I’m in Edmonton at the CALEP conference this week, spending time with people who actually do the work of producing Canada’s energy.
And every time I do, I’m reminded how much pride there is in this industry. Their expertise is always evident, as is their genuine pride in contributing to Canada.
I’m speaking later today about how much the energy conversation in Canada has changed.
Canadians are paying attention differently than we were even a few years ago. The interest to understand more is growing, and the people who know this industry have a lot worth sharing.
That feels like an opportunity.
BREAKING NEWS
LNG Canada Phase 2 is officially a go!
The partners behind LNG Canada have made the final investment decision to expand the Kitimat, B.C. facility, doubling its LNG export capacity from 14 to 28 million tonnes a year.
This is a big one, more Canadian natural gas reaching global markets. Thousands of construction jobs. More capacity on Coastal GasLink. And another major private-sector investment actually moving ahead in Canada.
I endorse!
WHAT HAD MY ATTENTION
An Alberta-To-Ontario Pipeline?
Ontario Premier Doug Ford was in Calgary yesterday talking energy, including Ontario’s proposed Northern Shield Energy Corridor.
The idea is focused on a 3,300-kilometre pipeline corridor running entirely within Canada, from Hardisty, Alberta to Sarnia, Ontario. The initial proposal could move 500,000 barrels of oil a day, with the potential to expand to 800,000.
Ontario is studying whether it makes economic and technical sense.
But the interesting part is why Ontario wants it.
Ontario and Quebec already use Western Canadian oil, but some of that supply moves through pipelines that cross into the United States before coming back into Canada.
Northern Shield is being proposed as an entirely Canadian route, giving Central Canada another way to access Canadian energy without relying on infrastructure through another country.
In a world where energy security suddenly matters a lot more, that’s worth understanding.
THE SMART ENOUGH TAKE:
Energy security isn’t just about having the resource.
It’s about being able to get it where you need it, when you need it.
GET IN THE CONVERSATION
You don’t need to know everything about pipelines to get into this conversation. Here’s the question I’ll be asking:
What would it take to make an Alberta-to-Ontario pipeline actually worth building?
WORTH YOUR TIME:
Quick overview of the proposed project’s highlights:
CHECK OUT THE NEWS RELEASE HERE
When Tariffs Hit Home
Stelco has been making steel in Hamilton for more than a century. This week, it announced it will indefinitely idle part of its Hamilton Works operations, saying U.S. tariffs have dramatically reduced access to its biggest export market.
We’ve talked about tariffs for months as percentages, negotiating positions, and headlines. This is what they look like when they reach a real Canadian community.
If Canada builds pipelines, mines, ports, and other major infrastructure, we will need a lot of steel, Canadian steel.
MY SMART ENOUGH TAKE:
We can’t control every decision the U.S. makes. But we can build more here, buy more here, and find more customers elsewhere.
This is part of why there is so much urgency right now around actually getting things built in Canada.
GET IN THE CONVERSATION
How much could building more in Canada help Canadian steelworkers, and what would that actually look like?
WORTH YOUR TIME:
CBC: Hamilton steel plant to lay off hundreds as U.S. tariffs prompt “survival” move
WHAT I’M WATCHING
Natural Gas Is Back In The
Conversation In Eastern Canada
New Brunswick is reviewing its long-standing moratorium. Nova Scotia is looking again at its onshore natural gas potential. And in Quebec, shale gas has unexpectedly become part of the conversation again.
None of that means drilling is about to begin. What I’m watching is the fact that conversations that seemed closed are being reopened. Overall: the gears are starting to turn.
What caused this changed? New tech, the pursuit of energy security, Canada’s need for investment. My guess? Probably a bit of all of it. Worth keeping an eye on.
SMART ENOUGH IN 90 SECONDS
The Stelco story is one example of why there’s so much urgency around getting things done in Canada.
I think I’m noticing a shift in how we’re approaching things.
Less “why can’t we?”. More “how can we?”
I saw another example of that in Bill C-39 this week.
There’s a lot in the bill, and plenty to debate. But one idea caught my attention: one project, one review, one year.
ONE LYNNIE THOUGHT
I love fall in Canada.
For a few weeks, this country just puts on a show.
In the mountains, the larches turn gold. Out east, you get those spectacular reds and oranges. And everywhere, there’s that unmistakable feeling that fall is here. It’s beautiful. And it doesn’t last nearly long enough.
Go enjoy some Canadian fall.
See you next Week!
Lynn