NATIONAL STORIES
Will they use Chinese Steel over Canadian like Phase One?
LNG Canada receives final investment decision for Phase 2 expansion in Kitimat, doubling capacity to 28 million tonnes and creating thousands of jobs.
Kitimat Facility Capacity Set to Double
A major expansion project at LNG Canada’s Kitimat facility is moving forward following a final investment decision. CEO Chris Cooper announced that Phase 2 will double the site’s annual processing capability from 14 million tonnes to 28 million tonnes, placing Canada among the top five global liquefied natural gas exporting nations.
The expansion adds two processing units, known as trains, along with a loading berth, a condensate tank, an extra LNG storage tank, and expanded utility systems. LNG Canada estimates that Phase 2 could yield over $50 billion in government revenue over its lifetime.
Employment and Infrastructure Growth
Construction activities are expected to deliver up to 4,000 jobs in Kitimat during peak activity, alongside roughly 2,100 jobs to erect five new compressor stations along the 670-kilometre Coastal GasLink pipeline. Preliminary work on the marine facilities and jetty is already in progress, with water-management pond construction starting in October and heavy foundation piling planned for January.
Indigenous partnerships remain central to the project’s framework. Haisla Nation elected Chief Maureen Nyce noted that the development reflects true partnership between industry and Indigenous communities while advancing generational prosperity and environmental stewardship within her nation’s traditional territory. In July, LNG Canada reached an equity option agreement with MNT Investments LP, representing economic development organizations from five neighbouring First Nations: the Gitga at, Gitxaała, Haisla, Kitselas, and Kitsumkalum.
Government and Regional Responses
Official approval was highlighted in Vancouver during a press conference with Prime Minister Mark Carney and B.C. Premier David Eby. Carney noted that the federal Major Projects Office completed its assessment within 12 months. Premier Eby stated the expanded facility will achieve a carbon emissions profile 30 per cent better than the world’s top-performing LNG plants, alongside a methane emission rate 60 per cent lower than average facilities.
Local perspectives varied following the announcement. Skeena MLA Claire Ratt e expressed gratitude that Phase 2 is moving forward, though she noted that additional projects should have proceeded years earlier. Meanwhile, B.C. Conservative Leader Lorne Doerkson recently pledged to triple provincial LNG production to boost the economy.
NATIONAL STORIES
Search Continues After Ontario-Based Medical Flight Vanishes Near Massachusetts Coast
U.S. Coast Guard crews are searching near Nantucket for a missing Latitude Air Ambulance jet carrying four Canadians and two passengers from Bermuda.
Emergency Search Underway Off Nantucket
Air and ground search teams are scanning waters approximately 150 kilometres southeast of Boston after a medical transport aircraft vanished early Saturday morning. Contact with the Gulfstream G100 jet was lost around 1:30 a.m. as it made its approach toward Boston from Bermuda, prompting a response from the U.S. Coast Guard following notification by the Federal Aviation Administration.
Flight Carrying Crew and Patients
The aircraft is operated by Hamilton-based Latitude Air Ambulance. According to Clarence Togeretz, operations manager for the company, six individuals were aboard the flight. The crew consists of two Canadian pilots and two Canadian medical staff members. They were transporting two Bermuda nationals, identified as a patient and a family member.
Response and Ongoing Inquiries
Togeretz confirmed that the company contacted American authorities after the plane failed to land on the tarmac as scheduled. He noted that this marks the first instance where the operator has lost contact with one of its aircraft, adding that the team is holding onto optimism while praying for a safe resolution. Latitude Air Ambulance has reached out to Transport Canada regarding the incident. Meanwhile, provincial air ambulance provider Ornge expressed support via social media, stating it hopes the aircraft and everyone on board are located safely and quickly.
NATIONAL STORIES
Why Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre Questions Mark Carney’s New Pipeline Stance
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre criticizes Mark Carney’s pipeline proposal, calling him an illusion and questioning his shift on oil and gas.
Poilievre Dismisses Carney’s Fast-Track Pipeline Proposal
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has expressed strong skepticism regarding Mark Carney, describing him as an “illusion” ahead of an upcoming major announcement. Poilievre questioned Carney’s recent backing of a proposal to fast-track and construct a West Coast pipeline project.
Contrasting Past Record with Recent Statements
Poilievre highlighted Carney’s history over the past decade, pointing out that the former banker worked to defund oil and gas, established an alliance aimed at shutting down the sector, opposed a Pacific pipeline, and advocated for higher carbon taxes.
“I don’t know how you can go in three years from believing oil and gas is going to end the world to believing you support oil and gas,” Poilievre stated. “I guess miracles are possible. He claims to have changed his mind but he hasn’t really changed the results. There’s been a lot of talk.”
Comparisons to Foreign Project Delivery
In assessing the situation, the Conservative leader observed that large-scale infrastructure projects are completed rapidly in nations like Germany and the United States.
NATIONAL STORIES
Michael J. Fox Earns Canada’s Highest Civilian Distinction for Parkinson’s Work
Michael J. Fox was elevated to companion of the Order of Canada alongside 50 other honourees, including UBC engineering professor Yusuf Altintas.
National Honours Presented at Rideau Hall
During an investiture ceremony on Friday morning at Rideau Hall, Gov. Gen. Louise Arbour formally elevated celebrated actor and advocate Michael J. Fox to the companion level of the Order of Canada, drawing a standing ovation from attendees. Rideau Hall cited his unflinching honesty and powerful global advocacy concerning Parkinson’s disease for the elevation. Fox, who publicly disclosed his diagnosis in 1998, has helped generate $2.5 billion for research into the progressive nervous system disorder, which causes tremors, slowness, stiffness, memory difficulties, and depression.
Distinguished Inductees Recognized Across Fields
A total of 51 individuals joined or advanced within the Order of Canada during the Friday event. Arbour praised the group in French for directing their skills, influence, and effort toward the public good rather than personal gain alone, noting that Fox serves as a shining example of using courage, imagination, and determination to foster lasting progress.
The newly honoured members and officers include noteworthy figures across various disciplines. University of British Columbia mechanical engineering professor Yusuf Altintas was inducted as an officer alongside McGill University professor Nada Jabado, who was recognized for her contributions to pediatric neuro-oncology. Former Bank of Canada governor Stephen Poloz became an officer for his efforts supporting international trade and economic stability. Sculptor Ruth Elsie Abernethy entered as a member for her worldwide bronze statues exploring heritage, gender, and nation-building, while Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative journalist Susanne Craig was named a member for her impactful reporting across major American and Canadian news outlets.
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