A mistake to nationalize Trans Mountain pipeline
The federal government’s decision to nationalize the Trans Mountain pipeline is deeply flawed. It is flawed politically because it doesn’t solve the real problem—which is that a good many British Columbians oppose any project that would increase the likelihood of heavy-oil spills along the Pacific Coast. It is flawed economically because it is predicated on […]
Trans Mountain purchase to expose Liberals on multiple fronts, say pollsters: ‘they wear everybody’s mistakes’
Buying the $4.5-billion Trans Mountain pipeline has made the governing Liberals politically vulnerable on multiple fronts and will likely endanger seats in British Columbia and Quebec without providing a boost in Alberta, say pollsters. The controversial move, announced by Natural Resources Minister Jim Carr (Winnipeg South Centre, Man.) and Finance Minister Bill Morneau (Toronto Centre, […]
The politics behind the PM’s pipeline gamble
To understand the counterintuitive political calculus behind Justin Trudeau’s controversial decision to buy the Trans Mountain pipeline, one has to go back to the fundamental equation that has governed this prime minister’s energy and climate change policies since his days in opposition. That Trudeau had no choice but to take over the pipeline if he […]
British Columbians concerned about Trans Mountain aren’t disloyal Canadians
Both the federal and Alberta governments have taken to dumping on British Columbians as a bunch of radicals who don’t care about Canada. To the contrary, they are thoughtful about this country, care deeply, and want to protect it. The spin about the Trans Mountain pipeline being in the “national interest” is questionable at best, deceptive […]
Setting the record straight on the Trans Mountain pipeline project
PARLIAMENT HILL—Like a majority of Canadians, I support the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project, and yet what we mostly hear are the voices of its opponents. This vocal minority has a host of reasons for their opposition, many of which have been addressed by the Senate during Senators’ many deliberations on this matter. One of […]
The U.S. is leaving the Paris Agreement, Canada’s not. Why follow on weakening car emissions standards?
Fixated on reversing the progress made under its predecessor, the current United States administration plans to weaken vehicle emissions standards. Less fuel-efficient vehicles in the U.S. are bad for Canada’s climate, but things could get much worse if Canada adopts weaker standards as well. Due to the linked nature of U.S. and Canadian auto regulations […]
Trans Mountain pipeline myth-busting, of a different sort
PARLIAMENT HILL—In last week’s Hill Times online, Colleen Collins of the Canada West Foundation promised to bust myths about Kinder Morgan. Instead, she gave us just another dose of propaganda. Allow me to respond. Diluted bitumen spills can’t be cleaned up Collins claims that the 2010 Enbridge spill in the Kalamazoo River proves diluted bitumen […]
Politics This Morning: Sajjan to give update on defence policy; Ambrose in Calgary to talk energy politics; Hussen to speak at immigration summit
Good Wednesday morning, Here’s a look ahead at what’s unfolding today: It’s an early day for Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan who will be at CANSEC, the defence community’s trade show, to deliver the breakfast keynote at 8:25 a.m. Speculation has been building in recent weeks that Mr. Sajjan will unveil details on the feds’ defence […]
Reality check needed on pipeline rhetoric
Last week, before the Liberal government made the extraordinary announcement that it would buy the Kinder Morgan pipeline, a majority of Senators moved to push the government on the pipeline by passing Bill S-245. Throughout the process of crafting their legislative message to the Trudeau government, I witnessed pro-pipeline Senators repeatedly invoking the “rule of […]
Majority of Canadians says pipeline could lift economy, but generational divide in support exists: poll
Ottawa is ensnared in a legal battle with British Columbia over concerns of the environmental impact of the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion, but one recent poll suggests that a significant proportion of Canadians thinks that the project could be a boon to the economy, though there’s a sharp generational gap in support that could dampen […]
