Trudeau helps foreign businesses again, hurts Canadian ones

[Anonymous]

Bill C-69 is another example of Trudeau putting Canada last while Trump puts America first.



By Colin Craig of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation



The Trudeau government has once again introduced legislation that will hurt Canadian companies while helping their foreign competitors.



Prime Minister Trudeau's latest move is not only hurtful to everyone who works in the oil and gas industry, it's harmful to all the tax-paying companies and workers across Canada that supply parts, supplies and services to Canada's energy industry.



The situation involves Bill C-69, legislation that was tabled by the federal government earlier this year. If passed, the legislation would complicate the process for reviewing energy projects. According to the Canadian Energy Pipeline Association (CEPA), the legislation would have a devastating impact. If Bill C-69 passes, CEPA notes, "it is difficult to imagine that a new major pipeline could be built in Canada."



Among many new changes, the legislation would expand the current consultation process with aboriginal communities as well as require "gender based analysis" before a Canadian energy project proceeds.



Keep in mind the mandatory consultation and review process is already extensive. For example, the new Trans Mountain pipeline project in British Columbia took three years to receive approval.



Given Ottawa's proposed new requirements for Canadian projects, we decided to ask the Trudeau government if foreign oil would also have to go through "gender based analysis" and consultations with aboriginal communities before it could enter Canada.



After all, Canadian women in the oil and gas sector, as well as aboriginal people who work in that field, are adversely impacted every time Ottawa makes it easier to import foreign oil than it is to buy Canadian products.



We were told Ottawa has no documentation on such a review.



But this isn't the first time the Trudeau government required Canadian energy projects to meet a standard greater than what foreign oil is required to meet.



Last year, Ottawa asked Transcanada's Energy East pipeline project to go through an "upstream and downstream" emissions review. The announcement came after Transcanada had already spent over $1 billion planning the project and years jumping through the federal government's hoops.



After the federal government changed the rules on Transcanada halfway through the process, the company pulled the plug on the initiative and Canada lost thousands of new jobs and billions in tax dollars as a result.



We then asked the federal government for documentation related to foreign oil going through similar reviews. Again, the federal government told us they didn't have any.



As an aside, Ottawa also didn't conduct such emission reviews before giving Bombardier and Ford hundreds of millions of dollars in financial support. (Two companies that manufacture vehicles that produce significant emissions).



Have you noticed a pattern yet?



The Trudeau government continues to put up roadblocks in front of Canadian oil and gas projects while giving a free pass to foreign oil that is imported to Canada.



If this doesn't sound fair to you, you may wish to contact your Member of Parliament. Prime Minister Trudeau's new legislation hasn't passed yet so there's still time to pipe some common sense into the debate.

[Anonymous]

Justine should run for president of Russia, the US or an OPEC country. He does more to help their economies thrive than their own leadership ever could.

[Anonymous]

Justine should run for president of Russia, the US or an OPEC country. He does more to help their economies thrive than their own leadership ever could.

I would donate to his campaign if he decides to run.

[Anonymous]

Justine should run for president of Russia, the US or an OPEC country. He does more to help their economies thrive than their own leadership ever could.

I doubt our prime minister could help those countries anymore than passing Bill C-69.

[Anonymous]

Bill C-69 is another example of Trudeau putting Canada last while Trump puts America first.



By Colin Craig of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation



The Trudeau government has once again introduced legislation that will hurt Canadian companies while helping their foreign competitors.



Prime Minister Trudeau's latest move is not only hurtful to everyone who works in the oil and gas industry, it's harmful to all the tax-paying companies and workers across Canada that supply parts, supplies and services to Canada's energy industry.



The situation involves Bill C-69, legislation that was tabled by the federal government earlier this year. If passed, the legislation would complicate the process for reviewing energy projects. According to the Canadian Energy Pipeline Association (CEPA), the legislation would have a devastating impact. If Bill C-69 passes, CEPA notes, "it is difficult to imagine that a new major pipeline could be built in Canada."



