With potential U.S. tariffs on the horizon, the Quebec government is reopening discussions on the controversial LNG-Québec pipeline project, which would transport natural gas from Western Canada to be liquefied and exported overseas.
Scrapped in 2021 due to environmental concerns and public opposition, the project is now back under consideration, Quebec Environment Minister Benoit Charette confirmed. “We’re not opposed to energy projects that respect the environmental criteria,” he stated.
The Coalition Avenir Québec government’s shift reflects changing political dynamics, said Mark Purdon, a professor at Université du Québec à Montréal. “I really think it’s politics. I don’t think what is driving the renewal of LNG-Québec is the economic opportunity,” he told CBC News, emphasizing that environmental concerns remain unchanged.
The project includes a 780-kilometre pipeline from northern Ontario to Saguenay, where a liquefaction terminal would facilitate overseas exports. Environmentalists oppose the plan due to risks to beluga whales and concerns over increased greenhouse gas emissions. Despite claims that natural gas is cleaner than oil and coal, a recent study found that methane leaks could make LNG’s greenhouse gas footprint equal to or worse than coal.
Charles-Édouard Têtu of Équiterre criticized the move, arguing Quebec should focus on clean energy solutions. “These are not the solutions we are looking for,” he said, questioning whether global demand for LNG would still exist by the time the project is completed.
A revived pipeline would also require approval from First Nations. Lucien Wabanonick, chief of the Anishinaabe council of Lac Simon, emphasized the need for consultation, stating, “You need to have that discussion.”
At the federal level, Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson acknowledged the risks posed by U.S. trade policies, suggesting that Canada must reassess its energy infrastructure. Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly pointed to LNG-Québec as a potential means to diversify Canada’s oil and gas exports, highlighting the country’s heavy reliance on the U.S. market.
Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre has consistently advocated for expanding Canada’s energy infrastructure. He recently stated that, if elected, he would have approved key pipeline projects such as Northern Gateway and Energy East while expediting LNG plant approvals.
Source: Swifteradio.com
