Power Struggle

Crystal Smith, former Chief Councillor of the Haisla Nation, joins Power Struggle to share how her community turned a legacy of exclusion into one of empowerment by leading one of Canada’s most ambitious Indigenous-owned energy projects, Cedar LNG.In this powerful conversation with Stewart Muir, Smith reflects not only on the business and policy decisions behind Cedar LNG, but also on the personal journey that shaped her leadership, from confronting intergenerational trauma to building confidence in the face of skepticism.They discuss:What meaningful economic reconciliation looks likeWhy First Nations must lead resource developmentHow the Haisla Nation took control of its futureAnd what it takes to inspire the next generation of Indigenous leadersCrystal Smith is one of the most influential Indigenous voices in Canada which makes this episode essential viewing for anyone who wants to understand what real progress looks like.Send us Fan MailThe energy conversation is polarizing. But the reality is multidimensional. Get the full story with host Stewart Muir.Reach out to us with thoughts, questions, or ideas at info@powerstruggle.caLinkedinInstagramFacebookTwitter🎧 For audio versions of our podcast visit powerstruggle.ca and listen on the go in your favourite podcast app!Video available on Power Struggle’s YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/@PowerStrugglePod

In this revealing episode of Power Struggle, host Stewart Muir sits down with Barry Penner, former Attorney General of British Columbia and Chair of the Energy Futures Institute, to examine the growing gap between EV policy and real-world implementation.British Columbia has some of the most ambitious electric vehicle mandates in North America aiming to phase out the sale of internal combustion engines by 2035. But beneath the headlines, serious challenges are emerging: Not enough EVs on lots- Charging access in condos and rural areas- Power grid pressure and infrastructure lag- Rising costs for used vehicles- Regulatory speed bumps for consumers and industryWith decades of political and legal experience, Penner outlines what’s working, what isn’t, and what needs to change fast to make the energy transition fair, functional, and future-proof.Whether you drive electric, gas, or don’t drive at all, this is a critical conversation about what sustainable transportation really requires.🎙️ A new season of Power Struggle begins, with new voices, bold questions, and Canada’s energy future in focus.Send us Fan MailThe energy conversation is polarizing. But the reality is multidimensional. Get the full story with host Stewart Muir.Reach out to us with thoughts, questions, or ideas at info@powerstruggle.caLinkedinInstagramFacebookTwitter🎧 For audio versions of our podcast visit powerstruggle.ca and listen on the go in your favourite podcast app!Video available on Power Struggle’s YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/@PowerStrugglePod

Forget model tweaks—the real AI race is about power. We sit down with Kris Krug to map how GPUs translate into gigawatts, why data centers are the new factories, and what it would take for British Columbia and Canada to turn clean energy into sovereign intelligence instead of exporting value and importing electrons. From Vancouver’s buzzing AI meetups to Meta’s multi‑gigawatt builds, we connect the dots between policy, infrastructure, and the businesses already adopting AI far beyond chatbots.Kris walks us through his path from creative tech to generative AI, the moment Midjourney reignited his practice, and the community that formed around practical workflows. We dig into the hard math of energy—firm power versus storage fantasies, LNG tradeoffs versus hydro flexibility—and the strategic fork in the road: build compute where clean energy is abundant or watch others do it faster with our resources. Along the way, we unpack how jobs are changing toward orchestration and token efficiency, why hallucinations fade with purpose‑built tools, and how young workers use AI as an operating layer, not a search engine.We also spotlight a different kind of leadership: Indigenous‑led data centers in cooler, energy‑rich regions, sovereign data governance, and the Indigenomics Institute’s AI platform measuring economic value GDP misses. Alberta’s coordinated push (and Amii’s impact) shows what alignment can unlock; BC’s opportunity is to organize around clean, green, ethical AI that keeps models, insights, and benefits closer to home. If energy is the new cornerstone of intelligence, then policy is product design—and the decisions we make now will decide who owns the tokens of tomorrow.If this conversation got you thinking, follow and share the show, leave a review with your biggest takeaway, and tell us: should clean power make AI a Canadian strategic priority?Send us Fan MailThe energy conversation is polarizing. But the reality is multidimensional. Get the full story with host Stewart Muir.Reach out to us with thoughts, questions, or ideas at info@powerstruggle.caLinkedinInstagramFacebookTwitter🎧 For audio versions of our podcast visit powerstruggle.ca and listen on the go in your favourite podcast app!Video available on Power Struggle’s YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/@PowerStrugglePod