Among many new changes, the legislation would expand the current consultation process with aboriginal communities as well as require "gender based analysis" before a Canadian energy project proceeds.



Keep in mind the mandatory consultation and review process is already extensive. For example, the new Trans Mountain pipeline project in British Columbia took three years to receive approval.



Given Ottawa's proposed new requirements for Canadian projects, we decided to ask the Trudeau government if foreign oil would also have to go through "gender based analysis" and consultations with aboriginal communities before it could enter Canada.



After all, Canadian women in the oil and gas sector, as well as aboriginal people who work in that field, are adversely impacted every time Ottawa makes it easier to import foreign oil than it is to buy Canadian products.



We were told Ottawa has no documentation on such a review.



But this isn't the first time the Trudeau government required Canadian energy projects to meet a standard greater than what foreign oil is required to meet.



Last year, Ottawa asked Transcanada's Energy East pipeline project to go through an "upstream and downstream" emissions review. The announcement came after Transcanada had already spent over $1 billion planning the project and years jumping through the federal government's hoops.



After the federal government changed the rules on Transcanada halfway through the process, the company pulled the plug on the initiative and Canada lost thousands of new jobs and billions in tax dollars as a result.



We then asked the federal government for documentation related to foreign oil going through similar reviews. Again, the federal government told us they didn't have any.



As an aside, Ottawa also didn't conduct such emission reviews before giving Bombardier and Ford hundreds of millions of dollars in financial support. (Two companies that manufacture vehicles that produce significant emissions).



Have you noticed a pattern yet?



The Trudeau government continues to put up roadblocks in front of Canadian oil and gas projects while giving a free pass to foreign oil that is imported to Canada.



If this doesn't sound fair to you, you may wish to contact your Member of Parliament. Prime Minister Trudeau's new legislation hasn't passed yet so there's still time to pipe some common sense into the debate.

Trudeau, just like his father has made it his goal to desrroy Western Canada.

[Berry Sweet]

He's all about immigrants for votes.  And they look at him likes some sort of magical unicorn.  Oh yes please!  Immigrate here and open another corner store...because 10 over priced corner stores on one block is not enough.

[Anonymous]

Bill C-69 is another example of Trudeau putting Canada last while Trump puts America first.



By Colin Craig of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation



The Trudeau government has once again introduced legislation that will hurt Canadian companies while helping their foreign competitors.



Prime Minister Trudeau's latest move is not only hurtful to everyone who works in the oil and gas industry, it's harmful to all the tax-paying companies and workers across Canada that supply parts, supplies and services to Canada's energy industry.



The situation involves Bill C-69, legislation that was tabled by the federal government earlier this year. If passed, the legislation would complicate the process for reviewing energy projects. According to the Canadian Energy Pipeline Association (CEPA), the legislation would have a devastating impact. If Bill C-69 passes, CEPA notes, "it is difficult to imagine that a new major pipeline could be built in Canada."



Among many new changes, the legislation would expand the current consultation process with aboriginal communities as well as require "gender based analysis" before a Canadian energy project proceeds.



Keep in mind the mandatory consultation and review process is already extensive. For example, the new Trans Mountain pipeline project in British Columbia took three years to receive approval.



Given Ottawa's proposed new requirements for Canadian projects, we decided to ask the Trudeau government if foreign oil would also have to go through "gender based analysis" and consultations with aboriginal communities before it could enter Canada.



After all, Canadian women in the oil and gas sector, as well as aboriginal people who work in that field, are adversely impacted every time Ottawa makes it easier to import foreign oil than it is to buy Canadian products.



We were told Ottawa has no documentation on such a review.



But this isn't the first time the Trudeau government required Canadian energy projects to meet a standard greater than what foreign oil is required to meet.



Last year, Ottawa asked Transcanada's Energy East pipeline project to go through an "upstream and downstream" emissions review. The announcement came after Transcanada had already spent over $1 billion planning the project and years jumping through the federal government's hoops.



