Economists have warned that a lack of pipelines and massive discounts for Canadian heavy oil could cost the Canadian economy more than $15 billion this year, making projects like Kinder Morgan’s Trans Mountain Pipeline more important than ever. Unfortunately, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s lack of leadership and support for this important project has resulted in delays and interprovincial disputes that continue to escalate.
Canada’s Prime Minister needs to champion Canadian energy projects and recognize responsible energy development benefits Canadians in every community across the country. It’s not enough to simply approve the project, Prime Minister Trudeau needs to sell it, both here at home and abroad, and ensure that it gets built in a timely manner.
The Liberals’ hands-off approach thus far has resulted in interprovincial disputes and civil unrest. If left unresolved, this fight will also cost jobs and investment. So many sectors are impacted when the government does not support nation-building projects like Trans Mountain. Construction workers are held off the job. Work on the factory floor comes to a halt as orders slowdown in an uncertain manufacturing climate. Investment evaporates thanks to a Liberal government that has no intention ever seeing a pipeline built.
Canada’s Conservatives believe in independent, rigorous, scientific decision-making processes, such as the one that the Trans Mountain Pipeline project went through, in order to be approved by the government. We know that this project will create jobs and opportunity across the country – from the west coast of British Columbia to workers in Atlantic Canada. The project will also benefit the 42 Indigenous communities who have mutual benefit agreements with Kinder Morgan; it is supported by every indigenous community whose territory the pipeline is set to cross.
It’s long past time for Prime Minister Trudeau to lead and to take action.
Shannon Stubbs, MP
Conservative Shadow Minister for Natural Resources