What does it take to build the largest private investment in Canadian history? Susanna Pierce reveals the inside story of the $40 billion LNG Canada project as it prepares to ship its first cargo – a milestone she helped shape during her tenure as president of Shell Canada.The conversation takes us behind the curtain of mega-project development, where Pierce describes the intricate dance of coordinating every aspect of the value chain while building meaningful partnerships with First Nations communities. "What made LNG Canada reality was everyone coming together," she explains, highlighting how Indigenous leadership from figures like Crystal Smith and Ellis Ross was fundamental to the project's success. This represents a powerful model of economic reconciliation where First Nations have "a share and a say" in resource development.Pierce offers unique perspective on what it means for Canada to become an energy superpower – balancing our hydrocarbon resources with climate responsibility while remaining competitive in global markets. Drawing from her experience living in both Alberta and British Columbia, she provides nuanced insights on the cultural and economic divides that shape our national energy conversations: "When I read the newspaper in BC about oil and gas, I heard about how bad we are. In Calgary, I heard about how misunderstood we are."Now heading into a new chapter with Peter Tertzakian at StudioEnergy, Pierce is applying her skills to create data-driven solutions for Canada's energy challenges. But perhaps most surprising is her passionate commitment to fighting human trafficking in Canada – a cause she's tackling by building networks between organizations and corporations to create collective impact.As Canada navigates complex choices about its energy future, Pierce offers a compelling vision: the opportunity to redefine who we are on the global stage while creating prosperity at home. Her journey demonstrates how leadership, resilience and cooperation can move seemingly impossible projects from vision to reality.Ready to hear more conversations with energy decision-makers shaping our future? Subscribe to Power Struggle and share this episode to help us keep these important dialogues going.Send us Fan MailThe energy conversation is polarizing. But the reality is multidimensional. Get the full story with host Stewart Muir.Reach out to us with thoughts, questions, or ideas at info@powerstruggle.caLinkedinInstagramFacebookTwitter🎧 For audio versions of our podcast visit powerstruggle.ca and listen on the go in your favourite podcast app!Video available on Power Struggle’s YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/@PowerStrugglePod

California's ambitious EV mandate faces serious challenges with the 2026 requirement of 35% zero-emission vehicles while current market share sits at just 20%. Brian Maas, president of the California New Car Dealers Association, explains the growing tension between political ambition and market realities.• California leads the US in electric vehicle adoption with one in five vehicles sold being pure EVs• Upcoming mandate requires 35% of all vehicles manufactured for California to be zero-emission by 2026• Manufacturers face $20,000 fines per non-compliant vehicle, likely leading to restricted allocation of gas-powered cars• 64% of Californians oppose the zero-emission vehicle mandate to go 100% by 2035• Insufficient charging infrastructure remains the top concern preventing consumers from transitioning to EVs• California needs 1 million public chargers by 2030 but currently has only 178,000• Price difference between electric and gas vehicles ranges from a few thousand to over $10,000• California dealers have launched a "Calibrate" campaign asking regulators to pause enforcement• China's BYD has become the world's largest EV manufacturer, raising trade and policy questionsIf you're enjoying Power Struggle, make sure to subscribe, like and share this episode, because it helps us bring fact-based energy conversations to more people across Canada and beyond.Send us Fan MailThe energy conversation is polarizing. But the reality is multidimensional. Get the full story with host Stewart Muir.Reach out to us with thoughts, questions, or ideas at info@powerstruggle.caLinkedinInstagramFacebookTwitter🎧 For audio versions of our podcast visit powerstruggle.ca and listen on the go in your favourite podcast app!Video available on Power Struggle’s YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/@PowerStrugglePod

