Berlin, August 28, 2025 – The Europe Today: Canada is moving to meet European demand for liquefied natural gas (LNG), reversing the stance of the previous Liberal government under former prime minister Justin Trudeau, Natural Resources Minister Tim Hodgson said on Wednesday.
Speaking at a press conference in Berlin at the end of his European visit, Hodgson revealed that German companies had expressed strong interest in Canadian LNG. While declining to name the firms, he said several buyers were ready to trade Canadian supplies on the international market.
“The previous government made its decision based on the situation at the time. What we’ve been elected to do is respond to the realities today, taking into account what Canadians expect of us,” Hodgson told reporters. “And I would say the realities today are quite different than they were two or three years ago.”
Hodgson emphasized that Canadian West Coast production could serve as a vital link for Germany’s Atlantic energy needs.
Global energy shifts cited
The minister highlighted the geopolitical and economic context driving Ottawa’s new approach. “Three years ago, Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine plunged Europe into the worst energy crisis since the 1970s. And Germany faced the hardest energy shock in generations,” he said.
He also pointed to the current trade confrontation with U.S. President Donald Trump, arguing that Canada must build “a new economic and security relationship not only with the U.S., but with our allies around the world.”
The position contrasts with remarks made by Trudeau during his August 2022 meeting with then-German chancellor Olaf Scholz, when he cited investment challenges and the lack of a strong business case for Canadian LNG exports to Europe.
Major projects office to launch this week
Hodgson confirmed that the government will launch its long-promised major projects office before the end of the week. The office, a central element of the C-5 legislation aimed at streamlining approvals, will work with provincial and territorial governments on jurisdictional and environmental assessments for large-scale projects.
“I am hopeful you will be quite pleased on Thursday or Friday with the announcement of the launch of the major projects office, the leadership of the major projects office and the plans for it,” Hodgson said.
Prime Minister Mark Carney earlier suggested that a list of federally approved projects would be released within two weeks, including expansions at the Port of Montreal and the Port of Churchill in northern Manitoba, the latter focusing specifically on LNG exports.
Political reactions
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre criticized the government’s pace, accusing Carney of inaction. “Not only is there not a single shovel in the ground on any of these projects, there are not even firm proposals,” he said. “Mr. Carney has been frantically jetting around the world doing photo ops and signing phony declarations that are unenforceable and have no money attached to them.”
However, industry observers welcomed the government’s signals. Jay Khosla, executive director of economic and energy policy at the Public Policy Forum and a former senior official under Trudeau and Stephen Harper, said the shift reflects global realities.
“The world is asking us for this, not the other way around,” Khosla told CBC News. He added that the effectiveness of the new projects office would determine whether Canada can deliver.
“We need to be both efficient and effective. Timelines in that space matter. This government is saying timelines matter, so that’s terrific,” he said.
