With gas prices going up, you may be wondering if it is time for an oil pipeline from New Brunswick to Western Canada.
Since war broke out in Iran and the middle east late February, gas prices have jumped, with many oil tankers getting disrupted as they try to travel through the Strait of Hormuz.
Prime Minister Mark Carney visited Halifax on March 26. When our newsroom asked if a pipeline was on the table and what else his government was doing to combat the rising oil prices, he said they have several affordability measures in place, including tax cuts.
“We will look at this as the conflict evolves, and most importantly as the impact on Canadians is there, not saying necessarily that’s the final word,” Carney said.
Later, he added, “We also have opportunities on the east coast in conventional energy, which we’ll be exploring to build that out, and across this country.”
Although he did not rule out the possibility of an oil pipeline in the future, he said Nova Scotia has tremendous energy potential with offshore wind.
He met with Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston the next day, on March 27, and signed an agreement to cut red tape for major infrastructure projects. That would include Wind West, an offshore wind initiative that would require new transmission infrastructure to move energy beyond Nova Scotia. The project has the potential to supply a significant portion of Canada’s electricity needs.
With files from Evan Taylor.
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