QUESTION PERIOD — Environment and Climate Change
Oil and Gas Industry
May 29, 2025
My question is for the government leader. Senator Gold, three days before the last general election, while Prime Minister Carney was in Alberta, he made a commitment to build pipelines across Canada to ensure that Canada is no longer reliant on foreign oil.
On May 13, on CTV News, he was asked a specific question about whether he is in favour of building pipelines, and he answered yes. Of course, we all recognize the challenge right now to our sovereignty and the challenge to our economy. It is important for us to act on this. However, in the Speech from the Throne, there was hardly any mention of energy, oil and gas.
Last week, which is even more concerning, Minister Guilbeault, the political minister for Quebec, said there is no need for pipelines. The question is this: Did Minister Guilbeault just not receive the memo from the Prime Minister, or is the Prime Minister’s commitment to building pipelines and unleashing our economic potential not as enthusiastic as he let on during the election?
Thank you for your question. This government and the Prime Minister have been very clear, both in the Speech from the Throne and elsewhere, that one of the strategic goals for this country and one of the great opportunities for Canada is to become an energy superpower, both in conventional and in clean energy.
In that regard, pipelines, along with energy corridors and other major projects of national importance and impact, are on the table, are being developed and are being considered and brought forward by provinces, territories and other stakeholders. This government remains committed — where appropriate and when there is the appropriate support from the provinces and Indigenous leaders — to moving ahead rapidly for those projects that we in Canada need to provide us with greater economic security and prosperity for the future.
Senator Gold, I always like to take you at face value, but the truth of the matter is that when we look at the Speech from the Throne, there was very little that was said about energy, oil and gas. Again, it is concerning when a political minister from Quebec — the top minister in Quebec — says that there is no need for more pipelines. We need more details about how committed this government is and when they will get this done. Is Minister Guilbeault speaking on behalf of the Government of Canada, or is it the Prime Minister who will ultimately trump the position taken by Minister Guilbeault?
Senator Housakos, the more things change, the more they stay the same in terms of our interactions here in Question Period.
The Prime Minister has been clear, so has the minister responsible for energy, who is out West. There is a meeting being held this weekend and beyond in Saskatoon, and when the parties come to an agreement on the projects, which may include pipelines and will no doubt include other matters, this government will be judged by its actions.
