OTTAWA (Reuters) – Canada’s new Conservative leader, Pierre Poilievre, is pressuring the government of Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to back new liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects as European countries try to bridge the gaps. energy shortages.
In August, Trudeau said “there has never been a solid business case” for LNG terminals on the east coast during a visit by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who came seeking a “major role” for Canada in replacing Russian supplies.
“Russia’s invasion of Ukraine exposed much of the Western world’s overreliance on dictator oil and gas from (Vladimir) Putin’s Russia,” Poilievre said in a statement. written response this week to questions from Reuters.
“Canada can play a central role in providing clean and responsible Canadian energy,” he said, adding that “a Poilievre government would simplify and speed up approval processes and restore investor confidence in energy projects. resource development.
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Poilievre has mostly avoided media interviews since a landslide leadership victory a month ago, but in parliament and on social media he has continued to reject the government’s carbon pricing scheme and reassure the oil sector of the West – a conservative stronghold – that he is on their side.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has increased global demand for alternative sources of oil and gas, putting pressure on Trudeau to back new fossil fuel projects as he focuses on his promises campaign to reduce emissions to fight climate change and develop clean technologies.
Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson said this week that Canada had set up working groups with Germany and the European Union to determine if it could “potentially help with LNG” from the east. from Canada.
A German government source who was not authorized to speak officially said Canada and Germany were “still working on” a possible LNG project.
“Minister Wilkinson has spoken often and directly with his German and European counterparts, as well as members of the private sector, regarding LNG opportunities on Canada’s east coast,” said Keean Nembhard, spokesperson for Wilkinson.
“While there are real LNG export opportunities in Canada, companies must decide which projects are economically feasible”, and Canada “will support and develop the Canadian energy sector in accordance with the needs of our allies and the imperative fight climate change,” Nembhard said. .
(Reporting by Steve Scherer; additional reporting by Andreas Rinke in Berlin; editing by Jonathan Oatis)
Copyright 2022 Thomson Reuters.
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