SASKATOON — The prime minister is pushing back at the federal Conservatives who are criticizing his position on pipelines.
Confronted with the criticism in Saskatchewan, where low energy prices are battering the province's economy, Justin Trudeau repeated his often-used line that the Conservatives have had years to build a pipeline while in government and couldn't get it done.
Trudeau says getting resources to market is a key responsibility of the Canadian government and the best way to get a pipeline built is to co-operate with communities and First Nations along the route and respect their concerns.
Interim Conservative leader Rona Ambrose was also in Saskatchewan this week where she accused Trudeau of waffling on support for pipelines since last year's federal election.
She says the "vague" pipeline approval process creates too much uncertainty in the oil industry, which translates into more job losses.
Trudeau is to meet with one of his loudest critics on the pipeline issue, Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall, while in Saskatoon.
TRUDEAU GOVERNMENT PUT ON SHORT LEASH BY CANADIAN HUMAN RIGHTS TRIBUNAL
he Trudeau government is grappling with a stern order from the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal on welfare services for aboriginal children.
The decision demands swift action from the federal government and promises close scrutiny.
The tribunal says the Indigenous Affairs Department has two weeks to confirm it has implemented a policy designed to ensure First Nations children can access services without getting caught up in red tape.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who met indigenous youth today in Saskatchewan, is stressing that his government's efforts go beyond words and it is looking to renew the overall relationship with Aboriginal Peoples.
NDP indigenous critic Charlie Angus says the tribunal's order is equivalent to the government being placed under third-party management.
Cindy Blackstock, who led a nine-year battle against the government that culminated in the tribunal ruling, calls that a fair analogy.
