N.S. premier calls on Bloc Québécois to pivot from anti-oil-pipeline position

Nova Scotia is continuing its push for other provinces to remove trade barriers.

Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston said he wants the Energy East Pipeline project that was killed in 2017 to be resurrected to bring oil from Western Canada to refineries in Quebec and Atlantic Canada.

Premier Houston said development of a west to east pipeline should be reconsidered amid concerns over a potential trade war with the U.S.

Houston floated the idea of reviving the pipeline project after a meeting with his provincial and territorial counterparts in early February where they discussed how Canada should respond to the threat of U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods.

The revival of the pipeline project doesn’t sit well with Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet, who said last week he was “fiercely opposed” to any new pipeline projects that would transport hydrocarbons through Quebec.

Premier Houston accused Blanchet and Quebec of standing in the way economic opportunities and exerting control over the country’s energy needs.

In a letter to the Bloc leader, Houston said interprovincial trade barriers need to be lifted to allow Canada to be more self-sufficient at this critical time.

“I was blown away by your (Mr. Blanchet) comments around energy dependence,” said Houston. “Your eagerness to disparage opportunities for all Canadians for energy security and intentionally alienate Atlantic Canada is appalling.”

Houston said the pipeline is a matter of national economic interest that would reduce reliance on foreign energy. He said Blanchet’s stance amounts to political interference.

“It’s now time to have some national unity and a team Canada approach and the pipeline is really important to us here and I’d just urge him to rethink his small mindedness on this,” said Houston.

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