Indigenous leaders urge Carney to raise LNG at G7 summit

National Post

28-05-2025

OTTAWA — A group of Indigenous leaders are calling on Prime Minister Mark Carney to showcase the game-changing potential of Canadian liquified natural gas (LNG) at the upcoming G7 leaders' summit in Kananaskis, Alta.
Article content
Article content
'(W)e would ask (you) to have a clear and positive message about the global energy security and emissions reduction role of LNG at the (summit) and in the communique to follow,' reads an open letter to Carney signed by the heads of five pro-development Indigenous organizations, all based in Western Canada.
Article content
Article content
The letter stressed that building out Canada's LNG export capacity will be critical to raising living standards in Indigenous communities.
Article content
'For our Nations, (LNG) represents freedom from boil-water advisories and from the energy poverty experienced in many of our communities,' read the letter.
Article content
Indigenous Resource Network head John Desjarlais, who helped write the letter, says it reflects a growing desire among Indigenous Canadians to be involved with major projects that will shape their future.
Article content
'(I)ndigenous people are starting to stand up and say we are very interested in advancing reconciliation and self-determination through economic development. And involvement in resource development is one of the greatest drivers of facilitating that self-determination,' said Desjarlais.
The letter also said that the mid-June summit will give Carney a 'crucial' opportunity to reverse predecessor Justin Trudeau's pessimistic tone on Canadian LNG exports.
Article content
'(W)e look to you to strike a balance with your peers that better integrates shared goals around energy security, economic growth and environmental protection,' reads the letter.
Article content
Trudeau was widely criticized in 2022 when he said there wasn't a 'business case' for shipping Canadian LNG to Western Europe, despite the urging from fellow G7 leader Olaf Scholz that Canada play a 'major role' in Germany's efforts to break its dependence on Russian natural gas.
Article content
Canada failed to substantially grow its LNG exports under Trudeau, while exports took off in peer nations like Australia and the United States.
Article content
A recent study by the Fraser Institute found that doubling Canadian LNG production and exporting to Asia could reduce global carbon emissions by up to 630 million tonnes, equivalent to 89 per cent of Canada's total emissions.