Prime Minister Mark Carney said this week his government will broaden Canada’s energy focus beyond conventional oil and gas pipelines, arguing the country needs infrastructure for clean electricity grids and critical minerals development.
“It’s remarkable. In some circles, this conversation starts and ends with pipelines,” Carney told CBC’s Power & Politics. “That is not what it’s become for Canada. Canada as a nation.”
The remarks follow a letter from 38 Canadian energy CEOs congratulating Carney on his election win while calling for him to scrap emissions caps on oil and gas producers and repeal industrial carbon pricing.
The prime minister has promised to create a federal project office to streamline approvals, targeting two-year timelines for major decisions. This regulatory reform is central to his vision of transforming Canada into a global energy leader.
During his campaign, Carney committed to developing both clean energy and low-carbon conventional energy while reducing imports from the United States. His strategy includes new Pacific infrastructure that could lower Canada’s current 89% dependence on US export routes to 68%.
The approach faces political hurdles in Western Canada, where the Liberals captured just three of 51 seats in Alberta and Saskatchewan. Support for Alberta sovereignty has grown following the election results.
The government plans to establish a $5 billion fund for trade and energy corridor infrastructure and expand tax credits for critical minerals exploration.
Carney emphasized that streamlined approvals would maintain Indigenous consultation and environmental protections. “We want to dominate the market for conventional energy, and in order to do that in the long term, it needs to be low carbon,” he said during his Calgary campaign stop.
The prime minister confirmed he will retain the Impact Assessment Act, despite industry criticism of the legislation as a barrier to pipeline development.
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