CHRIS GARDNER
Major parts of C-69, better known as the “No More Pipelines Bill,” were struck down by the country’s highest court in October 2023. The Court determined the federal government overreached its authority by interfering in areas of clear provincial jurisdiction – a position ICBA strongly supported before the Court as an intervenor in the case.
“The Supreme Court got it right. Mr. Carney has it wrong,” said Chris Gardner, ICBA President and CEO.
“It is deeply disappointing that Mark Carney has decided to double down on one of the most damaging and unconstitutional pieces of legislation in Canadian history,” said Gardner. “By keeping C-69 in place, Mr. Carney is signalling that the Trudeau-era hostility toward natural resource development will continue. That’s a clear message to Canadians and to investors: not much is going to change under a Carney-led government – Canada will continue to be closed for business.”
Bill C-69 has weakened Canada’s ability to respond to Donald Trump’s trade war against Canada. “Since the Trudeau Liberals passed Bill C-69 six years ago, only one energy project, Cedar LNG near Kitimat, B.C., has survived the new framework,” said Mike Martens, ICBA Alberta president. “Carney’s refusal to repeal it means continued paralysis for billions of dollars in potential investment and the thousands of jobs those projects would create. We can’t build if we don’t approve projects, and construction workers don’t cash paycheques if we aren’t building anything.”
“We need to harness the enormous potential of our natural resources, attract new investment, and build a stronger economy in order to stand up to Donald Trump and other threats to our economy. That’s not going to happen with C-69 in place since it was designed to kill pipelines, stall projects, and strip the provinces of their constitutional authority to responsibly develop natural resources,” said Martens.
ICBA has been a national leader in the fight against Bill C-69, standing with the provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan in their legal challenges, and forcefully advocating for the constitutional rights of provinces and the importance of getting to yes on responsible resource development.
“ICBA endorsed Pierre Poilievre and the Conservative Party because Canada desperately needs leadership that understands how to build our economy, create jobs, and respect the rule of law,” said Gardner.
“The Liberal Party may have a new leader in Mr. Carney, but they remain wedded to the same policies of the Trudeau era that forced Canada into economic stagnation for the past decade,” said Gardner. “Canada needs to build, grow, and prosper. We need to invest in projects that power our economy, allow us to stand strong in the face of external threats and to create opportunity for the next generation. That cannot happen without new ideas and new leadership, and with C-69 still on the books. The case for change in this election could not be clearer.”
Chris Gardner is President and CEO of ICBA
