Like converts to a religion, it’s amusing that federal politicians, who had previously trash-talked and legislated against Alberta’s oil and gas industry, have suddenly seen the light.
Until recently, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau scolded Alberta for its reliance on oil and gas. His government attempted to stifle the industry. At one point, he suggested the oil sands should be phased out.
Suddenly, Trudeau has seen the light. He’s discovered that, in a trade war with president-elect Donald Trump, oil and gas are a key bargaining chip. Like newcomers to a religion, he now more fervently loves that industry than anyone else. Or so he’d have you believe.
This week, Trudeau proudly declared, “We bought a pipeline,” referring to the Trans Mountain Pipeline. Well, yes the federal government did buy it, but this wasn’t some grand program in support of Alberta’s resource industry. The government of neighbouring B.C. did everything it could to block the pipeline, thus forcing the federal government to step in. Had B.C. not been obstructionist, the private sector would have paid for the pipeline. And that money is chump change compared to the vast amount of federal money the feds poured into subsidies for Ontario’s auto industry.
The Trudeau government blocked attempts by Alberta to seek new markets for its products. As Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre graphically pointed out in a recent news conference, had Trudeau’s government not done that, Canadians wouldn’t now be cowering in fear of Trump’s tariffs.
We’ve rebuffed buyers for liquefied natural gas and former finance minister Chrystia Freeland supported killing the energy east pipeline, which would, Poilievre said, “move a million barrels of western oil to a Saint John (N.B.) refinery and off to Europe, which by the way would have helped defund (Russian President Vladimir) Putin.” Had they not cut Alberta off from world markets, Canada wouldn’t have to sell its oil at a discount to the U.S., Poilievre said.
It’s no wonder Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is confused by the feds’ new-found support for oil and gas. She stood up for her province when that industry was unfashionable and she was criticized. Now she’s damned because she won’t let them use that valuable asset as a bargaining tool.
Can you really blame her?