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OTTAWA — The Conservative Party of Canada is calling on the federal government to repeal two controversial environmental laws it says have hindered oilsands development and other major resource projects for much of the past decade.
Carol Anstey, the Conservative shadow minister for energy and natural resources, said Tuesday the Liberal government should repeal bills C-69 and C-48, accelerate project approvals and allow private investment to drive resource development.
The two laws have been a source of conflict between Ottawa, Alberta and the energy industry for years and have hindered efforts to develop new oilsands projects and expand access to export markets.
Bill C-69, which overhauled Canada’s environmental assessment process for major projects, received royal assent in 2019 after being introduced in 2018. The legislation was later found largely unconstitutional by the Supreme Court of Canada, prompting Ottawa to amend the law.
Bill C-48, also passed in 2019, prohibits large oil tankers carrying more than 12,500 metric tonnes of crude oil or persistent oil from stopping, loading or unloading at ports along much of British Columbia’s northern coast.
The Conservative statement followed an announcement by the federal minister of energy and natural resources concerning Canada’s energy and resource security.
Anstey said Conservatives support creating a Strategic Energy and Minerals Reserve and want Canada to increase development of its oil, natural gas, uranium and critical mineral resources.
She said Canada produces 10 of the 12 minerals identified by NATO as critical to defence and should use those resources to strengthen domestic economic growth and Canada’s position in international trade negotiations.
The Conservatives accused Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government of creating additional bureaucracy while failing to approve major projects.
“Canadians have heard plenty of announcements, but they have yet to see results,” Anstey said.
The party also criticized federal financial support for resource development projects, arguing projects capable of attracting private investment should not require taxpayer subsidies.
Anstey said a Conservative government would repeal bills C-69 and C-48, restore investor confidence and approve major projects within six months.
“If Canada wants to supply our allies with the energy and critical minerals they need, the answer isn’t more bureaucracy or government picking winners and losers,” Anstey said. “The answer is to get government out of the way, let workers work, let builders build.”
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