On September 26, at the Vancouver Convention Centre, leaders gathered to celebrate LNG Canada’s Phase Two announcement: the largest private capital project in Canadian history. The event brought together BC Premier David Eby, Federal Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Tim Hodgson, and Canada’s Building Trades (CBTU) Executive Members, including IBEW Canada International Vice President (IVP) Russ Shewchuk.
Phase Two will double LNG Canada’s export capacity and, most importantly, will be built entirely by Canada’s Building Trades Unions. This commitment ensures the project will be delivered to the highest standard of skill, safety, and reliability.
IBEW members were central in completing Phase 1 of LNG Canada and the Site C Clean Energy Project. Their expertise and work ethic set the foundation for projects of this scale. With Phase 2, IBEW electricians and fellow CBTU skilled trades workers are again ready to deliver results Canadians can be proud of.
“Our members are the safest, most skilled electrical workers in the world,” said IVP Russ Shewchuk. “We look forward to bringing that same IBEW Code of Excellence to LNG Canada Phase Two and every project we take on.”
Project Labour Agreements (PLAs) will guide this work, guaranteeing prevailing wages, safe work sites, and stability for both workers and employers. Through the union dispatch system, IBEW and CBTU can quickly scale manpower to meet project needs, ensuring local communities and apprentices are the first to benefit, while drawing on a national network to meet demand when needed.
LNG Canada’s Phase 2 represents a long-term commitment to Canadian workers, families, and communities. It demonstrates how unionized trades can deliver projects of unprecedented scale while maintaining the highest standards of safety and craftsmanship.
Phase Two also builds on partnerships with Indigenous communities. During Phase 1, Indigenous-owned businesses and workers contributed to construction and training opportunities, creating long-term benefits that will continue with this expansion.
“We are proud to take on this work alongside our CBTU partners,” said IVP Russ Shewchuk. “Our members are eager to get to work, both on this project and on building an even stronger future for the country we call home. Every job we complete leaves Canada better prepared for the future.”
Learn more about LNG Phase 1 and hear directly from IBEW members Landon Andrei from IBEW Local 993, Manraj Randhawa (IBEW Local 213), and other CBTU skilled tradespeople.