It was actually the federal Liberals and Alberta’s previous NDP government that did the heavy lifting needed to get the project started
It was more than a little disingenuous for Alberta’s still newish UCP government to stand up and claim last week that its “perseverance” led to the start of construction of the long-delayed Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion. “Perseverance has got us to this point,” clucked Alberta Energy Minister Sonya Savage. “When others were criticizing our energy…
Certainly there are factors beyond domestic control, but some simple regulatory changes and a general will to help industry will go a long way
Andrew Leach, an energy and environmental economist at the University of Alberta, recently observed that a number of things challenge the oil and gas industry in Canada, particularly the oil sands sector. And some of those challenges aren’t the fault of Canadian politicians or environmental activists. He noted that the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers…
Ruling delaying the Trans Mountain pipeline once again makes it clear we need legislation to clarify what indigenous consultation means
By Ashley Stedman and Elmira Aliakbari The Fraser Institute In yet another example of the federal government’s failure to get Indigenous consultation right, the Federal Court of Appeal recently ruled that six of 12 legal challenges to the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion can proceed. The result? Canada’s energy sector will continue to face transportation constraints,…
The law is so full of giant holes that it could make things much worse for anyone planning a large project to improve our economy
Canada is no longer a low-risk, high-return venue for investment. The federal government has boxed itself into a corner in its attempts to square the process for reviewing and approving large mining, pipeline or other projects. It has run counter to the private sector’s desire for any such process to be clear, simple, relatively quick,…
For an issue that’s been so polarizing, the arguments against the pipeline expansion are surprisingly flawed
Nothing has been as divisive to national unity as the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion in the 25 years since the Quebec independence referendum. But unlike separation, this project – approved again last week by the federal government – is good for the country and will benefit all Canadians. Moving to Vancouver two years ago from…
Bill C-48 is the kind of extraordinary circumstance that requires the Senate fulfil its role as a regional counterbalance to the House
The Senate’s fundamental job is to review legislation while respecting its regions. In that sense, it is a unique part of Canadian Parliament. The Senate is a built-in safety valve to protect regional interests against the majoritarian impulses of the elected chamber. It ensures that all parts of this diverse country have a meaningful voice…
Canadians have never been that interested in who sits on our top court. We should be
Leaks from the prime minister’s office concerning the potential appointment of Justice Glenn Joyal, Chief Justice of the Manitoba Court of Queen’s Bench, to the Supreme Court of Canada highlights differences between the treatment of judiciary appointments in Canada and the United States. Why do Canadians not pay more attention to appointments to our highest…
That means less investment, less job creation and ultimately less prosperity for Canadians
By Elmira Aliakbari and Ashley Stedman The Fraser Institute With pipeline shortages driving down the price of Canadian oil, the losses for the energy sector – and for Canada’s economy – are staggering. According to a new study, insufficient pipeline capacity cost Canada’s energy sector $20.6 billion – or one per cent of the country’s…
Liberals “backstop” carbon-tax will lead to $30 a tonne next year for Alberta, 50% higher than the rate currently in place in Quebec
By Jean Michaud and Germain Belzile Montreal Economic Institute New Alberta Premier Jason Kenney has vowed to repeal the provincial carbon levy implemented by the previous NDP government. That tax began in 2017 at $20 a tonne and rose to $30 a tonne before the NDP froze it in protest to delays over the Trans…
The results of greater energy efficiency will materialize over the long term, even if politicians seek abbreviated timelines
Jock Finlayson and Denise Mullen Business Council of B.C. Metro Vancouver residents are rightly upset over paying the highest gasoline prices ever recorded in a North American city. Cost-of-living pressures are already significant for many households in British Columbia, making the recent jump in pump prices particularly hard to stomach. The unprecedented attention being given…
It was more than a little disingenuous for Alberta’s still newish UCP government to stand up and claim last week that its “perseverance” led to the start of construction of the long-delayed Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion. “Perseverance has got us to this point,” clucked Alberta Energy Minister Sonya Savage. “When others were criticizing our energy…
