Opinion: We need less politicking and more approvals for major energy projects
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This includes pipelines, which a majority of Canadians in every province — including Quebec — now support. A February SOM-La Presse poll showed support for Energy East in Quebec at 59 per cent (with 22 per cent against). MEI polling done before the trade conflict with the U.S. showed 49 per cent support in Quebec (with 28 per cent against) for building new pipelines to tidewater on either coast.
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Canada is long overdue for a project approval process that is swift by default. Importantly, Bill C-5, the One Canadian Economy Act, stipulates that major projects in the national interest will be approved in less than two years. The 20 projects currently languishing in the federal environmental approvals process have, on average, taken much longer than that.
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Bill C-5 can potentially override or limit the application of the federal Impact Assessment Act, formerly Bill C-69 (the 'no more pipelines bill'), and for good reason: it was ruled unconstitutional in 2023 by the Supreme Court of Canada, which agreed with the Alberta Court of Appeal that the act took a 'wrecking ball' to exclusive provincial jurisdiction over natural resources, guaranteed under the Constitution.
However, it's important to note that the IAA — which ironically was also once promoted as a 'one-stop shop' to 'speed up the approval of major projects' — has not been repealed, along with other harmful, anti-investment federal regulations, including the Clean Electricity regulations and the oil and gas emissions cap.
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Adding to the uncertainty, provinces (and Indigenous rights holders) appear to have a veto under Bill C-5. Initially, Prime Minister Mark Carney suggested that he and certain ministers have the 'authority' to unilaterally designate major project approvals and set development conditions. Energy Minister Tim Hodgson said cabinet will not discuss what projects are being fast-tracked until they are 'finalized.'
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However, when a reporter recently asked Carney, 'If there's a pipeline project you believe is in the national interest, but Quebec or British Columbia don't want it, are you going to push it through?' Carney answered, 'No, we need to have consensus from all provinces and Indigenous peoples.'
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Last week, Carney said it was 'highly likely' that a pipeline would make its way onto his government's to-do list of nation-building projects. However, he added that he couldn't guarantee it, given that proposals must come from the private sector.
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