The Tahltan Nation of northwestern British Columbia is redefining Indigenous participation in the mining industry, with women leading operations and creating economic prosperity through ownership stakes in major resource projects.• Tahltan territory spans 97,000 square kilometers (size of Portugal) and contains the mineral-rich "Golden Triangle"• The nation has deep historical connections to mining, trading obsidian across North America before European contact• Women from this matrilineal society dominate leadership positions and excel in operating heavy equipment• Economic agreements like Impact Benefit Agreements ensure communities receive fair benefits from resource development• Chad Day developed "internal reconciliation" processes that create certainty through community-wide ratification votes• The Tahltan have become part-owners of $3 billion in hydroelectric projects that power their territory• Cultural preservation remains a priority alongside responsible development• Future goals include creating Tahltan-controlled institutions for wildlife management and justiceIf you want to learn more about the Tahltan Nation's approach to resource development, visit thadu.ca or follow Chad Norman Day on social media.Send us Fan MailThe energy conversation is polarizing. But the reality is multidimensional. Get the full story with host Stewart Muir.Reach out to us with thoughts, questions, or ideas at info@powerstruggle.caLinkedinInstagramFacebookTwitter🎧 For audio versions of our podcast visit powerstruggle.ca and listen on the go in your favourite podcast app!Video available on Power Struggle’s YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/@PowerStrugglePod

Send us Fan MailThe energy conversation is polarizing. But the reality is multidimensional. Get the full story with host Stewart Muir.Reach out to us with thoughts, questions, or ideas at info@powerstruggle.caLinkedinInstagramFacebookTwitter🎧 For audio versions of our podcast visit powerstruggle.ca and listen on the go in your favourite podcast app!Video available on Power Struggle’s YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/@PowerStrugglePod

Shanna Martineau, CEO of Alberta Indigenous Opportunities Corporation (AIOC), shares how loan guarantees are helping Indigenous communities invest in major projects and build economic prosperity. Since 2019, AIOC has facilitated investments totaling over $700 million for 43 Indigenous communities across Alberta and beyond, with the Alberta government recently increasing their loan guarantee capacity to $3 billion.• AIOC helps overcome Indian Act restrictions that prevent Indigenous communities from holding collateral for loans• The organization has supported investments in energy, agriculture, transportation, tourism and technology sectors• Communities are using investment returns to address critical infrastructure needs, like the Whitefish/Goodfish Lake First Nation rebuilding its arena after 30 years• AIOC requires a minimum $20 million investment size and maintains rigorous standards, resulting in zero defaults to date• Indigenous participation improves project outcomes by incorporating traditional knowledge and creating shared benefits• The model has inspired similar programs in other provinces and internationally• Investment returns flow back to communities, generating over $25 million annually for community priorities• Economic reconciliation means both catching up and positioning Indigenous communities for future growth opportunitiesIf you're enjoying Power Struggle, make sure to subscribe, like and share this episode. It helps us bring fact-based energy conversations to more people across Canada and beyond.Send us Fan MailThe energy conversation is polarizing. But the reality is multidimensional. Get the full story with host Stewart Muir.Reach out to us with thoughts, questions, or ideas at info@powerstruggle.caLinkedinInstagramFacebookTwitter🎧 For audio versions of our podcast visit powerstruggle.ca and listen on the go in your favourite podcast app!Video available on Power Struggle’s YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/@PowerStrugglePod

What if everything we believe about “clean energy” is built on a myth?French historian Jean-Baptiste Fressoz joins Power Struggle to challenge the dominant narrative of energy transition. From coal in electric cars to the illusion of hydrogen aircraft, Fressoz unpacks how modern societies haven’t replaced fossil fuels — they’ve layered more and more energy on top. This episode questions climate optimism, explores the real drivers of energy growth, and argues why sufficiency — not just innovation — must be part of the path forward.Send us Fan MailThe energy conversation is polarizing. But the reality is multidimensional. Get the full story with host Stewart Muir.Reach out to us with thoughts, questions, or ideas at info@powerstruggle.caLinkedinInstagramFacebookTwitter🎧 For audio versions of our podcast visit powerstruggle.ca and listen on the go in your favourite podcast app!Video available on Power Struggle’s YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/@PowerStrugglePod

Can you work in oil and gas and still be an environmentalist? Jason Switzer says yes. In this episode, he joins host Stewart Muir to talk certified natural gas, ESG, Indigenous rights, and clean tech in Canada’s energy transition.Like what you heard? Give it a like 👍Drop a comment 💬Subscribe 🔔 for more real talk on modern energy.Send us Fan MailThe energy conversation is polarizing. But the reality is multidimensional. Get the full story with host Stewart Muir.Reach out to us with thoughts, questions, or ideas at info@powerstruggle.caLinkedinInstagramFacebookTwitter🎧 For audio versions of our podcast visit powerstruggle.ca and listen on the go in your favourite podcast app!Video available on Power Struggle’s YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/@PowerStrugglePod