It was, by all accounts, a very warm welcome for the new federal minister of energy and natural resources in Calgary last week. That, in and of itself, is a hopeful sign that things have changed in the Alberta-Ottawa relationship. Read More
There is reason for optimism when it comes to a link between words and action
There is reason for optimism when it comes to a link between words and action
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It was, by all accounts, a very warm welcome for the new federal minister of energy and natural resources in Calgary last week. That, in and of itself, is a hopeful sign that things have changed in the Alberta-Ottawa relationship.
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Having the minister publicly vow to be a “voice for Alberta” is even more encouraging, and would certainly be welcomed at this important moment.
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For now, though, these are just words. The skeptical and cynical in Alberta — including those who believe Canada is past the point of redemption — will emphasize this point. And that’s certainly fair.
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So while this could all amount to nothing more than flowery rhetoric adorning an unpalatable status quo, there is reason for optimism when it comes to a link between words and action. Simply put, there’s no political downside to following through on these commitments.
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Prime Minister Mark Carney didn’t have to select Tim Hodgson as his new minister of energy and natural resources. And Hodgson didn’t have to come to Calgary last week and deliver the speech he did. This is, by the way, an individual with considerable business experience, including three years as a board member with MEG Energy.
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Hodgson’s speech was conciliatory — committing to a “clean slate” in the relationship between Ottawa and Alberta — but it was also pragmatic and bold, referring to energy as “Canada’s superpower,” and pledging to keep Canada as a “reliable global supplier” of oil and gas.
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There was also a commitment concerning new energy export infrastructure and the need to sell to “trusted allies” beyond the U.S., in addition to a promise there would be “no more five-year reviews,” instead vowing “decisions will come in two years for all projects.”
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Varcoe: Ottawa’s new resources minister promises clean slate, but oilpatch looks for ‘concrete actions’ on new projects
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Meet Tim Hodgson, the new energy minister Mark Carney hopes can bridge the gap with the West
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Much of the speech echoes the mandate letter issued by Carney to his cabinet, which speaks to the need for “infrastructure to diversify our trading relationships; to become an energy superpower in both clean and conventional energies.”
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Some of this is easier said than done, but there is some low-hanging fruit that should be easy for the government to follow through on if the commitment is genuinely there. And why shouldn’t it be?