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OTTAWA — The politics surrounding Canada’s energy sector are taking shape in Ottawa just days after the federal government announced plans to make the country an energy superpower.
Federal Conservatives are accusing Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government of failing to deliver on a commitment to increase Canadian oil production by 23.6 million barrels in response to disruptions in global energy markets.
Carol Anstey, the Conservative shadow minister for energy and natural resources, says Statistics Canada data shows Canadian oil production instead fell by five million barrels in the month following the announcement.
The Conservatives say Energy and Natural Resources Minister Tim Hodgson acknowledged in response to an Order Paper question no regulatory changes, exemptions or directives were issued to increase oil production, transportation or export capacity.
“After the Liberals promised to supply 23.6 million extra barrels of oil, Statistics Canada data now shows that in reality, Canada produced five million fewer barrels the month after Tim Hodgson’s announcement,” Anstey said.
The Conservative criticism comes as Ottawa and Alberta pursue a significant expansion of Canada’s oil production and export infrastructure.
Carney and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith announced last week plans to jointly advance a new West Coast oil pipeline capable of transporting more than one million barrels per day to growing Asian markets.
The project would largely follow the existing Trans Mountain corridor and is being considered for designation as a project of national interest through the federal Major Projects Office.
The federal and Alberta governments are also working with the Oil Sands Alliance to advance the Pathways carbon capture and storage project while creating conditions for increased oilsands production.
Anstey said Canada’s oil production fell 3.4 per cent during the first month of the second quarter despite the government’s commitment to increase supplies.
Canada does not maintain a strategic petroleum reserve comparable to the United States, limiting its ability to release government-controlled oil stocks during supply disruptions.
The Conservatives have proposed creating a Strategic Energy and Minerals Reserve and introducing an Emergency Energy Supply Plan aimed at increasing Canadian oil and natural gas production.
Anstey said Canada should have used its energy resources to help stabilize global markets, support allies and strengthen the domestic economy during the Middle East conflict.
“Canada, with our vast reserves of oil and natural gas, should have been the answer by helping to stabilize global markets, support our allies and grow our economy,” she said.
The Conservatives are calling on the government to repeal the Impact Assessment Act and the Oil Tanker Moratorium Act, eliminate the industrial carbon tax and establish a six-month approval timeline for major energy projects.
The criticism marks an early political challenge to Carney’s effort to reposition Canada’s energy policy around expanded production, new pipelines and increased access to international markets.
With Ottawa and Alberta advancing major pipeline proposals and seeking increased oilsands production, the Conservatives are signalling they intend to focus the energy debate on whether the federal government’s announcements translate into measurable increases in production, investment and exports.
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