Indigenous leaders urge Carney to raise LNG at G7 summit

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. “(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. The letter stressed that building out Canada’s LNG export capacity will be critical to raising living standards in Indigenous communities. “For our Nations, (LNG) represents freedom from boil-water advisories and from the energy poverty experienced in many of our communities,” read the letter. 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. “(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. “(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. 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. Canada failed to substantially grow its LNG exports under Trudeau, while exports took off in peer nations like Australia and the United States. The letter added that time is of the essence as several of Canada’s allies, including G7 partner Japan , will be finishing up long-term energy contracts with Russia in the coming years. “As a result, they are seeking new LNG opportunities now, and Canada is perfectly positioned to be that partner,” reads the letter. A recent study by the Fraser Institute found that doubling Canadian LNG production and exporting the surplus to Asia could reduce global carbon emissions by up to 630 million tonnes, equivalent to 89 per cent of Canada’s total emissions. Canada generates about 17.9 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day but consumes 60 per cent of this domestically, according to the Canada Energy Regulator. Almost all of the remaining 40 per cent is sent to the U.S. via pipeline. Desjarlais said that the Trudeau government’s “paternalism” toward Indigenous Canadians was a major stumbling block stopping it from building effective resource partnerships with Indigenous groups. “The spirit and intent was there, but there was also a sort of risk aversion when it came to trusting that Indigenous people can effectively co-develop resources,” said Desjarlais. Karen Restoule, the director of Indigenous affairs at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute, says she applauds the letter’s authors for forcing the issue. “At a time when Canada has been, for the last decade, led by a leader and party who have (played) ideological games with little to no recognition as to what the economic impacts would be on the country… I am incredibly grateful to (this group) for taking the initiative to restore Canada’s economic footing, for Indigenous and non-Indigenous Canadians alike,” said Restoule. “This is what leadership looks like.” Carney said in an interview this week that “virtually every” major resource project he backs as prime minister will have “an Indigenous component.” National Post rmohamed@postmedia.com Get more deep-dive National Post political coverage and analysis in your inbox with the Political Hack newsletter, where Ottawa bureau chief Stuart Thomson and political analyst Tasha Kheiriddin get at what’s really going on behind the scenes on Parliament Hill every Wednesday and Friday, exclusively for subscribers. Sign up here. Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark nationalpost.com and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here.