After the federal government changed the rules on Transcanada halfway through the process, the company pulled the plug on the initiative and Canada lost thousands of new jobs and billions in tax dollars as a result.



We then asked the federal government for documentation related to foreign oil going through similar reviews. Again, the federal government told us they didn't have any.



As an aside, Ottawa also didn't conduct such emission reviews before giving Bombardier and Ford hundreds of millions of dollars in financial support. (Two companies that manufacture vehicles that produce significant emissions).



Have you noticed a pattern yet?



The Trudeau government continues to put up roadblocks in front of Canadian oil and gas projects while giving a free pass to foreign oil that is imported to Canada.



If this doesn't sound fair to you, you may wish to contact your Member of Parliament. Prime Minister Trudeau's new legislation hasn't passed yet so there's still time to pipe some common sense into the debate.

Trudeau, just like his father has made it his goal to desrroy Western Canada.

He's not helping us.

[Berry Sweet]

I do agree the guy is a joke.  He's not helping Canadian citizens at all, esp the veterans and seniors.  The guy has no sense of reality.

[Anonymous]

I do agree the guy is a joke.  He's not helping Canadian citizens at all, esp the veterans and seniors.  The guy has no sense of reality.

Especially Western Canadians.

[Berry Sweet]

I do agree the guy is a joke.  He's not helping Canadian citizens at all, esp the veterans and seniors.  The guy has no sense of reality.

Especially Western Canadians.

I've always found every PM to ignore western Canada.  IT seems more just for jollies and travelling thrills.

[Berry Sweet]

Last week he advertised how he raised the child tax to help pull families out of poverty...a whole $6-$8 /mo....like wow...

[Berry Sweet]

As far as the child tax goes, families should only be allowed to collect for 2 children...anyone who chooses to have 3+ kids should support them on their own.  Maybe it would stop idiots from having 6, 7, 8+ kids.

[Anonymous]

Last week he advertised how he raised the child tax to help pull families out of poverty...a whole $6-$8 /mo....like wow...

And raised payroll taxes, stopped income splitting and eliminated tax credits families use the previous government brought in.

[Anonymous]

Even a federal government agency is encouraging Canadian resource investment to go the US.



From Sun News Media



"Meh," probably isn't a technical economics term.



Still, it pretty much sums up the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development's (OECD) forecast for Canada's economy for at least the next couple of years.



Could be worse, could be way better. Mostly, it'll be "meh."



The Paris-based OECD (essentially the membership organization of the world's developed countries) said Monday our GDP growth will be OK — not great, but not a recession, either. Employment growth will be slow, so will any rise in incomes, but at least unemployment shouldn't increase and inflation won't be out of control.



All-in-all, Canada's economy will be, well, "meh." Why?



Taxes and regulations, but mostly taxes.



Since 2015, when the Liberals and New Democrats took over in Ottawa and Edmonton, respectively, federal and provincial taxes on individuals and corporations have sucked much life out of our economy, along with insane new environmental regulations that are scaring away foreign investment in our energy sector.



Yes, the OECD also points to uncertainty about NAFTA. So Trump haters can blame Donald Trump's trade strategy a bit, too.



But in recent years, federal and provincial governments have raised taxes so much that Canada has become less competitive.



A report, also Monday, for the Alberta government, Export Development Canada, the Petroleum Services Association of Canada, Canadian Global Exploration Forum and JWN, an energy industry media group, determined the best investment opportunities for Canadian oil companies were in ... the U.S.



How ironic. A report for the Alberta government and the federal government's export agency is encouraging Canadian companies to ship their money south.



Crazy public policies are acting like rocks on the tail of the Canadian economic bird, changes such as subjecting any new energy development to "gender-based assessments" or making pipelines responsible for all the emissions created by the oil they carry, even emissions from the oil after it leaves the pipeline.



But according to the OECD, the biggest problem the Canadian economy has at the moment is taxes. We are raising ours rapidly while our largest trading partners, the Americans, have radically reduced at least their corporate taxes since last November.



