An era of Indigenous economic leadership in Canada has begun

Energy for a Secure Future (ESF), the Institute of Energy Economics, Japan (IEEJ), and the First Nations LNG Alliance have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to increase energy trade between Canada and Japan. The MOU was signed at the Canadian Embassy in Tokyo and recognizes the growing importance of Indigenous-led LNG projects in Canada’s energy security, reducing global emissions, and driving economic growth for First Nations and the country as a whole.

With Canada’s trade relationship with the U.S. uncertain—especially with U.S. President Donald Trump threatening a 25 per cent tariff on Canadian exports, including 10 per cent on energy—the need to diversify markets has never been more pressing. Canada ships 97 per cent of its oil and gas to the U.S., leaving the country exposed to the political whims of Washington. Expanding trade partnerships with key allies like Japan provides an opportunity to mitigate these risks and build a more resilient economy.

At the heart of Canada’s modern energy industry are First Nations-led LNG projects, which are proving to be a model for economic reconciliation and environmental responsibility. The Haisla Nation’s Cedar LNG, the Squamish Nation’s involvement with Woodfibre LNG, and the Nisga’a Nation’s Ksi Lisims LNG project exemplify Indigenous leadership in Canada’s energy future. These projects bring economic prosperity to Indigenous communities and position Canada as a key player in low-emission energy for the world.

Few people embody this leadership more than Chief Crystal Smith of the Haisla Nation, who received the 2025 Testimonial Dinner Award on February 7. Her vision and determination have brought Cedar LNG—the world’s first Indigenous-majority-owned LNG facility—to life. Under her leadership, this $4-billion project will start up in 2028 and will be one of the most sustainable LNG facilities in the world, powered entirely by BC Hydro’s renewable electricity. Her work is not just about resource development—it represents a country-changing shift in Indigenous economic leadership. By owning the majority of the Cedar LNG project, the Haisla Nation has set a precedent for economic self-determination, long-term job creation, revenue generation, and skills training for Indigenous youth.

She is echoed by Karen Ogen, CEO of the First Nations LNG Alliance, who has been a long-time advocate for Indigenous participation in LNG. As she says, “Our involvement in LNG not only represents an opportunity for economic growth for our communities and for Canada but will help the world with energy security and emissions reduction.”

The MOU signed in Tokyo signals Japan’s growing interest in Canadian LNG as part of its energy security strategy. Japan is phasing out coal and needs reliable, low-emission energy sources—Canadian LNG is the answer. Shannon Joseph, Chair of Energy for a Secure Future, said, “Japan wants diverse energy partners, and on this mission, we’ve heard clearly that they want Canada to be one of those partners.”

This partnership also highlights Canada’s missed opportunities over the last decade. As industry leaders like Eric Nuttall of Ninepoint Partners have pointed out, Canada could have avoided its current dependence on U.S. markets had it built more pipelines to the east and west coasts. The cancellation of the Northern Gateway and Energy East pipelines left Canada without the infrastructure to reach Asian and European markets.

Now, with the expansion of Trans Mountain (TMX) and the rise of Indigenous-led LNG projects, Canada has a second chance to shape its energy future.

As B.C. Minister of Economic Development Diana Gibson has said, expanding trade relationships beyond the U.S. is key to Canada’s future.

The First Nations-led LNG sector is demonstrating that Indigenous leadership is driving economic reconciliation and strengthening Canada’s geopolitical influence in global energy markets. For too long, Indigenous communities were merely stakeholders in resource projects—now they are owners and partners. First Nations are proving that responsible development and environmental stewardship can coexist.

With the MOU between Canada and Japan, the growth of LNG projects, and the recognition of Chief Crystal Smith, a new era of Indigenous economic power is emerging. These developments make one thing clear: First Nations are not just leading their communities—they are leading Canada.

In times of trade uncertainty, their vision, resilience, and business acumen are building the foundation for Canada’s energy future, ensuring prosperity is shared between Indigenous peoples and all Canadians.

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Elon reveals millions of people in Social Security database between the ages of 100-159

Published on February 18, 2025

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MxM News

Quick Hit:

Elon Musk revealed on X that millions of individuals in the Social Security database are recorded as over 100 years old, with no death record attached. The billionaire suggested the findings could indicate massive fraud within the system.

According to the Social Security database, these are the numbers of people in each age bucket with the death field set to FALSE!

