Leaders in Canada and Japan highlight Canada’s LNG opportunity

The emergence of new energy partnerships with and between Indigenous peoples, has led to enormous opportunity for Canadian LNG as a driver of energy security, economic and labour development and global emissions reduction.

Can Canada deliver? Yes!
This is a question the world asks itself when it comes to Canada’s role in energy security. The emergence of new energy partnerships with and between Indigenous peoples, has led to enormous opportunity for Canadian LNG as a driver of energy security, economic and labour development and global emissions reduction.

Energy for a Secure Future hosted a webinar with close to 90 participants from Canada and Japan, including Indigenous leaders and industry partners, to discuss Canada’s emerging ability to play a leading role in global LNG.

Insights from speakers

Jun Nishizawa, Executive Vice President, CEO, Natural Gas Group, Mitsubishi Corporation

“We need Canada as a new, reliable, strong LNG supplier.”

Jun Nishizawa, Senior Fellow, Institute of Energy Economics, Japan


“What I would like to say to our Japanese and Asian partners is that the First Nations Major Projects (Coalition) members are deeply committed to developing new relationships and contributing to a cleaner supply of energy to global markets. Our members also prioritize sustainable development that balances economic growth and environmental stewardship. Which also aligns with the global shift towards greener, more responsible energy practices, including in Japan.”

Chief Sharleen Gale, Chair, First Nations Major Projects Coalition


Karen Ogen, CEO, First Nations LNG Alliance

“All we want from the indigenous perspective is to come from poverty to prosperity. We talk about zero emissions. Well, indigenous communities want to get to zero poverty, zero unemployment, zero social issues. Canada has an advantage – an abundance of natural resources that we can share with the rest of the world.”

Karen Ogen, CEO, First Nations LNG Alliance


“I know that the youth in First Nations and even my own children want a clean environment. Liquefied natural gas provides Canada with the opportunity to sell that gas to countries,
such as Japan, where we will use that clean gas to replace coal (…)”

Jeff Tonken, Chairman, Birchcliff Energy


“LNG appears to be one of the biggest opportunities for us [Canada] in the Indo-pacific region, certainly in the short to medium term, perhaps even longer. We’re really excited to see LNG Canada come online – it’s a significant project that will have a huge impact, not just on our bilateral relationship with Japan and our overall trade flows but it will also have an impact on regional security.”

Trevor Kennedy, Vice President, Indo-Pacific, Business Council of Canada


Shannon Joseph, Chair, Energy for a Secure Future

“What we are excited about doing is bringing together those in Canada working on energy for export, particularly LNG, with the energy customer. Dialogue between industry, First Nations and global customers is important for us to have a shared understanding of each other’s needs and realities, so that we can work together to build a more secure future.”

Shannon Joseph, Chair, Energy for a Secure Future (Moderator)

Watch the Full Webinar:


ESF would like to thank the Institute of Energy Economics Japan, the Japan Gas AssociationCanadian Chamber of  Commerce of Japan , and the Embassy of Canada in Japan for their support and collaboration in this work


Over the coming weeks Energy for a Secure Future will be sharing clips from the webinar to bring more people from across Canada and the world, into the conversation.