Thursday September 18, 2025 | OTTAWA, ON
by Mary P Brooke, Editor | Island Social Trends
BC Premier David Eby is in Ottawa today. He and three of his cabinet ministers arrived yesterday in the nation’s capital for talks on matters of economic and political importance to BC and the country.
Eby’s news release yesterday said the two-day trade mission was to “move major projects forward”.
He is accompanied in Ottawa by Brenda Bailey, Minister of Finance; Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Jobs and Economic Growth; and Ravi Parmar, Minister of Forests.
Eby and his ministers are there for meetings with Prime Minister Mark Carney and senior members of the federal cabinet to discuss British Columbia’s priorities for growth.
Prosperity and jobs:
“Premier David Eby is leading a mission to Ottawa to push for more investment in major infrastructure projects that deliver prosperity and jobs for people in BC,” the premier’s office stated yesterday.
The day before — on Tuesday September 16 — Eby announced that an Indigenous-led LNG project had received its environmental approval and could make progress with their two business partners.
Two of five:
“I’m glad to see that 40% of the federal government’s nation-building projects are located in B.C., a result of our direct push to grow our economy and create good-paying jobs,” said Premier Eby, repeating something he said last week when Prime Minister Mark Carney announced the first five major projects that will get support from the new Major Projects Office in Calgary.
- Phase two of LNG Canada in Kitimat, B.C., doubling its production of liquefied natural gas. [BC Premier David Eby held a hasty press conference at the LNG facility in Kitimat in July]
- The Darlington New Nuclear Project in Clarington, Ont., which will make small modular reactors. [For months, Ontario Premier Doug Ford has been promoting small nuclear as a prime example of key energy projects as a way to help with Canadian energy resilience]
- Contrecœur Terminal Container Project to expand the Port of Montreal. [Carney highlighted this project and other ports several weeks ago.]
- The McIlvenna Bay Foran Copper Mine Project in Saskatchewan. [Copper has been highlighted as a key mineral resource for months in federal economic discourse.]
- The expansion of the Red Chris Mine in northwestern B.C. [In July there was a mine rescue incident of some trapped inspectors at Red Chris Mine.]
Additional projects in mind for BC:
“In Ottawa, I will continue discussions about these projects and the tens of billions (of dollars) in additional projects that should be considered in the next round, said Eby in his news release yesterday.
Today in Ottawa Eby told media that the projects are backed by private proponents and are ready to go but “need a strong federal partner”.
Eby told media today that the pipeline being pushed by Alberta “that doesn’t exist in any meaningful way”, compared to BC projects that are ready to proceed. “I’m concerned around projects that we actually have, that are going ahead in our province,” said Eby, making specific reference to the Ksi Lisims LNG project that “rely on the support of coastal First Nations”.
“Those projects may be put in jeopardy by that push,” said Eby, referring to the proposed Northern Gateway Pipeline that Alberta Premier Danielle Smith keeps pushing for. The Northern Gateway Pipeline is a proposed twin-pipeline project by Enbridge that would transport 525,000 barrels of diluted bitumen from Bruderheim, Alberta to a marine terminal in Kitimat, BC.
“If the federal government wants private-sector projects that deliver prosperity for all Canadians, look west to British Columbia,” it was stated in the premier’s news release yesterday.
He launched the ‘look west’ mantra on Tuesday in his morning press conference from Vancouver, saying the growing the BC economic is essential for Canada’s economic success.
The discussion will focus on moving major projects forward, such as securing necessary infrastructure funding. Ottawa has identified two B.C. projects as being of national significance – LNG Canada Phase 2 and the Red Chris Mine expansion.
These projects will create jobs, support communities and strengthen the services and supports families need to build a good life in the province. Premier Eby is committed to working with the federal government to realize the dozens of opportunities that are being developed throughout the province.
“It’s heartening to see the federal government recognize that projects in B.C. will drive the Canadian economy,” Premier Eby said.
“We can do more, we can do it faster and we can do it the right way. These projects reflect the values and will increase the prosperity of all Canadians.”
Public safety, immigration and housing:
Urgent matters related to public safety, immigration and housing are also being discussed by the BC team in Ottawa.
Extortion, gun violence and intimate-partner violence are key issues that the Premier and his team intend to raise.
Related trade missions:
The Ottawa mission builds on B.C.’s recent visits to Asia and Europe that have showcased the province’s vast range of investment and commercialization opportunities in critical minerals, life sciences, low-carbon energy, technology, agriculture, forestry and innovation.
===== RELATED:
- Growing the BC economy is essential, says Premier Eby (September 16, 2025)
- Carney announces five major projects to fast-track Canada’s economic transition (September 11, 2025)
- First LNG Canada shipments to Asia highlighted by Premier Eby’s visit to Kitimat (July 31, 2025)
- Eby, Choi & Popham on BC trade mission to Asia: food, culture, energy, minerals, lumber (June 1, 2025)
- BC trade mission to Asia in June 2025 (May 14, 2025)