Meghan Potkins is the Financial Post's lead energy correspondent, specializing in hydrocarbon infrastructure and international trade dynamics. Based in Calgary, her reporting spans:
Successful story ideas often involve:
We've followed Meghan Potkins' work as she navigates the complex intersections of energy policy, corporate strategy, and global market forces. With a career spanning major Canadian publications, Potkins has established herself as a authoritative voice on hydrocarbon economies and their geopolitical ramifications.
Potkins' journalism career began with grassroots reporting at the Calgary Herald, where she covered municipal politics and urban development. Her 2022 investigation into Calgary's street harassment crisis demonstrated early prowess for data-driven storytelling, combining police statistics with victim narratives[4]. This foundation in community-focused reporting informs her current approach to national energy issues.
The pivot to energy reporting emerged through:
This March 2025 analysis captures the shifting priorities of Canadian energy leaders amid fluctuating crude prices. Potkins masterfully interweaves CEO interviews with OPEC production data, revealing how pandemic recovery strategies collided with emerging demand concerns. Her access to confidential industry projections (cited anonymously) provides rare insight into contingency planning for reduced Asian imports.
"The very tariffs meant to protect Canadian energy independence now threaten to expose its overreliance on U.S. refining capacity"
The article's impact was immediate, cited in Parliament during debates about accelerating LNG terminal approvals. Potkins' ability to contextualize corporate anxiety within macroeconomic trends showcases her signature approach.
Potkins' February 2025 comparative analysis of North American LNG projects remains essential reading for energy investors. By contrasting Alaska's proposed 1,300km pipeline with British Columbia's Coastal GasLink, she exposes the geopolitical calculus behind infrastructure financing. The piece features exclusive commentary from S&P Global analysts and leaked cost projections from Mitsubishi consultants[6].
Her technical breakdown of liquefaction capacity (20 MPTA vs Canada's 14 MPTA) demonstrates rare numerical fluency, while maintaining accessibility for general readers. Energy ministers subsequently referenced this work when advocating for streamlined Canadian permitting processes.
This February 2025 investigation revived discussions about Canada's pipeline diversification strategies. Potkins uncovered renewed corporate interest in the dormant Northern Gateway project through FOIA requests and insider leaks from Cenovus Energy[8]. The article's revelation of backchannel talks between Alberta officials and Asian investors prompted formal inquiries into provincial lobbying practices.
Potkins prioritizes stories examining Canada-U.S. regulatory divergences, particularly those impacting infrastructure projects. Her April 2025 piece on Trump's Keystone XL revival demands[1] exemplifies this focus. Pitches should highlight:
- Pending legislation affecting binational projects
- Trade agreement loopholes impacting energy exports
- Comparative analysis of state/provincial incentive programs
The journalist maintains a running analysis of merger activity within Canada's oilpatch. Her October 2024 report on Whitecap Resources' $15B merger[5] demonstrates appetite for:
- Shareholder activism in energy firms
- Debt restructuring strategies post-consolidation
- Workforce impacts of megamergers
With Canada's first LNG terminal operational, Potkins tracks competitive pressures in Asian markets. Successful pitches should address:
- Emerging LNG buyers beyond traditional Asian markets
- Carbon-neutral certification processes
- Indigenous partnerships in terminal projects
The Trans Mountain expansion project remains a recurring theme. Recent articles[8] suggest interest in:
- Alternative financing models for public-private projects
- Security challenges for remote infrastructure
- Technological innovations in pipeline monitoring
While not her primary focus, Potkins occasionally examines labor trends, as seen in her 2022 coverage of oil sands layoffs[4]. Relevant angles include:
- Reskilling programs for fossil fuel workers
- Union responses to automation
- Demographic shifts in field operations
At PressContact, we aim to help you discover the most relevant journalists for your PR efforts. If you're looking to pitch to more journalists who write on Energy, here are some other real estate journalist profiles you may find relevant:
