Energy for a Secure Future

Discussion Paper · June 2026

When Our
Nation
Builds.

Local and national benefits of LNG Canada Phase I, the Coastal GasLink pipeline, and the upstream natural gas sector that supplies them.

Read the Walkthrough
Watch the short film · ~4 minutes.

75,700

Construction jobs across both projects

$23B

Projected government revenue, 40 years

60%

Below the global LNG emissions average

16

First Nations with a 10% equity option on CGL

Chapter 0 · The thesis

The story this report tells.

For most of our history, Canada’s energy has had one buyer. We sit on one of the largest natural gas resources on Earth — the Montney Basin holds more than 81 trillion cubic feet of proven reserves, over 170 years of supply — and yet, until 2025, every molecule of our exported gas went to a single customer: the United States.

When the U.S. became a net exporter of natural gas in 2017, Canada’s inability to export to global markets became more evident and more problematic. British Columbia — and Canada as a whole — was losing out on value for our resources and on opportunity for local communities, including Indigenous communities. With the cancellation of other projects in the region, public confidence in Canada’s ability to build anything big had eroded.

  1. 01 · The challenge

    Building these projects was not guaranteed.

    82 binding regulatory conditions. Oversight from 12 agencies. Five international investors to convince — Shell, Petronas, Mitsubishi, KOGAS, PetroChina — and a country that had watched other major projects in the region be cancelled.

  2. 02 · The turnaround

    Industry, First Nations, and governments forged a way forward.

    LNG Canada and its five joint-venture partners, and TC Energy with its Coastal GasLink pipeline, worked with local First Nations, local communities, the Province of British Columbia, and the federal government to forge a way forward. In 2018 B.C. introduced its Five Conditions framework — defined goals for jobs, fair return, First Nations partnership, environment, and community benefits — and the projects delivered on all five. The Haisla Nation co-developed applications alongside the LNG Canada team and negotiated ownership of 400 mcf/day of pipeline capacity — making Cedar LNG, in which the Nation is majority owner, possible. All 20 First Nations along the pipeline signed impact benefit agreements, and 16 First Nations secured a 10% equity option on Coastal GasLink.

  3. 03 · The result

    On June 30, 2025, the first cargo sailed.

    The first LNG cargo in Canadian history sailed from Kitimat to Korea. The two projects generated ~75,700 construction jobs, awarded $18.4B to Canadian businesses (including $4.9B with Indigenous and local firms), and are projected to deliver $23B in government revenue over 40 years. Corridor household incomes rose 34% (2015–2024); own-source revenues among participating Nations grew 159% in four years.

  4. 04 · What comes next

    The power of yes.

    The thesis of the report is the power of yes — when Canada chooses to build, with Indigenous Nations as partners, the gains are measurable and durable. With Cedar LNG under construction, and LNG Canada Phase 2 and Ksi Lisims LNG permitted with final investment decisions on the horizon, Canada needs to know — and celebrate — its story.

“Canada has what the world needs. With LNG Canada’s first shipment to Asia, Canada is exporting its energy to reliable partners, diversifying trade, and reducing global emissions — all in partnership with Indigenous Peoples. By turning aspiration into action, Canada can become the world’s leading energy superpower with the strongest economy in the G7.”
— Prime Minister Mark Carney, on the first LNG Canada cargo, June 30, 2025

The people behind the numbers

“75,700 jobs. 16 Nations. The power of yes.”

Coastal GasLink workforce at the right-of-way, 2023.

Mini documentary

Watch the story.

A short film on why this project — and the partnership behind it — matters for Canada.

Approximate runtime: ~4 minutes.

Eight takeaways

Key messages.

There are 8 key takeaways from this report:

  1. 01

    Canada’s first LNG cargo sailed June 30, 2025, making Canada a player in the global LNG market. Strong partnerships with First Nations were a key to the success of LNG Canada Phase I and the Coastal GasLink pipeline.

  2. 02

    Canada ranks among the world’s most environmentally responsible large-scale LNG. LNG Canada was designed to operate ~60% below the global emissions-intensity average — and every tonne of LNG Canada ships to Asia can displace or prevent growth of higher-emitting coal power.

  3. 03

    The “power of yes” is measurable. 75,700 construction jobs, $18.4B in Canadian business spending, and a projected $23B in government revenue over 40 years.

  4. 04

    New models for Indigenous partnership have been proven. Haisla Nation co-developed applications alongside the LNG Canada team and negotiated ownership of 400 mcf/day of pipeline capacity — making Cedar LNG, in which it is majority owner, possible. All 20 First Nations along the pipeline had impact benefit agreements, 16 First Nations secured a 10% equity option on CGL, and participating Nations’ own-source revenues grew 159% in four years.

