Pipeline politics will keep Ottawa, Alberta divided
All is far from well between Rachel Notley’s Alberta government and Justin Trudeau’s Liberals. With the prime minister in the eye of the storm over the failure to get more oil to tidewater, no federal gesture between now and next fall’s election is likely to really lower the temperature between the two capitals. The combination—within […]
Appealing to ‘the base’ may be a recipe for electoral failure
“It’s all about the base.” That was the refrain of the Conservatives under Prime Minister Stephen Harper from 2006 to 2015, when policies were examined through the perspective of right-of-centre Conservative partisans. Whether suppressing scientists from speaking publicly, changing the rules for the long-form census, supporting the Likud government in Israel, or cutting development funds […]
Rachel Notley getting the knives out, cutting the ties that bind Alberta NDP to Trudeau Liberals
Rachel Notley went on a good old-fashioned federal government bashing tour of Ottawa and Toronto last week. The premier—a sometimes ally of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau—has figured that given the state of the oil industry in Alberta coupled with a provincial election in the spring, it is time to take the gloves off. Frankly, what […]
Natural Resources Minister Sohi calls oil market access an ‘urgent priority’ as Indigenous consultations continue on Trans Mountain
Natural Resources Minister Amarjeet Sohi says the government is focused on “ensuring that every barrel of Alberta oil gets its full value.” In an email Q&A interview with The Hill Times, Mr. Sohi (Edmonton Mill Woods, Alta.) said “we need to look at how can we help today, how can we help next year, and what […]
CAQ’s agenda could challenge federal parties
For the first time in 42 years, the curtain rose on the opening speech of a new party governing in Quebec’s National Assembly on Nov. 28. The circumstances could not have been more different than in 1976. Back then, the election of a Parti Québécois government had sent shock waves across the country. It propelled […]
Eastern promises: Canada should look to Asia to shift away from a sole export market, say experts
With a rapidly dropping oil price, experts suggest looking across the Pacific Ocean to divest its traditional, north-south oil trading route, but the delay in pipeline construction inhibits Canada’s oil and natural gas reaching B.C.’s coast. A backlog of oil is the result of low pipeline capacity, creating a lot of supply and driving down […]
Liberal actions to blame for energy paralysis
Last Wednesday, the Speaker of the House of Commons granted an emergency debate on the Canadian energy crisis, requested by Conservatives because it is an emergency for all of Canada. The massive price discount on Canadian oil and gas negatively impacts all of Canada and disproportionately hurts Alberta. Canada’s oil and gas sector has already […]
‘Eagle Spirit’ pipeline gaining momentum as other projects stonewalled, says proponent
As Alberta faces low oil prices and other pipeline projects struggle to be built, the president of a company proposing a multi-billion-dollar Indigenous-led pipeline project that includes plans for a western “energy corridor” says federal politicians should be paying more attention to his idea. While a number of factors have to fall into place for […]
Ford’s French-language smack down has just begun
OTTAWA—Premier Doug Ford’s French-language smack down has just begun. And if he thinks his problem is going to go away any time soon, he does not understand the deep roots and the strength of the francophone community in Ontario. The last time the provincial government moved to reduce services was when the government of Mike […]
NDP fundraisers need a darker tone
OAKVILLE, ONT.—Sometimes I get the sense Canada’s New Democratic Party doesn’t fully understand the urgency of its situation. And yes, the NDP’s current situation is pretty darn urgent—at least when it comes to the all-important task of raising political donations. Indeed, in that regard the NDP is badly trailing its political rivals. According to the […]
