Canada wants to expand its LNG business. Critics raise red flags

As Canada's LNG export sector picks up speed, critics raise concerns over human rights violations by many major corporate investors. Save Share Kitimat, British Columbia:As Canada tries to position itself as an emerging leader in global liquefied natural gas (LNG) markets, it risks locking in multidecade, multibillion-dollar contracts with companies whose current and past ventures include human rights abuses and environmental damage. LNG Canada, which began operations in mid-2025 in Kitimat in British Columbia on the country's west coast, is the nation's first major export facility. In late September, it gave the green light to a $33bn expansion which will double production in the coming years at Kitimat. But the Kitimat plant has had challenges with its flaring equipment since beginning commissioning in late 2024. In 2025, the new liquefaction facility burned 350 million cubic metres of gas due to an issue with its main flare stack. “The flaring noise was on a whole other level when they were first getting started up,” a resident who asked not to be named said in an interview. “It was just huge, way bigger than I think it was supposed to be.” “I am devastated about the changes to my home territory,” another resident said. “I can't always see the stars like I used to from my parents' place here. My friend returned temporarily, and her asthma has been much worse.” The residents requested to remain unnamed because Kitimat is a small community and the industrial project is a major employer and donor to local organisations. The project has political support, especially as Canada faces economic pressures from United States President Donald Trump’s administration, which has unleashed a slew of tariffs on it, including on Canadian steel, lumber and aluminium in 2025 and added an additional suite of tariffs on Canadian products worth $20bn in August, including wine, dairy and textiles. Since Trump started his tariff campaign, the Canadian government has announced a flurry of deals and agreements aimed at diversifying trade partners and expanding domestic infrastructure developments. Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government recently added two LNG developments – LNG Canada and Ksi Lisims LNG – to its major projects list, promising strong federal support. The Major Projects Office, a dedicated agency, has been established to speed up infrastructure projects deemed to be of national interest....