Resource Works CEO and founder Stewart Muir has laid out the conditions for Canada to realize its potential

How can Canada fully realize its energy potential?

Stewart Muir – CEO of Resource Works – often speaks about this question. According to Muir, Canada’s abundant natural resources, skilled workforce, and high standards give us a strong foundation to build on. But to translate these strengths into true economic and environmental leadership, a few key conditions must be met.

Below are five key conditions Muir highlights (especially regarding LNG and oil development) that can help Canada seize its energy opportunity:

Streamlined & Efficient Regulation – Unnecessarily lengthy and unpredictable approval processes have stalled projects and scared away investors. Muir advocates cutting red tape and speeding up decisions so that government isn’t working “at cross purposes” with industry . Reforming Canada’s permitting and regulatory processes would make energy projects more viable and globally competitive, allowing development to proceed faster without compromising standards.

Strong Indigenous Partnerships – Canada’s energy future needs to be built in true partnership with Indigenous peoples. Muir points out that First Nations are increasingly co-leading resource projects, with over 500 economic and reconciliation agreements in British Columbia alone. Embracing Indigenous leadership – through equity partnerships, consultations, and benefit-sharing – not only advances reconciliation but also creates certainty and shared prosperity for energy developments. Projects move forward best when Indigenous communities are on board as genuine partners.

Robust Infrastructure & Market Access – To capitalize on our resources, Canada must expand and modernize the infrastructure that gets energy to market. That means building and upgrading pipelines, ports, and LNG terminals. The recent completion of the Trans Mountain Expansion (TMX) pipeline is a proof point – it’s already moving Canadian oil to U.S. and Asian buyers , helping fetch better prices. Muir and others argue we also need to develop new LNG capacity, including on the East Coast, to supply allies in Europe . By investing in strategic infrastructure, Canada can ensure its oil and gas reach global markets efficiently and safely, turning resource potential into real economic growth.

Proactive Global Market Positioning – Canada has to seize its moment in the global energy market. Demand for energy is skyrocketing worldwide, yet Canada hasn’t fully stepped up to meet it. For example, when allied nations like Germany and Japan turned to Canada for LNG in recent years, they left empty-handed for lack of a “strong business case” to export gas. Meanwhile, other suppliers (the U.S., Qatar, etc.) eagerly filled those needs. Muir emphasizes that Canada must proactively position itself as a reliable exporter – or risk being left behind while others grab the opportunity. That means securing long-term contracts and building trade relationships so Canadian LNG and oil can become go-to choices in Asia, Europe, and beyond. In short, we need to act with urgency on the world stage to claim our share of the market.

Public Confidence through Environmental Leadership – Earning public trust is essential for any energy project to succeed. Canadians need to see that resource development can coexist with high environmental standards and climate responsibility. Muir notes that strengthening public confidence in energy and mining projects could help “preserve and unlock” the economic value of Canada’s huge reserves, and even position Canada as a leader in how to do resource development right. This means being transparent, engaging communities early, and upholding world-class environmental protections. Canada’s own track record shows that responsible resource development is not just possible – “it’s our forte”. By leading with strong environmental performance (for instance, using clean technology and cutting emissions per barrel), project developers can build the social license to operate. In turn, this public trust enables more projects to move ahead, aligning economic growth with our climate and environmental commitments.

Bottom Line: Muir’s vision suggests that if Canada delivers on these conditions – from faster approvals and better partnerships to smarter infrastructure and trust-building – we can translate our natural advantages into both prosperity and sustainability. Canada has the resources and know-how; now it’s about having the will to act.

By focusing on these key areas, Canada can become not only an energy powerhouse at home, but also a global example of economic and environmental leadership in responsible energy development.

Sam Cooper

Democracy Watch, a transparency advocate, announced today that it has filed an application in the Ontario Court of Justice seeking approval to pursue a private prosecution of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for pressuring then-Attorney General Jody Wilson-Raybould in 2018 to halt the prosecution of SNC-Lavalin.

The application reportedly includes a legal opinion by a retired superior court justice—issued on condition of anonymity—supporting charges of obstruction of justice and possibly breach of trust. The group alleges that the RCMP failed to investigate the matter properly, allowing Trudeau’s office to avoid scrutiny.

“The RCMP conducted a very superficial investigation into the Cabinet’s interference,” said Duff Conacher, Co-founder of Democracy Watch. “They didn’t interview many key witnesses or obtain critical Cabinet records, then decided not to prosecute anyone behind closed doors. We believe a judge must see this evidence in open court.”

Newly released RCMP transcripts indicate that senior officials, including Trudeau’s then-Principal Secretary Gerald Butts, repeatedly pressed Wilson-Raybould to override prosecutors and grant SNC-Lavalin a Deferred Prosecution Agreement. Jessica Prince, Wilson-Raybould’s Chief of Staff, told investigators that she rebuffed persistent calls from Finance Minister Bill Morneau’s Chief of Staff, Ben Chin, who insisted there had to be a “middle ground.” Prince also accused PMO adviser Mathieu Bouchard of interference, claiming that he tied the government’s reelection hopes in Quebec to SNC-Lavalin’s fate.

Democracy Watch’s “will say” document alleges that the RCMP applied an improper legal standard for obstruction of justice and never considered breach of trust. “Private prosecutions let citizens act when authorities fail to,” said Jen Danch of Swadron Associates, which represents Democracy Watch. The group contends that the RCMP relied on self-interested public statements, omitted key witness interviews—including those with Jane Philpott—and accepted the Cabinet’s refusal to disclose pivotal communications. Conacher called for a public inquiry into why the RCMP “covered up” its investigation and demanded reforms to ensure the force’s independence.

The SNC-Lavalin affair broke in early 2019, prompting the resignations of Wilson-Raybould and then-Treasury Board President Jane Philpott. It contributed to the Liberals losing their majority in the 2019 federal election and continues to reverberate, with renewed attention on Trudeau’s inner circle and potential successors.