In the battle over Bill C-69, Poilievre beats Carney

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Responding to U.S.-imposed tariffs and economic threats has to involve more than chanting, “Elbows up,” and yelling “Orange man’s bad” every time President Donald Trump’s name is mentioned. What Trump’s threats of tariffs, of retaliation, and of deregulating the American economy has shown us is that we have truly become too reliant on selling our goods to the Americans.

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Consider that in 2022, 76% of all Canadian exports went to the United States. In 1896, when Canada was part of the British Empire, we exported 60% of our goods to the empire.

We are more reliant on the Americans than we were on the British at the height of Pax Britannia.

With or without Trump’s tariffs, this has to change. We need to expand our horizons, expand the markets we sell into, but also unleash the biggest advantage we have: Our natural resources.

On this front, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre and Liberal Leader Mark Carney are at odds.

Poilievre said once again on Tuesday, that if he forms government, he will repeal Bill C-69, while Carney said he would not repeal the bill deemed largely unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.

“I voted against Bill C-69, I have always been against C-69. I’ve said I will repeal C-69, the no-new-pipelines Liberal law within 60 days of becoming Prime Minister. Mark Carney supported C-69,” Poilievre said.

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Bill C-69 was nicknamed the “no-more-pipelines” bill by opponents, but really it’s a law that stands in the way of all natural resource extraction, from oil and gas to mining and lumber. This is why every premier in the country — including Liberal, New Democrat and Conservative leaning premiers — joined Alberta in challenging the law all the way to the Supreme Court.

The court found that the majority of the act was “ultra vires Parliament and thus unconstitutional.” The Liberals, under Justin Trudeau, and now under Mark Carney, are doing their best to ignore this ruling.

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“How do you reconcile keeping Bill C-69 with your plans to build infrastructure in Canada? Do you plan to repeal Bill C-69?” Carney was asked by a reporter on Tuesday.

“We do not plan to repeal Bill-69 to answer your question directly,” Carney said.

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“What we have said and made very clear 10 days ago formally with the first minister’s meeting is that we will move for projects of national interest to remove duplication in terms of environmental assessments.”

That’s not the same thing as repealing a largely unconstitutional law that has made it more difficult to open mines, to get resource projects approved and makes it virtually impossible to build pipelines for oil or natural gas.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said that Carney’s comments now don’t align with what he told her recently.

“Less than two weeks ago, Mark Carney told me in person that C-69 was a barrier to large national energy projects and needed to be dealt with. Now he says he has no intention to do anything with it,” Smith posted.

Smith said keeping this law in place will mean fewer large-scale projects developed and that Canada will become more reliant on the United States.

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Speaking in St. John’s, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said the choice is clear for voters.

“After the lost Liberal decade, do you want to a fourth term of rising crime and costs and a falling economy under America’s thumb, or is it time to put Canada first with a new Conservative government that will axe taxes, build homes, unleash our resources, and stand up to Trump from a position of economic strength?” Poilievre asked.

If you want a resilient economy that can withstand Trump’s economic threats to Canada, then you should vote for Poilievre. If you want someone who will shout slogans, make you feel good about “standing up” to Trump, but not deliver results, vote for Carney.

That’s the choice this election: Poilievre, who will deliver results, or Carney, an advocate of weak policies, but strong slogans.

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