Wilderness Committee slams today's announcements as desperate attempt to revive failing fossil fuel industry at any cost

VANCOUVER / UNCEDED xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh AND səlilwətaɬ TERRITORIES — Today, the federal natural resources minister joined the B.C. provincial government at a press conference aimed at attracting international capital for LNG Canada Phase 2. This came only a couple of hours after the prime minister’s office announced the national electricity strategy — Powering Canada Strong. Both announcements highlight the federal and provincial government’s enthusiasm for expanding the fracked gas industry, forsaking climate targets and ignoring health risks, environmental impacts and Indigenous Rights’ violations associated with this industry.

“This hollowness of the province’s announcement highlights just how desperate the federal and provincial governments are to double down on this dangerous industry,” said Climate Campaigner Isabel Siu-Zmuidzinas. “If LNG Canada Phase 2 is such a great investment, then why are theatrical press conferences about it needed?” 

Despite the numerous reports of the devastating health impacts on community members from gas flaring in Kitimat and reporting that the first phase of LNG Canada is among the dirtiest LNG plants in the world, both levels of government continue to roll out the red carpet for this disastrous, international-owned project while everyday people continue to struggle.

“The idea that fracked gas expansion should have any role in our electricity strategy in 2026 is ridiculous,” - Climate Campaigner Isabel Siu-Zmuidzinas.

The new electricity strategy highlights the importance of fracked gas in our electricity mix. While the strategy does include goals to expand renewable energy production, it also commits to amending Canada’s Clean Electricity Regulations and signals an increased reliance on carbon offset schemes. The Wilderness Committee is concerned this approach will amount to permission for corporations and provincial governments to label any gas-fired power generation as “clean energy” and an overall increase in emissions from power generation in Canada. Further, any new electricity production must not go to powering LNG facilities, and instead go to homes, communities and transportation.

“The idea that fracked gas expansion should have any role in our electricity strategy in 2026 is ridiculous,” continued Siu-Zmuidzinas “Any electricity build-out must not go towards fossil-fuel LNG facilities and our federal government needs to find the political will to see the writing in the sand — the world is moving away from fossil fuels and Canada must too.”

The Wilderness Committee is calling on the federal government to lead on climate by rapidly winding down the use of fossil fuels in power generation across Canada and investing exclusively in the expansion of renewable energy.

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For more information or interviews, please contact: 

Isabel Siu-Zmuidzinas | Climate Campaigner, Wilderness Committee
isabel@wildernesscommittee.org