Unlocking Canada’s energy potential

Resource Works CEO and founder Stewart Muir has laid out the conditions for Canada to realize its potential

How can Canada fully realize its energy potential?

Stewart Muir – CEO of Resource Works – often speaks about this question. According to Muir, Canada’s abundant natural resources, skilled workforce, and high standards give us a strong foundation to build on. But to translate these strengths into true economic and environmental leadership, a few key conditions must be met.

Below are five key conditions Muir highlights (especially regarding LNG and oil development) that can help Canada seize its energy opportunity:

Streamlined & Efficient Regulation – Unnecessarily lengthy and unpredictable approval processes have stalled projects and scared away investors. Muir advocates cutting red tape and speeding up decisions so that government isn’t working “at cross purposes” with industry . Reforming Canada’s permitting and regulatory processes would make energy projects more viable and globally competitive, allowing development to proceed faster without compromising standards.

Strong Indigenous Partnerships – Canada’s energy future needs to be built in true partnership with Indigenous peoples. Muir points out that First Nations are increasingly co-leading resource projects, with over 500 economic and reconciliation agreements in British Columbia alone. Embracing Indigenous leadership – through equity partnerships, consultations, and benefit-sharing – not only advances reconciliation but also creates certainty and shared prosperity for energy developments. Projects move forward best when Indigenous communities are on board as genuine partners.

Robust Infrastructure & Market Access – To capitalize on our resources, Canada must expand and modernize the infrastructure that gets energy to market. That means building and upgrading pipelines, ports, and LNG terminals. The recent completion of the Trans Mountain Expansion (TMX) pipeline is a proof point – it’s already moving Canadian oil to U.S. and Asian buyers , helping fetch better prices. Muir and others argue we also need to develop new LNG capacity, including on the East Coast, to supply allies in Europe . By investing in strategic infrastructure, Canada can ensure its oil and gas reach global markets efficiently and safely, turning resource potential into real economic growth.

Proactive Global Market Positioning – Canada has to seize its moment in the global energy market. Demand for energy is skyrocketing worldwide, yet Canada hasn’t fully stepped up to meet it. For example, when allied nations like Germany and Japan turned to Canada for LNG in recent years, they left empty-handed for lack of a “strong business case” to export gas. Meanwhile, other suppliers (the U.S., Qatar, etc.) eagerly filled those needs. Muir emphasizes that Canada must proactively position itself as a reliable exporter – or risk being left behind while others grab the opportunity. That means securing long-term contracts and building trade relationships so Canadian LNG and oil can become go-to choices in Asia, Europe, and beyond. In short, we need to act with urgency on the world stage to claim our share of the market.

Public Confidence through Environmental Leadership – Earning public trust is essential for any energy project to succeed. Canadians need to see that resource development can coexist with high environmental standards and climate responsibility. Muir notes that strengthening public confidence in energy and mining projects could help “preserve and unlock” the economic value of Canada’s huge reserves, and even position Canada as a leader in how to do resource development right. This means being transparent, engaging communities early, and upholding world-class environmental protections. Canada’s own track record shows that responsible resource development is not just possible – “it’s our forte”. By leading with strong environmental performance (for instance, using clean technology and cutting emissions per barrel), project developers can build the social license to operate. In turn, this public trust enables more projects to move ahead, aligning economic growth with our climate and environmental commitments.

Bottom Line: Muir’s vision suggests that if Canada delivers on these conditions – from faster approvals and better partnerships to smarter infrastructure and trust-building – we can translate our natural advantages into both prosperity and sustainability. Canada has the resources and know-how; now it’s about having the will to act.

By focusing on these key areas, Canada can become not only an energy powerhouse at home, but also a global example of economic and environmental leadership in responsible energy development.

Up Next

Elon Musk to consult President Trump on potential ‘DOGE dividend’ tax refunds

Don't Miss

Democracy Watch Applies for Private Prosecution of Trudeau in SNC Scandal

Todayville

Todayville is a digital media and technology company. We profile unique stories and events in our community. Register and promote your community event for free.

Follow Author

Manhunt on for suspect in shooting deaths of Minnesota House speaker, husband

Canadian Energy Centre / 3 hours ago

Cross-Canada economic benefits of the proposed Northern Gateway Pipeline project

Alberta / 3 hours ago

Albertans need clarity on prime minister’s incoherent energy policy

Canadian Energy Centre

Cross-Canada economic benefits of the proposed Northern Gateway Pipeline project

Published on June 15, 2025

Todayville

From the Canadian Energy Centre

Billions in government revenue and thousands of jobs across provinces

Announced in 2006, the Northern Gateway project would have built twin pipelines between Bruderheim, Alta. and a marine terminal at Kitimat, B.C.

One pipeline would export 525,000 barrels per day of heavy oil from Alberta to tidewater markets. The other would import 193,000 barrels per day of condensate to Alberta to dilute heavy oil for pipeline transportation.

The project would have generated significant economic benefits across Canada.

The following projections are drawn from the report Public Interest Benefits of the Northern Gateway Project (Wright Mansell Research Ltd., July 2012), which was submitted as reply evidence during the regulatory process.

Financial figures have been adjusted to 2025 dollars using the Bank of Canada’s Inflation Calculator, with $1.00 in 2012 equivalent to $1.34 in 2025.

