MP David McKenzie’s Bill C-264 to be voted on this week

Ottawa, ON – The Hon. Pierre Poilievre, Leader of His Majesty’s Loyal Opposition and the Conservative Party of Canada; David McKenzie, Conservative Member of Parliament for Calgary Signal Hill; Carol Anstey, Conservative Shadow Minister for Energy and Natural Resources; and Shannon Stubbs, Conservative Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, sent the following letter to Prime Minister Mark Carney calling to end the Liberals’ project-killing tanker ban:

Prime Minister,

As you know, our Conservative mission is to save money and jobs for Canadians and put Canada first in the world.

We are writing today because we have a chance to diversify oil exports overseas to boost jobs, our dollar and our economic independence from the United States with no need for government subsidies, using mostly existing infrastructure, with shovels in the ground now and oil flowing in under two years.

You are the only thing standing in the way.

Let us explain: Last week, Bloomberg reported that Strathcona Resources is proposing to ship up to 250,000 barrels of Canadian oil a day on existing railroad tracks through Prince Rupert, British Columbia and across the Pacific. But your government’s northwest coast shipping ban prevents that oil from leaving our shores, even as American tankers ship through nearby waters.

We are writing with a solution. We are asking you to support Bill C-264 at second reading this coming Wednesday, October 28, to scrap the tanker ban.

For Canadians, that could mean paycheques for energy workers, new business for railway and port workers, and orders for Canadian suppliers. More overseas customers will raise the price we get for our product.

The shipping ban effectively donates billions of dollars from Canada to the United States, by forcing us to sell our oil at massive discounts profiting American refineries. More overseas customers would allow us to sell more oil at higher world prices. Bill C-264, which would repeal the Oil Tanker Moratorium Act, offers a way forward, and will be debated in the House of Commons today.

Conservatives support repealing this shipping ban in full. But if you support the bill at second reading, we are prepared to work with Liberal MPs in committee on amendments that would allow the Prince Rupert project to move forward.

We are ready to find common ground to get results for Canadians.

The tanker ban was a choice made by your Liberal government. It closed a door to overseas markets and left Canada more dependent on our largest customer. Keeping that door closed weakens our ability to stand on our own feet.

It is a federal decision in federal jurisdiction. You are the only thing standing in the way.

Getting out of the way would also give Alberta and British Columbia an opportunity to build prosperity together. That is how we strengthen national unity: by building projects that connect our provinces, put our people to work and give Canadians a shared stake in our country’s success.

The federal tanker ban is Parliament’s responsibility. So is all permitting for this oil-by-rail project. You are the only obstacle. We call on your government and MPs from all parties to support Bill C-264 at second reading so we can get to work in committee.

Let us save Canadians money and jobs and put our country first.

Conservatives are ready to work together to make Canada an energy superpower. We ask you to join us.