Politicians from Quebec at all levels, as well as the public, appear more open than ever to the possibility of LNG and other energy projects
For years, Quebec has opposed plans for a Canada-wide energy strategy. The province has consistently said no to oil and gas pipeline projects like Energy East and Northern Gateway, citing environmental risks and a lack of social acceptability. But a major shift is occurring. U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat to impose big tariffs on Canadian energy exports and general economic uncertainty has opened up Quebec to fossil fuel infrastructure like never before.
In 2017, TransCanada’s Energy East pipeline, which would have carried Alberta oil to refineries in New Brunswick, was killed after Quebec’s politicians, including Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre, opposed it.
A similar fate befell GNL Québec, a proposed LNG terminal in Saguenay that would have shipped natural gas from Western Canada to international markets. The Legault government, under public pressure, killed the project in 2021, saying it didn’t fit with Quebec’s environmental and economic priorities. The federal government also rejected it in 2022, citing emissions and impacts on marine life, particularly the endangered beluga whale.
Fast forward to 2025, and the conversation has flipped. Trump’s threat to impose a 10 percent tariff on Canadian energy and 25 percent on all goods has Quebecers spooked. Premier François Legault has said Trump’s economic aggression could change public opinion on energy projects. Environment Minister Benoit Charette has just said that while past versions of Energy East and GNL Québec were a no-go, revised proposals that address past concerns could be considered.
Federal Liberal MPs, including Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne, are jumping into the conversation. Champagne, who represents a Quebec riding, has said Canada needs to reduce its dependence on the U.S. market and find ways to move energy across the country. He’s said pipelines and transmission lines running east-west may be necessary to secure Canada’s future.
That’s a big change from the Trudeau government’s previous stance, where they downplayed the importance of pipeline expansion and framed Energy East’s cancellation as a corporate decision, not a regulatory failure.
Public opinion in Quebec is shifting too. A recent Angus Reid Institute poll found support for reviving Energy East has risen from 33 percent in 2019 to 47 percent in 2025 as Quebecers become more aware of their reliance on foreign oil. Nationally, support is at 65 percent. Northern Gateway, another abandoned project, has majority support across Canada.
Quebec’s openness to LNG and oil projects is a big deal for pan-Canadian energy policy. For decades, Alberta and Saskatchewan have been blocked from getting their resources to market due to political opposition in Quebec and British Columbia. Now that Quebec is reconsidering, a national energy corridor could become a reality. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is seizing the moment, calling for renewed talks on Energy East and Northern Gateway. Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe is echoing those sentiments, saying the federal government needs to commit to infrastructure investment.
Reviving Energy East and GNL Québec would be a game-changer. By allowing Alberta’s oil and natural gas to reach domestic and global markets, Canada could reduce its dependence on the U.S. while securing higher prices internationally. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has said exporting LNG to Europe could fetch prices two to three times higher than what Canadian producers currently receive from U.S. buyers.
And Quebec’s shift is a big step towards national unity on energy policy. The rejection of Energy East in 2017 was seen as a symbol of Canada’s fractured approach to resource development. Now that Quebec is open to reconsidering these projects, pragmatism is trumping ideology.
Trump’s tariffs have done what all the lobbying and arguing couldn’t—get Quebec to consider energy projects. The province’s leaders, once staunch opponents of fossil fuel expansion, now see the need for energy self-sufficiency. With public support rising and political momentum building at both the provincial and federal levels, Canada could finally achieve a national energy corridor.