchewan: https://ow.ly/5XRA50SYVz0 “We strongly encourage all First Nations, Métis, and Inuit communities across Canada to participate in this competition.” (SaskPower will buy the power: https://ow.ly/MuoI50SYVyZ)
- Manitoba Hydro board makes 1,000km trip for meeting with northern First Nations leaders: https://ow.ly/K2ff50T62AA
- Indigenous communities make clean-energy drive work for them: https://ow.ly/F2Tl50T8G3E
ALSO IN THE NEWS
- Construction has begun on the PRGT natural-gas pipeline, which will feed the Nisga’a Nation’s Ksi Lisims LNG project in BC: https://ow.ly/zUIf50T9nuE
- Cedar LNG shortens its pipeline route through Kitimat, to reduce its footprint and lessen environmental risks: https://ow.ly/V18L50T5oXg
- TC Energy is to spend $1.2 billion to connect the Coastal GasLink pipeline to the Haisla Nation’s Cedar LNG project: https://ow.ly/tgK250T38si
- HaiSea Marine’s green tug fleet is prepared for the first Canadian LNG exports from LNG Canada: https://ow.ly/trcO50T61Tq
- Poll: Half of BC residents believe BC should expand natural-gas production: https://ow.ly/PpUz50T61qy
- Canada has chance to boost LNG production from 3.3 billion cubic metres to 55.1 billion by 2039: https://ow.ly/SssY50T5ZQr
- Alliance advisor Robert Dennis Sr. (Emchayiik) wins the Award of Distinction for Lifetime Achievement from the BC Achievement Foundation: https://ow.ly/zAfF50T0Hgz
LINKED IN
- Our Alliance LinkedIn page climbed to a milestone 20,000 followers on August 8, and now has 20,248. Check out our page: https://ow.ly/G1jh50T89uH
EVENTS
- Forward Summit East, Sept. 25-26, Orillia ON: https://ow.ly/i65h50QnWYR
- Carbon Capture Canada expo, Sept. 10-12, Edmonton: https://ow.ly/sOyJ50SBqxz
- Assembly of First Nations climate gathering, Oct. 7-10, Calgary: https://ow.ly/eLRB50T2gKb
- Nation2Nation’s 8th annual forum, Oct. 8-10, Terrace BC: https://ow.ly/omzI50RAgBT
- Canadian Gas Association’s Energy Nexus and Technical Conference, Oct. 8-10, Toronto: https://ow.ly/HrKx50SbcZx
- Forward Summit West Coast, Oct. 22-23, Vancouver: https://ow.ly/4UQe50R3CY2
- Indigenous Clean Energy’s 2024 ICE Gathering, Nov. 27-29, Toronto: Registration to open in mid-August. https://ow.ly/E32W50SREmg
- First Nations Energy Summit, Dec. 2-3, Vancouver. Details TBA
2025
- 22nd Annual BC Natural Resources Forum, Jan. 14-16, Prince George: https://ow.ly/V5ii50SX2Uo (Sponsorship opportunities available: https://ow.ly/rLsi50SX2vX)
- Nation2Nation Women’s Gathering, April 24 -25, Kitimat BC: https://ow.ly/A8yo50SYpkv
- National Aboriginal Capital Corporations Association, Indigenous Prosperity Forum, May 6-8, Gatineau PQ. Details TBA.
- Ninth Indigenous Resource Opportunities Conference, June 18-20, Nanaimo BC: https://ow.ly/m1rW50SHvIp
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