“Every other oil producer in the world is laughing all the way to the bank”, Mel Arnold

Regrettably Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, along with Environment Minister Catherine McKenna, have received a gift, courtesy of the majority of Senators ... the passing of Bills C-48 and C-69.

For those not aware, Bill C-48 is the Oil Tanker Moratorium Act, which prohibits oil tankers that are carrying more than 12 500 metric tons of crude oil or persistent oil as cargo from stopping, or unloading crude oil or persistent oil, at ports or marine installations located along British Columbia’s north coast from the northern tip of Vancouver Island to the Alaska border.

As to Bill C-69, the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (through its website magazine) states that ... the government has positioned the changes to the NEBA and CEAA embodied in Bill C-69 as a means of eliminating regulatory uncertainty, providing clarity, avoiding legal action, and increasing Indigenous and stakeholder engagement.

While these goals are ostensibly positive, there is a growing consensus among industry groups and business leaders that the bill falls short of its aspirations. It lacks clarity on key issues, creating the likelihood that it will make an already complex system more complicated, while ultimately raising uncertainty and the potential for litigation. Contrary to the government’s stated intentions, Bill C-69 in its current form will be a significant barrier to future investment, putting jobs at risk.

Neither of these two Bill were/are in the best interests of Canadians, and were only fueled by Justin Trudeau’s desire to be seen on the world stage as one of the strongest allies of the United Nations, and it’s outrageous clouding of facts around the environment.

I could have specifically written on this today – however the following three gentlemen have said it much better than I ever could have:

Senator Richard Neufeld:

Yesterday, the Senate adopted Bills C-48 and C-69 ... two of the most controversial bills I've had to deal with since my appointment to the Senate 10 years ago.

The Senate's Official Opposition did an outstanding job in highlighting the many flaws in these two pieces of legislation. In particular, we severely amended Bill C-69 but the Government rejected nearly all of the amendments brought forward by Conservative Senators and endorsed by the entire Senate.

Having been heavily involved in the study and review of these two bills, I am very disappointed in the final outcome. Below are the final remarks I delivered in the Senate on C-48 and C-69.

CLICK HERE  and HERE

Conservative Party leader Andrew Scheer:

This is a sad day for Canada. With the passage of Bill C-69, Justin Trudeau finally has his law that will phase out Canada’s oil and gas industry.

This has been Trudeau’s objective all along, to eliminate the industry and the hundreds of thousands of Canadians who rely on it for their livelihoods. He told Canadians on January 13, 2017 that he wanted to “phase out” the oil sands, and Bill C-69 is how he will do it.

Nine out of ten Premiers, representing all political stripes, have called on Trudeau to scrap or amend this job-killing legislation. Instead of listening to their concerns, Trudeau lashed out and attacked their credibility, recklessly accusing them of threatening national unity.

Instead, it’s Trudeau himself who has caused unrest with the provinces, with disastrous legislation like Bill C-69 that tramples on their jurisdiction and destroys Canadian industry.

Conservatives have said all along we would repeal this legislation, and we will. Bill C-69 will be history after this October.

While Trudeau divides Canadians and attacks our energy workers, Conservatives have a plan to unite Canadians, get Canada’s resource sector back to work, and help all Canadians get ahead.

 

MP Mel Arnold (North Okanagan – Shuswap):

Yesterday, senators passed Bill C-69, Justin Trudeau’s “No More Pipelines Bill”. This piece of legislation has been met with opposition from Premiers, mayors, Indigenous groups, business leaders, and Canadians from coast to coast.

This Bill will landlock Canadian oil and gas and deprive billions from Canada’s economy. Despite this, Justin Trudeau rammed through this legislation at the last minute.

Every other oil producer in the world is laughing all the way to the bank.

Let me conclude by saying, the one thing that Canadians can have hope in, is that Prime Justin Trudeau and his Liberal Party of Canada, are defeated at the polls on October 21^st. 

The Conservatives Andrew Scheer has promised to repeal this legislation essentially still land-locking the majority of Canadian oil from reaching world-wide markets.

To the date, October 21^st is only four months away.  I, and many others, will be hoping that October 22^nd begins the victory party and the end of Bills C-48 and C-49.