  5. 05

    Communities along the corridor are catching up. After-tax incomes are up 34%; school completion is up 8 points (71→79%); the share of students learning about Indigenous Nations has doubled (21→41%).

  6. 06

    Cancellation has a human cost. Had LNG Canada and CGL not been built, corridor households are projected to be $19,000 poorer in annual income in 2031, 4,800 fewer households would have achieved affordability, and 3,800 fewer people are projected to have completed post-secondary credentials. The missed opportunity is greater when including the lost opportunities of LNG Canada Phase II, Cedar and Ksi Lisims LNG.

  7. 07

    The upstream sector is the engine — the source of the natural gas, the long-term driver of supply chain spending, and the generator of provincial royalties. Northeast B.C. natural gas contributed $5.5B in GDP and 81,100 jobs in 2024, generating $1.3B in annual royalties — more than forestry and mining combined.

  8. 08

    Phase I set the stage for more. The completion of LNG Canada Phase I and CGL opens the way for Cedar LNG, LNG Canada Phase II, and Ksi Lisims LNG. The effect of all projects being completed: $26,000 greater average household income by in 2031, 5,500 households more households reducing the share of their income spent on housing, and 6,630 people achieving post-secondary credentials.

Findings by part

Four parts. One story.

A walkthrough of what the paper documents.

Part 1

A National Energy Advantage.

The resource itself. The geography that gives Canada an edge. The regulatory floor every barrel had to clear.

The Montney Basin

~130,000 km²

The size of New Brunswick + Nova Scotia combined.

Proven recoverable

81 Tcf

Total potential

~400 Tcf

Over 170 years of supply at current production.

  • 10vs. 20

    Days to delivery, Kitimat → Sodegaura vs. U.S. Gulf Coast — with no Panama Canal exposure.

  • $11 billion

    At full B.C. LNG export potential, the Conference Board of Canada estimates the industry could support ~$11B in annual investment nationwide.

  • 100,000

    Canadian jobs estimated at full B.C. LNG export potential (Conference Board of Canada).

Download Part 1 Report

Part 2

B.C. LNG Delivering on the Five Conditions.

A scorecard against the framework B.C. set in 2018. The report grades all five — and the projects clear them.

  • 01

    Jobs & Training

    • 75,700 FTE jobs during the construction of both LNGC and CGL
    • $11.7M+ combined invested in workforce development
    • 1,317 individuals trained through LNGC’s Trades Training Fund
    • 300+ permanent operational roles created
  • 02

    Fair Return

    • $23B in projected government revenue over 40 years
    • $575M / year — the equivalent of 852 nurses’ salaries in B.C. over 40 years
    • $15M / year expected in LNGC municipal & regional taxes
    • $18.4B spent with Canadian businesses
    • $5.8B in B.C., $4.9B with Indigenous & local firms
  • 03

    Environment

    • 0.14–0.15 tCO₂/t LNG — 35% below best-in-class, 60% below the global average
    • Upstream methane intensity 0.12 kg/GJ — top quartile globally
    • 800 water crossings constructed; 750+ personnel certified in erosion and sediment control
    • CGL supported emergency response and suppression of 50+ wildfires in 2023
    • LNG Canada’s offsets program to protect critical habitat in the freshwater, marine and estuary environments.
  • 04

    Community Benefits

    • Corridor after-tax household income +34% (2015–2024, $78.9K → $105.5K)
    • Registered nurses per 100K from 609 to 727
    • High school completion 71% → 79%
    • $3.57M contributed to housing-focused programs
    • $1.25M Kitimat hospital CT scanner · $1.5M Kitimat organics facility · $350K Kitimat Dementia Care Project
  • 05

    First Nations

    • 16 Nations secured a 10% equity option on CGL
    • Haisla Nation ownership of 400 mcf/d of pipeline capacity — leading to the 51% Haisla-owned Cedar LNG project
    • 159% growth in own-source revenues (2019–2023)
    • By 2023, own-source revenue averaged 36% of annual operating budgets for participating Nations
    • Increased revenues coincide with improved Social Index scores in corridor communities — from 62.4 to 66.4 (2021 Census data)

    “When Industry and First Nations work together, there can be many models for shared benefit — and that supports project success.”

Download Part 2 Report

Part 3

Social progress to 2031.

The analysis compares three scenarios: the region with no LNG Canada or CGL; the effect of LNG Canada Phase I and CGL; the combined effect of all projects — adding in LNG Canada Phase II, Cedar LNG, and Ksi Lisims LNG.