Total Government Revenue by Region

Between 2019 and 2048, a period encompassing both construction and operations, the Northern Gateway project was projected to generate the following total government revenues by region (direct, indirect and induced):

British Columbia

Provincial government revenue: $11.5 billion
Federal government revenue: $8.9 billion
Total: $20.4 billion

Alberta

Provincial government revenue: $49.4 billion
Federal government revenue: $41.5 billion
Total: $90.9 billion

Ontario

Provincial government revenue: $1.7 billion
Federal government revenue: $2.7 billion
Total: $4.4 billion

Quebec

Provincial government revenue: $746 million
Federal government revenue: $541 million
Total: $1.29 billion

Saskatchewan

Provincial government revenue: $6.9 billion
Federal government revenue: $4.4 billion
Total: $11.3 billion

Other

Provincial government revenue: $1.9 billion
Federal government revenue: $1.4 billion
Total: $3.3 billion

Canada

Provincial government revenue: $72.1 billion
Federal government revenue: $59.4 billion
Total: $131.7 billion

Annual Government Revenue by Region

Over the period 2019 and 2048, the Northern Gateway project was projected to generate the following annual government revenues by region (direct, indirect and induced):

British Columbia

Provincial government revenue: $340 million
Federal government revenue: $261 million
Total: $601 million per year

Alberta

Provincial government revenue: $1.5 billion
Federal government revenue: $1.2 billion
Total: $2.7 billion per year

Ontario

Provincial government revenue: $51 million
Federal government revenue: $79 million
Total: $130 million per year

Quebec

Provincial government revenue: $21 million
Federal government revenue: $16 million
Total: $37 million per year

Saskatchewan

Provincial government revenue: $204 million
Federal government revenue: $129 million
Total: $333 million per year

Other

Provincial government revenue: $58 million
Federal government revenue: $40 million
Total: $98 million per year

Canada

Provincial government revenue: $2.1 billion
Federal government revenue: $1.7 billion
Total: $3.8 billion per year

Employment by Region

Over the period 2019 to 2048, the Northern Gateway Pipeline was projected to generate the following direct, indirect and induced full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs by region:

British Columbia

Annual average: 7,736
Total over the period: 224,344

Alberta

Annual average: 11,798
Total over the period: 342,142

Ontario

Annual average: 3,061
Total over the period: 88,769

Quebec

Annual average: 1,003
Total over the period: 29,087

Saskatchewan

Annual average: 2,127
Total over the period: 61,683

Other

Annual average: 953
Total over the period: 27,637

Canada

Annual average: 26,678
Total over the period: 773,662

Alberta

Albertans need clarity on prime minister’s incoherent energy policy

Published on June 15, 2025

Todayville

From the Fraser Institute

By Tegan Hill

The new government under Prime Minister Mark Carney recently delivered its throne speech, which set out the government’s priorities for the coming term. Unfortunately, on energy policy, Albertans are still waiting for clarity.

Prime Minister Carney’s position on energy policy has been confusing, to say the least. On the campaign trail, he promised to keep Trudeau’s arbitrary emissions cap for the oil and gas sector, and Bill C-69 (which opponents call the “no more pipelines act”). Then, two weeks ago, he said his government will “change things at the federal level that need to be changed in order for projects to move forward,” adding he may eventually scrap both the emissions cap and Bill C-69.

His recent cabinet appointments further muddied his government’s position. On one hand, he appointed Tim Hodgson as the new minister of Energy and Natural Resources. Hodgson has called energy “Canada’s superpower” and promised to support oil and pipelines, and fix the mistrust that’s been built up over the past decade between Alberta and Ottawa. His appointment gave hope to some that Carney may have a new approach to revitalize Canada’s oil and gas sector.

On the other hand, he appointed Julie Dabrusin as the new minister of Environment and Climate Change. Dabrusin was the parliamentary secretary to the two previous environment ministers (Jonathan Wilkinson and Steven Guilbeault) who opposed several pipeline developments and were instrumental in introducing the oil and gas emissions cap, among other measures designed to restrict traditional energy development.

To confuse matters further, Guilbeault, who remains in Carney’s cabinet albeit in a diminished role, dismissed the need for additional pipeline infrastructure less than 48 hours after Carney expressed conditional support for new pipelines.

The throne speech was an opportunity to finally provide clarity to Canadians—and specifically Albertans—about the future of Canada’s energy industry. During her first meeting with Prime Minister Carney, Premier Danielle Smith outlined Alberta’s demands, which include scrapping the emissions cap, Bill C-69 and Bill C-48, which bans most oil tankers loading or unloading anywhere on British Columbia’s north coast (Smith also wants Ottawa to support an oil pipeline to B.C.’s coast). But again, the throne speech provided no clarity on any of these items. Instead, it contained vague platitudes including promises to “identify and catalyse projects of national significance” and “enable Canada to become the world’s leading energy superpower in both clean and conventional energy.”

Until the Carney government provides a clear plan to address the roadblocks facing Canada’s energy industry, private investment will remain on the sidelines, or worse, flow to other countries. Put simply, time is up. Albertans—and Canadians—need clarity. No more flip flopping and no more platitudes.