QUESTION PERIOD — Environment and Climate Change
Oil and Gas Industry
November 6, 2024
Leader, the NDP-Liberal government’s anti-energy policies and rhetoric have driven much-needed investment and jobs out of our country and sent them elsewhere, including to the United States.
Yesterday you denied that your new emissions cap was a production cap, but energy workers see it for what it is. This arbitrary cap follows in the wake of the unconstitutional, no-more-pipelines Bill C-69 and the Prime Minister’s talk of phasing out our oil sands.
Leader, Statistics Canada says that last year alone, Canadians’ direct investment in the United States increased by $63.7 billion. How much will that figure rise because of your new production cap?
Senator Martin, thank you very much. Again, I repeat for the record that it is not a production cap, regardless of what you and others are saying. It is a cap on emissions. The government has confidence in our energy sector to continue its innovative, world-leading effort in reducing the carbon footprint in that industry.
With regard to the rest of your question, the massive, historic investments that were made under the Biden administration to promote a transition to a more sustainable environment have had an enormous and positive impact on the economy of the United States and have attracted the interest — indeed, the envy — of those who would like to see their countries and their industries benefit. I hope that the Canadian future is as bright.
Energy East, the Mackenzie Valley pipeline, Northern Gateway, the Aspen Oil Sands project, Pacific Northwest LNG, Aurora LNG, West Coast Canada LNG, Keystone XL and the Teck Frontier Oil Sands Mine are some of the major energy projects cancelled in our country over the last nine long years of the Trudeau government. What projects will be added to this list due to your latest anti-energy policy?
Honourable senators, I believe Senator Gold has the floor. Thank you.
Need I remind this chamber that over tremendous political opposition this government built the TransCanada Pipeline, bought it and invested in it so as to provide better access to our western oil at world prices.
It continues to support the transition of our economy to a cleaner and more sustainable one involving, importantly, the ongoing use and development of our fossil fuels, but in a more responsible and technologically sophisticated way.
