FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
New proposal highlights the natural gas opportunity to lower costs, support growth and strengthen energy security.
As leaders from Indigenous Nations, government, industry, and finance gather for the First Nations Major Projects Coalition Conference, the Canadian Gas Association (CGA) is calling on the federal government to support a national effort to connect rural and Indigenous communities to reliable, affordable natural gas.
Access to affordable, reliable energy remains a challenge in many parts of the country. Across Canada, millions of people in rural and remote regions, including more than 300 First Nations in provinces where data is available, lack access to natural gas and instead rely on higher-cost energy sources such as electricity, heating oil, propane, or diesel.
CGA’s proposal outlines a practical solution: targeted federal levers to help close the final funding gap for community connection projects that are already identified but cannot proceed under current provincial regulatory frameworks. In many cases, these projects are near existing infrastructure and could deliver immediate benefits to households and local economies.
“Affordable and reliable energy is foundational to community growth, housing and economic opportunity,” said Susanna Zagar, President and CEO of the Canadian Gas Association. “There is a clear opportunity to connect communities to infrastructure that already exists, but we need federal policy and funding tools that reflect that reality.”
The proposal aligns with federal priorities to reduce costs for Canadians, invest in nation-building infrastructure and support rural and Indigenous economic development. It also reflects a long-standing federal role in enabling essential infrastructure, such as broadband, where market conditions alone are not enough to deliver service.
CGA members have identified $1.1 billion in near-term natural gas connection projects across the country, representing a significant opportunity to lower household energy costs, improve reliability and support long-term community development.
Read the full document here.
About the Canadian Gas Association (CGA):
The Canadian Gas Association (CGA) represents Canadian-owned utilities operating across eight provinces and one territory, delivering natural gas, RNG, and hydrogen through nearly 600,000 km of resilient underground infrastructure. Meeting about 40% of Canada’s energy needs and serving over 7.6 million customer locations. CGA members ensure Canadians receive affordable, reliable, and safe energy.
For media enquiries, please contact:
Meeta Singh, Director Communications
msingh@cga.ca