EBY: Natural Resources Can

EBY: Natural Resources Can "Support a Strong, More Secure Future" for Canadians

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Key Points

• B.C. Premier David Eby says natural resources can support strong public services for Canadians

• Access to tidewater on the Pacific Ocean opens up Asian markets for Canada's natural resources

• Countries abroad are asking for improved access to Canada's abundant resources, and we need to step up

Canada Has the Resources the World Needs

Canada sits at a turning point. On one path lies continued economic uncertainty and squandered potential. On the other, there's a future of shared prosperity built on the natural wealth beneath our feet, one that includes forging new international partnerships to secure our economic future.

We know which path we’d choose, don’t you?

B.C. Premier David Eby gets it. He put it plainly at a recent party convention, saying that his province is at a “pivot point" between an “old order that is fading” and a “new one that has yet to be defined,” according to BOE Report [1].

Eby noted that B.C. has everything it needs to build a “strong, more secure future” for everyone, by turning its natural resources into the wealth required to “sustain strong public services for generations to come.”

The Premier then listed several projects underway in the province, including the North Coast Transmission Line, liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities and infrastructure, and various mining developments.

This is all excellent news for British Columbians and Canadians. When we develop our resources and build the trade infrastructure required to get them to market, it’s a win across the board for our families and country. These projects create good jobs, provide business opportunities, and generate public revenues used to pay for our critical social programs and services.

Just look at the Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion, which is estimated to boost government revenues by several billion dollars this year. That’s billions more for schools, hospitals and social programs. What a win for Canadians that is.

Often left out of this conversation is the fact that the world’s appetite for natural resources – energy, forestry, mining, agriculture – is only growing.

Asia, in particular, is by far the world’s most important emerging market for resource-exporting nations like Canada. With tidewater access to the region, we are ideally situated to be a reliable supplier to Japan, South Korea, and other trade partners across the region.

Let’s look at energy. For example:

(1) Since 2000, Asia’s primary energy consumption has risen at a compounded rate of 4% every year—compared to just 1% across the rest of the world [2]

(2) By 2024, Asia's share of global energy use had soared to 47%, up from 28% in 2000, and just 18% in 1980 [2]

(3) Asia’s share of global energy demand is now more than 2x higher than North America (19%), almost 4x higher than Europe (13%), and is far ahead of other regions [2]

(4) Today, 82% of Asia's energy still comes from fossil fuels—mostly coal (46%) and oil (25%)—despite a surge in the deployment of renewables like wind and solar; natural gas plays a more modest role at just 12%, but demand continues to climb [2]

(5) Energy additions, not substitutions, have characterized Asia’s energy consumption; instead of renewables displacing conventional fuels, they have supplemented growing demand [2]

These facts reflect the reality on the ground and represent a massive opportunity for British Columbia and Canada as a whole—one we cannot afford to miss.

If we don't meet Asia's growing energy demand, another producer will.

Asia is also expected to account for 60% of the estimated rise in global LNG demand through 2040, primarily driven by rapid economic growth [3].

It’s clear that Asia and the rest of the world need reliable energy suppliers. Premier Eby said it best earlier this year when asked about U.S. tariffs: "If you're not buying oil and gas from Canada and British Columbia, the alternative is Venezuela."

Opponents of resource development say Canada should turn its back on its resource wealth. Eby has a clear message: "We're not in the business of turning away investment in British Columbia,” when asked about Ksi Lisims LNG this past summer.

“Especially investment that assists us in diversifying our customers for our resources and allows us to get a higher price for those resources."

Tim Hodgson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, has also pointed out on multiple occasions that our trade partners want to do more business with Canada.

“What we hear from Japan, what I heard from the Minister of Energy, from Japan, what I heard from the Minister of Energy from Korea, when they were here for the G7 a couple of weeks ago, is they are very keen to buy Canadian LNG," Hodgson said recently, when asked about competition from Alaska LNG via Vassy Kapelos on CTV Power Play.

“They view Canadian LNG as a safe source of supply. They view Canada as a country that's not going to use access to LNG for political coercion."

“And they really like the fact that we produce the lowest carbon intensity LNG in the world. Both those countries find that quite attractive. In fact, Japan at the G7, signed an agreement… where we can improve our carbon accounting for LNG, so that they can be more comfortable that the Canadian LNG is the best product out there because they want to buy our clean LNG."

Asian markets are vast and relatively untapped by Canada. To put this into perspective, Prime Minister Mark Carney outlined this opportunity on his recent trip to the region, looking to secure new trade partnerships.

“Southeast Asia is a rapidly growing, $5 trillion economy,” said the PM, when discussing a potential Canada-ASEAN Free Trade Agreement.

Canada has what the world needs. Our leaders seem to get it, and our trade partners have been asking for access to Canadian energy, minerals, and other resources for many years.

Let's not miss this chance to create economic prosperity here at home.

The pivot point on economic growth through resource development is here. The world is looking to Canada for a reliable supply of the energy and minerals it needs. We must take the steps to ensure we’re ready to deliver—not just for our trade partners, but for Canadians nationwide.

SOURCES:

1 - https://boereport.com/2025/11/15/eby-says-b-c-is-at-a-pivot-point-as-he-promises-future-based-on-natural-resources/

2 - https://jkempenergy.com/2025/09/10/asia-will-dominate-energy-consumption-through-2050/

3 - https://www.shell.com/news-and-insights/newsroom/news-and-media-releases/2025/lng-demand-expected-rise-by-sixty-percent-by-2040.html