In Alberta, for instance, the top corporate tax rates have increased by 50% since Premier Rachel Notley and the NDP took over. The Alberta Advantage is gone. Alberta's corporate tax rate is now as high as most other provinces.'



Fossil fuels brought into Canada are not subjected to carbon taxes or wacky environmental regs.



Millions of tonnes of U.S. coal are shipped to Asia each year through the Port of Vancouver without ever being charged a cent of federal or provincial carbon tax. [size=150]The B.C. government, which is doing everything it can to stop Alberta oil, does nothing to limit dirtier U.S. coal.

[/size]

Meanwhile, none of the 700,000 barrels of foreign oil imported into Canada every day is subjected to the environmental regulations every ounce of Western Canadian oil must meet.



Why would foreign investors pump money into Canada, only to have their oil or coal blocked and their income taxed through the nose, when they can import fossil fuels and get around the taxes?

[Anonymous]

It's not just Trudeau who is destroying Canada's biggest exports, which are natural resources. He has a reliable ally in the premier of Alberta.



From Kenneth Green, Chair in Energy and Environmental Studies at the Fraser Institute.





Recently in Ontario, Premier Doug Ford summarily scrapped Ontario's cap-andtrade program, which would have burdened Ontario companies with costly carbon accounting and sent millions of Ontario's dollars to California to buy carbon credits.



Since 2017, Ontarians paid nearly $2 billion annually as the cost of cap-and-trade was passed onto consumers.



Moreover, Ontario will cancel some 758 contracts for renewable power, saving the province another $790 million while helping reduce power prices for Ontarians.



Besides partying at Stampede and doing aerial acrobatics, what has Premier Rachel Notley done to increase investment attractiveness in Alberta?



Let's review.



Since coming to office, she raised corporate income taxes to 12% from 10% — a hike of about 20%.



And discouraged wealthier folks, who might live and invest here, by killing Alberta's highly attractive flat income tax rate.



Due to this tax hike, which went from 10% up to 15% for high earners, Albertans who earn more than $300,000 per year saw their taxes rise 50%.



The NDP government has also stacked a daunting pile of regulatory bricks onto the back of a prostrate industry when it was reeling from a massive drop in oil prices.



While Canada's energy sector was down, they were hit with Premier Notley's "Climate Leadership Plan," which expanded and increased Alberta's carbon tax to $30/ tonne of emissions, and will ostensibly follow the Trudeau government's federal plan to raise the tax to $50/tonne by 2022, as her contingent condition of getting a pipeline built was satisfied by Ottawa's purchase of the Kinder Morgan Trans Mountain expansion project.



In addition to the tax hikes, the government put a hard cap on the emissions of greenhouse gases from the oilsands, limiting them to 100 megatonnes per year, a constraint which could start to bite in the mid-2020s, threatening the viability of longterm projects and costing the economy billions in lost production.



Alberta's Climate Leadership Plan also includes a commitment to phase out coal-generated electricity by 2030, triple renewable energy to supply 30% of generation by 2030, further reduce methane emissions from the oil and gas sector, and create a new agency to spend Alberta's carbon tax revenues on energy-efficiency programs with a very poor record of success.



Drove up prices



These are the kind of policies that drove up energy prices in Ontario and drove investment and jobs out of the province.



Simply put, as Ontario steps back from cap-andtrade and wind and solar power, Alberta forges ahead with burdensome regulations, renewable energy subsidies and higher taxes.



And all of this after the spectacular failure of Premier Notley's "social license" dream that was never going to be granted by environmentalists.



Instead, we now have a precedent that, if pipelines are to be built, the government must fund them or indemnify them with Alberta's and Canada's tax dollars.



If the premier is serious about rebuilding Alberta's oil and gas sector, she should get off the Stampede zip-line and start removing the bricks she put on the back of Alberta's energy economy, to make Alberta a profitable place to invest with a more predictable and affordable regulatory system.