Business
It’s Time for Canadians to Challenge the American Domination of the LNG Space
From EnergyNow.Ca
By Susan McArthur
Canada is now among the top 10 countries with natural gas reserves. It’s time to take advantage of that
Canadians are starting to understand the Americans ate our breakfast, lunch and dinner when it comes to selling liquefied natural gas (LNG) on the global market while simultaneously undermining our national security.
They are finally waking up to the importance of the urgent request by oil and gas CEOs to all federal party leaders calling for the removal of legislation and regulation impeding and capping the development of our resources.
The LNG story in the United States is one of unprecedented growth, according to a recent Atlantic Council report by Daniel Yergin and Madeline Jowdy. Ten years ago, the U.S. did not export a single tonne of LNG. Today, U.S. exports account for 25 per cent of the global market and have contributed US$400 billion to its gross domestic product (GDP) over the past decade.
The U.S. is now the world’s largest LNG supplier, edging out Qatar and Australia, and according to Yergin and Jowdy, its export market is on track to contribute US$1.3 trillion to U.S. GDP by 2040 and create an average of 500,000 jobs annually.
Last week, Alberta announced a sixfold increase in its proven natural gas reserves to 130 trillion cubic feet (tcf). The new figures push Canada into the top 10 countries with natural gas reserves.
Unfortunately, notwithstanding this vast resource, Canada didn’t even make it to the LNG party and the Americans have been laughing all the way to the bank at Canada’s expense. Our decade-long anti-pipeline and natural resource agenda has cost us dearly and Donald Trump’s trade tariffs are a stake to the heart.
As the world grapples with global warming, natural gas is the perfect transition fuel. It generates half the CO2 emissions of coal, provides needed grid backup for intermittent renewable wind and solar power, and it is relatively easy to commission.
Canada has extensive natural gas reserves, but these reserves are less valuable if we can’t get them to offshore markets where countries will pay a premium for energy generation. Canadian gas is abundant, but, given our smaller market, typically trades at a discount to U.S. gas and a massive discount to European and Asian markets.
The capital-intensive nature of LNG facilities requires long-term supply contracts. Generally, 20-year supply contracts with creditworthy counterparties are required to secure the financing required to build gas infrastructure and liquefaction plants.
For example, as part of a larger strategic deal, Houston-based LNG company NextDecade Corp. signed a 20-year offtake agreement to supply 5.4 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) to French multinational TotalEnergies SE.
As the market grows and matures, the spot market is gaining share, but term contracts continue to represent most of the market. This is a problem for Canada as it tries to break into the market, as much of current and future demand is already committed.
More than half the current LNG market demand, or 225 mtpa, is under contract until 2040, according to Shell PLC’s LNG outlook report for 2024. A further 100 mtpa is contracted to 2045. Shell recently revised its LNG market growth forecast upward to 700 mtpa by 2040 and it estimates the LNG supply currently in operation or under construction already accounts for about 525 mtpa, or almost 75 per cent of the estimated market in 2040.
Even if Canada secured 100 per cent of the available market share (impossible), this represents a fraction of the 130 trillion cubic feet of reserves in Alberta and an infinitesimal amount of Canada’s natural gas reserve.
If Canada wants to sell its LNG to the global market, it needs to be at the starting line now. Canada has seven LNG export projects in various stages of development. They are all in British Columbia. The capacity of these export plants is 50 mtpa and the capital cost is estimated to be $110 billion.
After significant delays and cost overruns, our first export facility, LNG Canada’s 14 mtpa Phase 1 in Kitimat, is set to ship its first cargo to Asia later this year. Phase 2, representing a further 14 mtpa, is still awaiting a final investment decision. The Cedar LNG, Ksi Lisims LNG and Woodfibre LNG projects are licensed, at various stages of development and represent a further 17 mtpa.
