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OTTAWA — Pipeline politics are prompting Conservatives to question Prime Minister Mark Carney’s commitment to expanding Canada’s energy infrastructure after Liberal members of a parliamentary committee blocked debate on a motion declaring a Pacific oil pipeline to be in the national interest.
Conservative energy critic Shannon Stubbs said Liberal members of the House of Commons natural resources committee shut down debate on a Conservative motion that would have formally declared a pipeline to Canada’s Pacific coast a project of national interest.
The dispute comes more than a year after Carney pledged support for a new interprovincial pipeline to the West Coast as part of a broader vision to strengthen Canada’s energy sector and expand exports to international markets.
Stubbs accused the Liberals of failing to follow through on those commitments.
“More than a year after promising a Pacific pipeline to Canadians, there is still no route, no proponent, no federal Indigenous consultations, no start date and no construction,” Stubbs said in a statement.
The Conservatives argue a Pacific export pipeline would increase Canada’s access to Asian markets and reduce reliance on the United States as the primary destination for Canadian energy exports.
Stubbs also criticized federal ministers and officials for declining to publicly state whether they consider a Pacific pipeline to be in Canada’s national interest.
The Conservatives say investor confidence depends on clear federal support for major infrastructure projects and are calling on the government to repeal what they describe as barriers to energy development.
The Liberal government has repeatedly stated its support for expanding Canada’s economy through major projects while balancing environmental obligations, Indigenous consultation requirements and regulatory oversight.
The dispute comes amid renewed debate over Canada’s energy export capacity. Alberta Energy and Minerals Minister Brian Jean is currently travelling in Japan and South Korea to promote Alberta oil and natural gas exports and discuss opportunities to expand access to Asian markets.
The Alberta government has identified increased export capacity to the Pacific as a priority and has expressed support for a new Indigenous co-owned pipeline connecting Alberta production to overseas markets.
No private-sector proponent has formally announced plans for a new Pacific oil pipeline, and no route has been publicly identified.
The natural resources committee debate occurred as governments, industry groups and energy advocates continue discussions about how Canada can expand exports while addressing environmental, economic and Indigenous concerns associated with major resource projects.
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