Alberta
The Full Montney: Massive Montney Play Ramping up With Canadian LNG Exports on the Horizon
Photo courtesy Tourmaline
From the Canadian Energy Centre
‘LNG is in greater demand than ever before and continues to drive economic growth and enhance energy security across the world’
The massive Montney natural gas play in Alberta and B.C. is growing in importance as world liquefied natural gas (LNG) demand surges and Canada nears completion of its first LNG export project.
The Montney – which rivals the Marcellus, the largest natural gas play in the U.S., for available resources – has seen more than $16 billion worth of ownership deals in the last two years, according to Evaluate Energy.
But the play is still in its early innings, say analysts with RBC Capital Markets.
That’s good news for LNG, where the world needs more supply over the long term.
“LNG is in greater demand than ever before and continues to drive economic growth and enhance energy security across the world,” said Joseph McMonigle, secretary general of the International Energy Forum (IEF).
Based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the IEF represents energy ministers from 72 producing and consuming nations including Canada, the United States, China, India, Germany and the United Kingdom.
After reaching a record 390 million tonnes in 2022, world LNG demand is expected to grow by another 25 percent to 500 million tonnes annually in five years, according to a new IEF report.
While Canada currently ships a small amount of LNG overseas by shipping container, it has yet to export any large quantities by LNG ocean carriers. This will change with the completion of the $18 billion first phase of the LNG Canada project, expected by 2025.
The recently completed Coastal GasLink pipeline will carry natural gas from the Montney play to the terminal.
Coastal GasLink will result in a step change in how natural gas is produced, shipped and priced in western Canada, RBC said.
Its initial capacity of 2.1 billion cubic feet per day can be increased to 5 billion cubic feet per day with additional compression facilities along the route. And through the less-than-a-kilometer long Cedar Link connector, Coastal GasLink would feed the proposed Cedar LNG project, led by the Haisla Nation.
Montney gas will also supply the Woodfibre LNG project and is planned to feed the proposed Ksi Lisims LNG project, led by the Nisga’a Nation.
The Montney now provides roughly half of Canada’s existing natural gas production, or about 10 billion cubic feet per day, RBC said.
Analysts predict that by 2030, roughly two thirds of all natural gas wells in western Canada will target the Montney play, producing about 18 billion cubic feet per day by the end of this decade.
Alberta
Fortis et Liber: Alberta’s Future in the Canadian Federation
From the C2C Journal
By Barry Cooper, professor of political science, University of Calgary
Canada’s western lands, wrote one prominent academic, became provinces “in the Roman sense” – acquired possessions that, once vanquished, were there to be exploited. Laurentian Canada regarded the hinterlands as existing primarily to serve the interests of the heartland. And the current holders of office in Ottawa often behave as if the Constitution’s federal-provincial distribution of powers is at best advisory, if it needs to be acknowledged at all. Reviewing this history, Barry Cooper places Alberta’s widely criticized Sovereignty Act in the context of the Prairie provinces’ long struggle for due constitutional recognition and the political equality of their citizens. Canada is a federation, notes Cooper. Provinces do have rights. Constitutions do mean something. And when they are no longer working, they can be changed.
Alberta
30 million contraband cigarettes valued at $25 million dollars seized in Alberta
New release from Alberta Gaming Liquor and Cannabis (AGLC)
Record setting contraband tobacco seizures result from AGLC investigations
Alberta Gaming Liquor and Cannabis (AGLC) recently concluded several investigations which netted two of the largest contraband tobacco seizures in Alberta history. The combined total of the contraband tobacco seized was 154,800 cartons of contraband cigarettes (30.7 million individual cigarettes). These seizures are a result of the work conducted by AGLC’s Tobacco Enforcement Unit with the assistance of provincial law enforcement agencies.
- In a January 2024 investigation, approximately 43,500 cartons (8.7 million individual cigarettes) were seized. This equates to $7 million in retail value with a provincial tax avoidance of $2.4 million. This included the seizure of 15,000 grams of contraband shisha.
- In April of 2024, 60 wrapped pallets were seized from a warehouse setting netting a total of 111,300 cartons of contraband cigarettes (22 million individual cigarettes) which equates to over $18 million in retail value with a provincial tax avoidance of $6.6 million.
- Criminal Charges are pending in both cases.
“These are significant contraband tobacco investigations involving individuals that are part of organized networks whose proceeds defraud Albertans millions of dollars in tax revenue. AGLC will continue to work with our partners to investigate and disrupt the individuals and organizations involved in these illegal activities as part our commitment to a strong contraband tobacco enforcement program in Alberta.”
- Gary Peck, Vice President, Regulatory Services, AGLC
“Contraband tobacco hurts law abiding businesses that follow the rules, and it costs Albertans millions each year from lost tax revenue. Our government is committed to keeping illegal tobacco off the streets and ensuring that the sale of tobacco products comply with the law.”
- Dale Nally, Minister of Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction
Over the last nine months, AGLC’s Tobacco Enforcement unit has seized an estimated 35 million contraband cigarettes and 115,000 grams of contraband shisha from across the province. The total potential lost tax revenue is estimated to be more than $10.1 million.
Contraband tobacco:
- is any tobacco product that does not comply with federal and provincial laws related to importation, marking, manufacturing, stamping and payment of duties and taxes;
- comes from four main sources: illegal manufacturers, counterfeits, tax-exempt diversions and resale of stolen legal tobacco; and
- can be recognized by the absence of a red (Alberta) or peach/light tan (Canada) stamp bearing the “DUTY PAID CANADA DROIT ACQUITTÉ” on packages of cigarettes and cigars or pouches of tobacco.
In addition to lost revenues that may otherwise benefit Albertans, illegally manufactured products also pose public health and safety risks as they lack regulatory controls and inspections oversight.
Albertans who suspect illegal tobacco production, packaging and/or trafficking are encouraged to contact AGLC’s Tobacco Enforcement Unit at 1-800-577-2522 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
Under a Memorandum of Understanding with Alberta Treasury Board and Finance, AGLC enforces the Tobacco Tax Act and conducts criminal investigations related to the possession, distribution and trafficking of contraband tobacco products. In 2022-23, provincial revenue from tobacco taxes was approximately $522 million.
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