Corridor household income, 2031 projection

Projects cancelled

$133K

LNGC + CGL

$152K

All projects

$159K

A $19,000 annual lift per household with LNG Canada and CGL, rising to $26,000 with all projects completed — equivalent to 1.5 to two years of groceries. Prior to construction, corridor household income tracked slightly below the B.C. average ($92K → $103K vs. $90K → $109K).

  • +4,800

    Additional households projected to achieve housing affordability (under 30% of income on housing) by 2031 with LNG Canada and CGL — increasing to 5,500 households with all projects.

  • 51% → 56%

    Post-secondary attainment by 2031 with LNG Canada and CGL, rising to 59% with all projects — a total potential uplift of 6,630 additional residents holding a trade, vocational, or university credential.

  • +215

    Additional residents gaining knowledge of an Indigenous language by 2031 with the completion of all projects.

Grounded in census data and counterfactual analysis aligned with OECD, Canadian Community Well-Being, and UN Human Development frameworks.

Download Part 3 Report

Part 4

The upstream engine.

Northeast B.C. natural gas isn’t the back story. It’s the engine — and it’s already producing more.

Annual royalties to B.C.

  • Northeast B.C. natural gas

    $1.3B

  • B.C. Hydro

    $712M

  • ICBC

    $700M

  • Forestry

    $521M

  • Mining

    $320M

More than forestry and mining combined.

  • $5.5B

    In GDP contribution from upstream in 2024 — plus $1.4B spent annually on B.C. supply chains supporting 1,600+ companies, including $162M with ~85 Indigenous-affiliated businesses.

  • 81,100

    Direct, indirect & induced jobs supported.

  • −24%

    Upstream emissions since 2014 — while B.C. natural gas production rose +61%, a 53% drop in emissions intensity. Methane emissions alone are down 51%.

  • 7.5 → 12

    Bcf/d of B.C. gas production forecast by 2030. Accessing Asian pricing (JKM) could improve average pricing by as much as $10 USD per Mcf vs. the AECO hub.

Download Part 4 Report

What this report tells us

Seven priorities.

The report sheds light on the multi-layered national and local benefits of completing major LNG projects in Canada and supporting global energy security. Seven priorities follow.

  1. 01

    Support LNG Canada Phase II and Ksi Lisims LNG.

    Cedar LNG is under construction. LNG Canada Phase 2 and Ksi Lisims LNG are permitted and working toward their respective final investment decisions. Share the benefits of the first phase, and showcase that these projects are connected to pipeline and upstream natural gas production — all are critical, and all deliver concrete benefits for Canada as a whole and for British Columbia. We cannot afford to miss out on the value these projects can create.

  2. 02

    Showcase the success that comes through strong Indigenous–industry relationships.

    LNG Canada, CGL, and the upstream natural gas sector have shown Canada and the world that when industry and First Nations work together, there can be many models for shared benefit — and that this supports project success. Resources for capacity building and economic participation, including federal and provincial loan guarantee programs, can accelerate success.

  3. 03

    Tell the environmental story honestly and confidently.

    Canadian LNG is the most environmentally responsible large-scale LNG in the world, and Canadian upstream methane intensity is in the top quartile globally. Every tonne of LNG Canada ships can displace ~7 tonnes of overseas emissions. These benefits are affirmed by LNG customers, who are increasingly seeking to work with Canada.

  4. 04

    Protect the upstream engine in Northeast B.C.

    The 81,100 jobs, $1.3B in royalties, and $1.4B in supply chain spending all depend on a functional regulatory environment for drilling and continued access to the Montney resource. Investors want to work in these areas and create more opportunities — we need to give them confidence that we want the same things.

  5. 05

    Projects happen in a place — and those places can benefit.

    Housing pressure, medical facilities, infrastructure capacity, and childcare shortages in Kitimat and along the corridor are real. Projects working with communities can deliver real community benefit and create the economic underpinning of lasting social improvements. Major projects aren’t just about national GDP or global trade, they are about communities and new possibilities being created locally.

  6. 06

    B.C. LNG is Canadian LNG.

    The report documents 50+ Canadian product categories — Quebec iron, Ontario steel, Alberta fabrication — an LNG value chain that grows with the growth of projects. This is where the LNG story becomes a national industrial story.

  7. 07

    Equip British Columbians and all Canadians.

    When the process for the next pipeline, port, mine, or critical-minerals project becomes challenging, we should point to the way CGL and LNG Canada were built and say: it is worth it to make big things happen.

Get the full paper

Download When Our Nation Builds.

The complete discussion paper, with full chapter findings, sourcing notes, and appendices.

  • PDF · ~7.4 MB
  • ~96 pages
  • June 2026

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