Canada’s LNG exports today are a drop in the bucket compared to both our potential and the 88 mtpa exported by the U.S. in 2024. We have one project completed and, if history repeats itself and Canada doesn’t get its act together, the runway for the remaining licensed projects will be long, painful and costly.
Financing large capital projects requires predictability with respect to timing and cost. This is also a problem for Canada. As the oil and gas CEOs have pointed out, LNG market players have lost trust in Canada as an investible jurisdiction for these projects.
In the face of Trump’s trade war, Canadians have become pipeline evangelists. Wishful thinking and political talking points won’t be enough if we repeat our decade of own goals on this file. We have literally left billions on the table.
Governments should fast-track all licensed projects, limit special interest distractions and provide the required muscle and financial support to get these projects up and running as soon as possible.
From Churchill, Man., to Quebec to the Maritimes to British Columbia, we should be making plans for LNG terminals and the required pipeline infrastructure to get this valuable and clean resource to market. And Canadians should pray we haven’t totally missed the market.
Susan McArthur is a former venture capital investor, investment banker and current corporate director. She has previously served on a chemical logistics and oil service board.
MxM News
Quick Hit:
A shocking new poll reveals that a staggering 71% of likely Democratic voters support imprisoning Elon Musk for his brief service in the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The survey, conducted by The Heartland Institute and Rasmussen Reports, underscores an alarming shift in progressive politics: jailing political opponents for attempting to rein in bureaucratic waste. As Justin Haskins writes in his May 9 Townhall op-ed, this poll is not just about Musk—it’s about the dangerous normalization of authoritarianism among America’s political left.
Key Details:
-
71% of likely Democratic voters support jailing Musk for his role in eliminating government waste via DOGE.
-
80% of ideological liberals, across parties, say they would imprison Musk for his public service.
-
Nearly 70% of Democrats support banning Musk from ever serving in government again—an unconstitutional measure.
Diving Deeper:
In his recent Townhall column, Justin Haskins warns that Elon Musk’s fall from liberal darling to “Public Enemy No. 1 for the modern left” stems from a single transgression: daring to challenge the D.C. establishment. Haskins opens by recognizing Musk’s past achievements—electric vehicles, space exploration, and defending free speech. But after briefly working in the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)—an initiative aimed at cutting federal waste—Musk became a target of left-wing ire.
According to the Heartland Institute/Rasmussen poll, “Seven in ten likely Democratic voters want to imprison Musk for trying to make government more efficient.” Haskins adds, “This isn’t satire. This is the modern Democratic Party, where liberalism has evolved into authoritarianism dressed in the clothes of compassion and equity.”
The numbers become even more disturbing among self-identified liberals. A staggering 80% of ideological liberals said they’d support jailing Musk for participating in DOGE. Additionally, nearly 70% of Democrats back a proposal to ban him from ever working in government again—a position that clearly violates constitutional protections.
Musk’s unpopularity among Democrats has grown since his acquisition of X (formerly Twitter) and his commitment to restoring banned voices. Once celebrated as a climate champion, Musk is now demonized by the very groups that once hailed his green energy innovations. “He was supposed to walk in lockstep against conservatives at all times,” Haskins notes. “When he chose a different path… he committed a sin that some on the radical left simply cannot forgive.”
More importantly, the poll reflects a dangerous national trend: criminalizing political dissent. Haskins writes, “When nearly three-fourths of Democratic voters support jailing someone for participating in an effort to streamline federal agencies, we’ve crossed a dangerous line.” He continues, “This is the stuff of banana republics, not constitutional republics.”
The column concludes with a chilling reminder that the targeting of Elon Musk is not an isolated incident. “If they’re willing to jail Elon Musk for doing his job, what do you think they’ll do to the rest of us?” Haskins asks. The poll results reveal a left-wing movement increasingly comfortable using state power to punish those who refuse to conform.
Quick Hit:
The LEGO Group is expanding its U.S. footprint with a $366 million investment to build a 2-million-square-foot warehouse in Virginia. The move will create 305 new jobs and deepen the company’s commitment to the United States.
