When Stewart Muir joined CBC News Network on April 25, the questions were direct.
Host Deana Sumanac-Johnson opened with the scale of the decision. The federal government had approved a $4-billion expansion tied to the Sunrise project. What does it mean?
Muir’s answer was immediate.
“This is what we need to see right now… it is a confidence booster.”
He framed the approval as more than a project. It reflects a shift in momentum.
A year earlier, he had advocated for expanded pipeline corridors. Now, regulators have ruled it in the national interest. Construction is set to begin in July.
For Muir, that sequence matters. It shows Canada can still move from debate to decision.
Opening markets and agency
The interview then turned to economics. Could this project reduce Canada’s reliance on the United States?
Muir pointed to a long-standing issue. Western Canadian natural gas often sells at a discount into U.S. markets.
“We have no alternative markets… this will allow an outlet for more liquefied natural gas.”
The implication is clear. Infrastructure creates options.
By enabling LNG exports from the B.C. coast, Canada can diversify trade. It can also strengthen its negotiating position.
Muir framed it as a signal outward.
Canada is asserting control over where its resources go. In a volatile trade environment, that message carries weight.
The climate question, layered
No modern energy discussion avoids emissions. The host raised criticism that more gas infrastructure could undermine climate targets.
Muir did not dismiss the concern.
“It’s a legitimate criticism, absolutely.”
But he argued the issue operates on several layers.
First, the regulator’s approval includes climate considerations. The project passed that test.
Second, technology is improving.
“They’re… using green electricity compressors instead.”
That shift reduces emissions intensity. It also lowers costs.
Third, reliability matters. Gas can backstop intermittent renewables like wind.
In Muir’s view, the system works together. Natural gas enables more renewables, not fewer.
Canada in a fragile world
The final question widened the lens. Where does this leave Canada globally?
Muir pointed to recent shocks. Conflict in Ukraine. Tensions affecting global shipping routes.
Energy security is no longer abstract.
“We can… become, over the next decade, a fire when the world hits a rough patch.”
The phrasing is imperfect, but the idea is sharp. Canada can act as a stabilizer.
He noted the early stages of LNG development on the B.C. coast. More projects are planned. The ambition is large.
But the path is incremental.
“This is [a] really important step,” he said of the approval.
For Muir, the Sunrise decision is not the destination. It is proof that the system can still deliver outcomes.
Ian Biana writes for the Resource Works Accelerate team and can be reached at [email protected].
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