Canada made history on Canada Day, shipping its first-ever cargo of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Kitimat, B.C., to Asia. This inaugural shipment marks a crucial move to diversify our trading partners, strengthen our economic independence, and establish Canada as a key player in the global LNG market.
According to Natural Resources Minister Tim Hodgson, the event was a “watershed” moment for our country, and it couldn’t have happened on any better day.
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The minister captured the profound significance of this moment in a series of X posts on July 1, 2025, emphasizing both the timing and its broader implications. In his words:
When construction began on LNG Canada’s terminal in 2018, who could’ve predicted our first shipment to Asia would set sail on the eve of Canada Day — in the middle of a trade war?
— Tim Hodgson (@timhodgsonmt) July 1, 2025
The timing couldn’t be more symbolic. 🇨🇦
Read on to see why this is a watershed moment for… pic.twitter.com/PzGArLvb1j
“When construction began on LNG Canada’s terminal in 2018, who could’ve predicted our first shipment to Asia would set sail on the eve of Canada Day — in the middle of a trade war? The timing couldn’t be more symbolic. Read on to see why this is a watershed moment for Canada’s energy future.”
Hodgson further elaborated on the strategic importance of Canadian-made LNG:
This shipment is more than infrastructure — it’s a bridge:
— Tim Hodgson (@timhodgsonmt) July 1, 2025
🌏 To Asia
📈 To global markets
🤝 To deeper ties with allies who value reliability, stability, and speed.
For the first time, Canadians can say that we ship our natural gas to the world — not just across the…
“This shipment is more than infrastructure — it’s a bridge: To Asia. To global markets. To deeper ties with allies who value reliability, stability, and speed. For the first time, Canadians can say that we ship our natural gas to the world — not just across the border.”
Hodgson’s comments reflect the reality that before Canada Day 2025, our natural gas exports were bought by one customer, the U.S., sold at a discount that has been estimated to cost the Canadian economy $23 million per day in foregone revenues, or $9 billion every year [2].
The Minister’s vision aligns with the economic promise of LNG Canada, a $40-billion project hailed as the largest private-sector investment in Canadian history, poised to produce 14 million tonnes of LNG per annum (mtpa) in its first phase.
Now, a second phase of development set to double the facility’s export capacity to 24 mtpa is under review by proponents.
With our short shipping distances to Asia, vast 100-year gas reserves, natural geographical advantages, and growing global demand — not to mention the GDP impact, with B.C. Premier Eby highlighting that LNG Canada will boost national GDP by 0.4% — moving ahead with Phase 2 seems to be an obvious choice.
Hodgson also highlighted the industry’s achievements:
Canadians can also take pride in how high our LNG industry has raised the bar through:
— Tim Hodgson (@timhodgsonmt) July 1, 2025
✅ Low-emissions production
✅ Indigenous co-ownership
✅ Environmental stewardship
This is proof that when Canada leads with values, vision, and determination, we don’t just keep up —…
“Canadians can also take pride in how high our LNG industry has raised the bar through: Low-emissions production, Indigenous co-ownership, [and] Environmental stewardship. This is proof that when Canada leads with values, vision, and determination, we don’t just keep up — we pull ahead.”
His comments reflect a deep pride in the collaborative efforts that made Canada’s first LNG milestone possible, positioning our country as a reliable energy partner on the world stage with the potential to do more. After all, several countries across Asia and Europe have either asked for or support Canadian-made LNG since war broke out in Eastern Europe in 2022.
LNG Canada has opened the door for Canadian-made natural gas to reach Asian markets, where it fetches a higher price compared to landlocked exports [3]. It, and other projects to come such as Cedar LNG and Woodfibre LNG, will reduce our reliance on the U.S., a critical move given recent trade uncertainties. LNG Canada’s scale — spanning the Kitimat terminal, the Coastal GasLink pipeline, and gas fields in northeast B.C. — promises long-term economic benefits that will last generations.
As Minister Hodgson’s remarks on X suggest, the timing of this shipment amid a trade war amplifies its symbolic weight. It’s a declaration of Canada’s intent to forge new trading partnerships and secure our economic future amid growing global geopolitical uncertainty.
This historic moment, celebrated on Canada Day, is not just a shipment — it’s a statement of ambition and resilience.
Next up: let's expedite the approval of Canadian-made LNG projects across the country, for a better world, and a brighter future for Canadians.
Canada just exported our first LNG cargo! A reason to celebrate if you care about our economic security and answering the call to meet growing global demand. pic.twitter.com/SoKiM4rKaV
— LNG Action (@LNGAction) July 1, 2025
SOURCES:
1 – https://x.com/timhodgsonmt/status/1940071391740547411?s=12&t=Act9QPUigWotLffoxqV2cA
2 - https://financialpost.com/commodities/energy/natural-gas-albertas-forgotten-commodity-quietly-suffering-through-steep-pricing-discounts
3 - https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/kitimat-lng-gaslog-glasgow-1.7574703