Key Details:
-
The new warehouse and distribution center will be built in Prince George County, complementing LEGO’s upcoming factory in neighboring Chesterfield County that’s set to open in 2027.
-
Virginia secured the project through a $2.53 million Commonwealth Opportunity Fund grant, with additional support from state programs including the Virginia Jobs Investment Program and the Port of Virginia’s economic development incentives.
-
LEGO’s Chief Operations Officer Carsten Rasmussen said the center will “bring greater flexibility” to the company’s North American supply chain and reduce both customer wait times and environmental impact.
Diving
LEGO is expanding in Virginia! This new $366M investment in Prince George County creates 305 new jobs, strengthening our partnership and Virginia’s status as the top state for business. Virginia is where global companies and iconic brands like @LEGO_group can thrive, grow, and… pic.twitter.com/6rzydVIlRZ
— Glenn Youngkin (@GlennYoungkin) May 8, 2025
Deeper:
The LEGO Group will invest $366 million to build a 2 million-square-foot warehouse and distribution center in Prince George County, Virginia, a move expected to create 305 new jobs, according to a Thursday announcement by Governor Glenn Youngkin.
The project marks another milestone in LEGO’s ongoing U.S. expansion, following the 2022 announcement of its Chesterfield County factory currently under construction. The company’s operations in Virginia are projected to create more than 2,000 jobs total when both sites are fully up and running.
“The LEGO Group is not just a household name, it’s a symbol of creativity, innovation, and quality that resonates globally,” said Governor Youngkin. “Three years after choosing Virginia to establish its U.S. manufacturing plant, the LEGO Group’s decision to expand into Prince George County is an exciting new chapter in this partnership.”
LEGO’s global Chief Operations Officer, Carsten Rasmussen, said the regional distribution center “will shorten our supply chain in the region–reducing lead times for our customers as well as our environmental impact.” He praised the continued partnership with the Commonwealth.
State economic officials credited Virginia’s workforce and infrastructure for helping land the deal. “This investment brings high-quality jobs to Prince George County and reflects our broader commitment to building healthy, vibrant communities,” said Secretary of Commerce and Trade Juan Pablo Segura.
Virginia lawmakers representing the area praised the announcement. State Senator Lashrecse Aird said the investment means “new opportunities for families and a stronger foundation for our community.” Delegate Carrie Coyner echoed that sentiment, calling it “a testament to the kind of community we’ve built.”
Carney’s energy superpower rhetoric falls flat without policy certainty
US Government ADMITS It Approved Pfizer’s COVID “Vaccine” Despite Knowing About a Long List of Trial Violations
Alberta Accord: Premier Danielle Smith announces new relationship with Ottawa
‘Got To Go’: Department Of Energy To Cut Off Billions Of Dollars’ Worth Of Biden-Era Green Energy Projects
Trump praises Carney at White House, says ‘never say never’ about 51st state
White smoke vs. black smoke: How do we know when we have a new pope?
Inside B.C.’s Cultus Lake Narco Corridor — How Chinese State-Linked Syndicates are Building a Narco Empire in Canada
-
Addictions2 days agoField of death: Art project highlights drug crisis’ impact on tradespeople
-
espionage2 days agoRepublican congresswoman introduces bill to repeal Patriot Act
-
Crime2 days agoHybrid threats, broken borders, and organized chaos—transnational organized crime in Canada
-
Alberta2 days agoMeet Marjorie Mallare, a young woman with a leading role at one of Canada’s largest refineries
-
Daily Caller20 hours agoUS Energy Secretary Chris Wright Has To Clean Up Joe Biden’s Mess and refill the Strategic Petroleum Reserve
-
Energy2 days agoCanada to build it’s first four small modular nuclear reactors
-
Business2 days agoCarney must work to grow Canada’s economic pie
-
Business2 days agoFrom ‘Elbows Up’ To ‘Thumbs Up’