Maybe Twilight is real and there are a lot of vampires collecting Social Security 🤣🤣 pic.twitter.com/ltb06VX98Z

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 17, 2025

Key Details:

Musk shared a chart showing over 20 million people in the database listed as 100+ years old, including 3.9 million between 130-139, 3.5 million between 140-149, and 1.3 million between 150-159.
The 2020 U.S. Census recorded just over 80,000 people aged 100 or older, casting doubt on the accuracy of the Social Security data.
Musk suggested that the Social Security system is riddled with inconsistencies and could be facilitating large-scale fraud.

Diving Deeper:

On Sunday, Elon Musk took to X with a shocking revelation about the Social Security database, suggesting it contains massive inaccuracies—possibly enabling widespread fraud. Musk pointed out that millions of individuals are recorded as being 100 years or older, yet their death status remains unmarked.

“According to the Social Security database, these are the numbers of people in each age bucket with the death field set to FALSE! Maybe Twilight is real and there are a lot of vampires collecting Social Security,” Musk quipped, sharing a chart showing over 20 million centenarians in the system.

The data he highlighted included staggering figures: more than 3.9 million individuals listed as 130-139 years old, 3.5 million aged 140-149, and over 1.3 million aged 150-159. These numbers are vastly out of sync with U.S. Census data, which recorded just over 80,000 people aged 100 or older in 2020.

Musk didn’t stop there. He went on to criticize the complexity and lack of oversight in Social Security operations, calling the system’s logic “INSANE.” According to Musk, “No one person actually knows how it works. The payment files that move between Social Security and Treasury have significant inconsistencies that are not reconciled. It’s wild.”

Perhaps the most damning accusation Musk made was in a follow-up post where he warned that the Social Security system might be one of the largest fraud schemes in history. “There are FAR more ‘eligible’ Social Security numbers than there are citizens in the USA. This might be the biggest fraud in history,” he posted.

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DOGE discovers $4.7T in untraceable U.S. Treasury payments

Published on February 18, 2025

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Quick Hit:

The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), established under President Donald Trump, has discovered that nearly $4.7 trillion in U.S. Treasury payments were processed with an optional, often blank identification code—making them nearly impossible to track. The revelation has prompted immediate changes to federal financial reporting, mandating full transparency on these transactions moving forward.

Key Details:

DOGE found that the Treasury Access Symbol (TAS), a key financial identifier, was frequently left blank in transactions totaling $4.7 trillion.
The Trump administration’s watchdog agency worked with the U.S. Treasury to close this loophole, making the TAS field mandatory for all federal payments.
DOGE continues to uncover and eliminate government waste, already reporting an estimated $55 billion in taxpayer savings through spending cuts and contract renegotiations.

Diving Deeper:

The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), spearheaded by Elon Musk under President Donald Trump’s administration, has made a bombshell discovery regarding federal spending. According to the agency, $4.7 trillion in payments were funneled through the U.S. Treasury without clear tracking due to an often-missing Treasury Access Symbol (TAS). This identifier, which links government expenditures to specific budget items, was optional in the federal system—resulting in payments that were nearly impossible to trace.

DOGE announced the finding on X, explaining that the TAS field has now been made mandatory for all federal payments. “As of Saturday, this is now a required field, increasing insight into where money is actually going,” the agency stated. This change is expected to bring a new level of transparency to federal finances, ensuring that taxpayer dollars are properly accounted for.

The revelation coincides with DOGE’s broader mission to root out wasteful government spending. Since its creation via executive order, the agency has reported $55 billion in estimated savings, achieved through fraud detection, renegotiations of contracts, and regulatory cuts. The agency is also working to make its cost-cutting measures fully transparent, committing to updating its financial data twice per week with the goal of transitioning to real-time reporting.

Musk’s leadership at DOGE has sparked both praise and controversy. While conservatives applaud the agency’s aggressive stance on reducing bloated government programs, critics—particularly among Democrats—have raised concerns over its authority to access federal data and cancel government contracts. Attorneys general from 14 states have filed a lawsuit aiming to block DOGE from federal systems, arguing that its executive authority over financial oversight is an overreach.

Despite legal challenges, DOGE recently won a key court battle, with a federal judge in Washington declining to temporarily block its access to sensitive data from several agencies, including the Departments of Labor and Health and Human Services. This ruling is seen as a green light for the Trump administration’s cost-cutting mission to continue.

With the U.S. national debt at record highs, DOGE’s latest discovery raises serious questions about past government financial management. The $4.7 trillion in untraceable payments underscores why the agency was created in the first place—and why Washington’s establishment has resisted its oversight.