Author: Alex Dhaliwal
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is urging Prime Minister Mark Carney to scrap the federal tanker ban ahead of Wednesday’s vote, arguing it blocks a proposal to export 250,000 barrels of Canadian oil daily.
“Repeal the Liberal tanker ban,” Poilievre wrote on X. “Let’s get shipping oil by rail to Prince Rupert in the next two years.”
Poilievre and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith are backing Conservative MP David McKenzie’s Bill C-264, which would repeal the tanker ban along B.C.’s northern coast.
Calgary-based Strathcona Resources proposes shipping oil by rail to Prince Rupert for overseas export, potentially within two years, pending approvals.
Carney, however, pledged in July to maintain the tanker ban under a B.C. agreement, despite plans for a new West Coast pipeline.
“The Canada-B.C. agreement will maintain the federal North Coast tanker ban in accordance with a proposed route of a new trans-provincial pipeline under the bilateral agreement with Canada and Alberta,” Carney told reporters at the time.
McKenzie challenged the government during Question Period on October 26, arguing that Strathcona could begin exporting oil without waiting for another pipeline.
“Strathcona will ship by rail existing in place today. It just needs the Liberal government to get out of the way and remove the West Coast tanker ban,” he said.
Energy and Natural Resources Minister Tim Hodgson pointed instead to the government’s plans for a West Coast pipeline.
“We will up the member by four and get a million barrels a day to the West Coast by working in partnership with First Nations, not against them,” Hodgson said.
Smith also backed the legislation, arguing that Canada’s reliance on American buyers has forced Alberta producers to sell their oil at a discount.
“Our oil to the United States is selling at a significant discount at a disadvantage to the entire country,” Smith said.
“The only effective way to close that gap is to increase exports off our western coast and get more customers competing for our energy.”
She acknowledged that the Trans Mountain Expansion has improved access to Asian markets but argued that more pipelines and access to tidewater are needed.
The Conservatives have also taken their demands directly to Carney.
In an October 26 letter, Poilievre and Conservative MPs McKenzie, Carol Anstey and Shannon Stubbs urged the Liberals to support Bill C-264 at second reading on October 28.
“You are the only thing standing in the way,” the MPs wrote.
They also offered to negotiate amendments if Liberals agree to advance the legislation to committee.
Enacted under Justin Trudeau in 2019, the Oil Tanker Moratorium Act prohibits tankers carrying more than 12,500 metric tonnes of crude oil or certain petroleum products from loading or unloading along much of B.C.’s northern coast.
Supporters cite environmental protections, while critics argue the ban limits Canadian oil exports.
Repealing it would remove a major restriction, although Strathcona would still need regulatory approvals and supporting infrastructure.
“Canada cannot become a global energy superpower while federal policies continue to stand in the way of getting our energy to the world,” Smith said.