Canada: Poilievre promises oil and gas companies swift approvals, fewer environmental rules
Canada’s Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre has pledged to adopt nearly every request made by oil and gas executives, including scrapping major environmental laws and dropping plans to limit emissions.
Carl Meyer reports for The Narwhal.
In short:
- Poilievre said a future Conservative government would repeal the Impact Assessment Act and the Oil Tanker Moratorium Act, fast-track fossil fuel project approvals, and eliminate the proposed emissions cap on oil and gas production.
- The oil and gas industry’s open letter urged Canada’s leaders to use emergency powers, roll back climate regulations, and offer financial incentives for Indigenous investment in energy projects.
- The CEOs behind the letter represent companies with over $16 billion in 2024 profits and growing fossil fuel output, but the letter downplays climate risks and promotes expansion of LNG as a climate solution.
Key quote:
“Canada’s energy sector, the experts on energy growth, have told us what we need to do. Today I am committing to meeting all of their urgent recommendations.”
— Pierre Poilievre, Conservative Party leader
Why this matters:
Canada’s oil and gas industry is pushing to dismantle environmental protections at a time when the country is experiencing increasing climate-fueled disasters — from wildfires to floods — that strain infrastructure, health systems and local economies. Repealing national environmental laws would weaken oversight of high-polluting projects and reduce opportunities for public and Indigenous consultation. The proposed changes also challenge Canada’s ability to meet international climate targets, as emissions from the fossil fuel sector continue to rise. By granting broad concessions to oil and gas firms, the government could deepen dependence on fossil fuels just as much of the world shifts toward cleaner energy.
Related: B.C. regulator quietly let oil company delay decommissioning 4,300 pipelines
