By The Canadian Press

Copyright montrealgazette

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Article contentAt the time, Greg Cano, chief operating officer for Marinvest Energy Canada, said in a statement that there is a “clear and growing demand” for LNG in Europe, and Quebec is “strategically well-positioned to meet this need.”Article contentThe May briefing note advises the government to “seek insight on the project’s current status, and next steps,” and to inquire “on Marinvest’s long-term forecast of European LNG demand.”Article contentIt also recommends inviting “the proponent’s views on the federal regulatory process and timelines, within the context of the new government’s commitment to develop more efficient processes.”Article contentIn June, Parliament passed Bill C-5, Carney’s signature legislation meant to speed up approvals for projects deemed to be in the national interest. Hodgson’s office did not respond to questions this week about the Marinvest project, but said in a statement that all projects to be referred to the new major projects office must strengthen Canada’s autonomy, provide economic benefits, have a high likelihood of success, benefit Indigenous peoples and contribute to climate change goals.Article contentAdvertisement 3Story continues belowThis advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.Article contentIn a statement, Marinvest said it would be “speculative at this stage” to say whether its LNG project could be formally designated a project of national interest. However, the company added that the project aligns with Bill C-5’s goals of “Canadian autonomy, resilience, security, economic benefits, and advancement of Indigenous interests.”Article contentThe Canadian subsidiary of the Norwegian company Marinvest Energy AS was listed in Quebec’s business registry in June. Cano is named as its sole Canadian shareholder.Article contentThough the company reports having no salaried employees in Quebec, it has already hired several lobbyists to pitch the project to government officials. Four lobbyists with the public relations firm National are currently registered to lobby the federal government on behalf of the company.Article contentApart from lobbying staff in Carney’s and Hodgson’s offices, the company has also lobbied Canada’s ambassador to Norway.Article contentAdvertisement 4Story continues belowThis advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.Article contentThe communications were to “determine the applicable conditions for implementing a transformative and beneficial energy project for the future of Quebec and Canada,” according to details in the lobbyist registry.Article contentIn its statement, Marinvest said it has held “exploratory meetings” with government officials. “These discussions remain preliminary, as the project is still in development,” the company said, adding that it has not yet submitted a “defined project” for review.Article contentMarinvest said its “immediate priority” is engaging with First Nations about the project. The May briefing note from Natural Resources Canada says the government should “emphasize the importance of engaging Indigenous communities early in the project design and planning process,” and should ask the company about its plans to “engage Indigenous communities… ahead of the regulatory application.”Advertisement 2This advertisement has not loaded yet.

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Article contentAn attachment to the document notes that a previous proposal for a natural gas pipeline and export facility in Quebec’s Saguenay region “faced opposition from Indigenous communities, including Innu in northern Quebec.”Article contentThe Quebec government axed that project in 2021, saying it risked “disadvantaging the energy transition.” The following year, it was also rejected by the federal government, after the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada found it was likely to harm the environment.Article contentA spokesperson for Quebec Economy Minister Christine Frechette said she could not comment on Marinvest, since “no project has officially been submitted.”Article contentBut she said the Trump administration has disrupted the Quebec economy and the province has “a duty to objectively and rigorously examine projects of national interest.”Article contentThree lobbyists from National are registered to lobby the Quebec government on behalf of Marinvest. Quebec Premier Francois Legault has previously confirmed that members of his team have met with the project’s proponents.Article contentAdvertisement 5Story continues belowThis advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.Article contentLouis Couillard, a climate campaigner with Greenpeace Canada, said the renewed discussion of LNG in Eastern Canada is a reaction to the Liberal government’s focus on big projects. He said the Marinvest project seems very similar to the one that Quebec rejected four years ago, but the context has changed since then.Article content“We’re seeing there’s a political appetite. But in terms of the business case, there’s no known investors yet for that project. It’s a small Norwegian company,” he said.Article content“When I look at it, I think it’s completely unserious. But there’s a small army of lobbyists … and they’re meeting all the highest politicians in the country. Somehow, somewhere, there are people that think this is a serious project.”Article contentThis report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 2, 2025.Article contentAdvertisement 3This advertisement has not loaded yet.

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