Conservatives Push for Vote on Controversial Pipeline Agreement

The Conservative Party plans to challenge the Liberal government’s recent pipeline agreement with Alberta by introducing an opposition motion in the House of Commons next week. This move follows the memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed last month between Ottawa and Alberta, which both governments hailed as a significant step forward for energy development.

Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre aims to put Prime Minister Mark Carney’s pipeline commitment to the test. In an interview with CTV News, Poilievre emphasized the need for the Liberals to align their actions with the promises made in the MOU. He stated, “Liberals have to unify behind the words they promised in the MOU they signed.”

On March 5, 2024, the House of Commons will vote on the Conservative motion, which closely mirrors the language of the agreement between Ottawa and Alberta. The motion seeks to establish a new oil pipeline to the Pacific coast, effectively challenging the current tanker ban to facilitate the export of bitumen to Asia.

Political analysts are watching this vote closely. Sharan Kaur, a political analyst and former chief of staff to Finance Minister Bill Morneau, noted, “It’s really going to be a moment for the Liberals. I think they’re going to have to whip this vote, specifically because it’s their MOU that they signed with Alberta.” Kaur added that the Conservatives’ approach can be seen as a form of endorsement of the MOU.

When asked whether he fully supports the agreement, Poilievre stated that the Conservatives endorse the concept of a pipeline. He urged Carney to clarify his stance, saying, “Mark Carney has got to stop speaking out of both sides of his mouth, stop saying one thing in Alberta and the opposite in British Columbia.”

The upcoming vote comes at a time when the Liberal government is already facing criticism regarding the pipeline deal. Notably, Steven Guilbeault resigned from his cabinet position in protest, and two of the government’s climate advisors also stepped down this week. Catherine Abreau, a former member of the expert advisory body on climate policy, expressed her discontent, stating, “The MOU was the final straw, absolutely, but this wasn’t the first step we’ve seen toward the suspension, the delay, the dismantling of climate policy in Canada.”

The Conservative motion will not only serve as a direct challenge to the government’s agreement with Alberta but will also test the unity of the Liberal Party. A failure to secure sufficient support for the vote could result in further political repercussions for Carney’s administration.

As the debate intensifies, all eyes will be on the House of Commons next week to see how the vote unfolds and what it could mean for Canada’s energy future and climate policy.