Canada is the world’s fifth-largest producer and seventh-largest exporter of natural gas; we are known to have significant resources and abundant reserves in Alberta and BC’s shale basins.
Our LNG history has been marked by its late but significant entry into the global market, starting from the regulatory review in 2010, to the approval of the $40 billion LNG project in 2015.
There have been key LNG developments in British Columbia with projects like LNG Canada, which began construction in 2018 and produced its first cargo in June 2025, certifying Canada as an LNG exporter to Asian markets.
It’s clear that we’ve made significant progress, and we have every reason to be proud. While these achievements are commendable, there remains much untapped potential in broadening our LNG exports.
We have the potential to be one of the largest, if not the largest, exporters of LNG. According to recent industry reports, our LNG production capacity is projected to increase by 35% over the next five years, positioning Canada ahead of major competitors such as Australia and Qatar.
To take advantage of this opportunity, we have to engage with the European market.
At this moment in time, there is a huge need for LNG in Europe, who are looking for alternative energy sources to what they currently have, and we can fit in like a glove. We already have Canadian gas exports going to Europe through the United States at a higher markup. We can take control of our destiny and take charge of our LNG exports.
Currently, there’s no East Coast infrastructure ready for the transportation of LNG to Europe, but that can be changed in the next couple of years. With increasing interest from countries like Germany who are looking to diversify from their source of energy, it’s a race against time to get the facilities up and running while interest is still very active.
The question is whether Canada can act quickly enough to build East Coast infrastructure before competitors secure Europe’s LNG contracts.
There are endless positives that can come from LNG export, starting with exponential economic growth and large-scale job creation.
The LNG Canada project in British Columbia offers a very strong example. During the span of construction, more than 50,000 Canadians directly contributed to building phase 1. The Coastal GasLink pipeline employed more than 25,000 Canadians, and in operations, more than 300 full-time permanent LNG jobs were created. Outside of the jobs the projects provided, the estimated value provided to indigenous and local businesses to date exceeds $5.8 billion.
If this blueprint is replicated on the East Coast, we will unlock tens of thousands more jobs while supplying our allies in Europe. In Newfoundland & Labrador, proposals such as the Fermeuse LNG project have surfaced, aiming to export Canadian gas directly across the Atlantic.
While still in early stages, the project illustrates that an East Coast LNG pathway is technically feasible and increasingly viewed as a strategic option for connecting Canada’s resources to European demand.
Canada has reached a defining moment in its LNG journey.
With abundant natural gas reserves, proven expertise on the Pacific coast, and growing interest from Europe, the opportunity to establish a direct Atlantic export route has never been clearer.
Proposals like the Fermeuse project in Newfoundland & Labrador show the possibilities, while the creation of the federal Major Projects Office offers a pathway to accelerate approvals and bring a Europe-focused LNG project onto the fast-track list.
Pairing regulatory support with long-term European contracts, investment in east-coast infrastructure, and commitments to environmental stewardship would give Canada both the credibility and capacity to compete with global LNG leaders.
The question is not whether Europe needs Canadian gas: it does. The question is whether Canada can act quickly and decisively enough to seize this opportunity.
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Let’s be real—big energy projects don’t usually sound exciting unless you’re already in the industry. But when LNG Canada shipped its first liquefied natural gas (LNG) to market on July