Tuesday, December 23, 2025
ADVT 
National

O'Toole presses pipelines with U.S. envoy

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 11 Feb, 2021 06:14 PM
  • O'Toole presses pipelines with U.S. envoy

Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole urged the acting American ambassador to Canada to tell Washington to preserve the Line 5 pipeline to the United States.

O'Toole told Katherine Brucker that he was disappointed by President Joe Biden's decision to cancel Keystone XL pipeline on his first day in office last month.

O'Toole also said if the governor of Michigan follows through on plans to shut down Line 5 by May it would have a negative economic impact on both countries.

About 87 million litres of oil and natural gas liquids moves daily through Line 5 from Wisconsin to Sarnia, Ont., passing through parts of Michigan.

The U.S. embassy in Ottawa declined to comment on the Wednesday conversation between Brucker and O'Toole.

But the Conservative leader's office released its own readout of the meeting.

"Mr. O'Toole raised his disappointment about the decision of the United States to cancel the Keystone XL pipeline and made the case for why this project should continue, including the economic benefits for both countries," it said.

"He also raised the potential Line 5 pipeline cancellation and the tremendous economic blow this would cause both countries."

O'Toole also asked the U.S. to help secure more vaccines for Canadians.

"Mr. O'Toole spoke about the need for vaccines in order to secure jobs and turn the corner in the pandemic," the readout said.

A U.S. embassy spokeswoman said Brucker meets with "a wide range of Canadians from all sectors, including political leaders, to learn about their priorities and promote bilateral understanding" but it does not comment publicly on the details of those conversations.

But recent moves by Biden make it unlikely that Canada will receive any extra vaccine doses made in the United States

Biden invoked the Defence Production Act, after former president Donald Trump did the same last year to push for faster production of personal protective equipment and vaccines. Biden did not specifically mention exports, but he has promised to vaccinate 100 million Americans in his first 100 days in office.

O'Toole also registered his opposition to American tariffs on softwood lumber and the Buy American policies that the Biden administration is also following after Trump.

"They also spoke about the threat the Chinese Communist Party poses to both the United States and Canada. Mr. O'Toole raised the issue of Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor who are currently being held hostage, and thanked the United States for their willingness to assist in securing their release," said the readout.

 

MORE National ARTICLES

Other nations could get vaccines before Canada: PM

Other nations could get vaccines before Canada: PM
The prime minister nonetheless played down any potential threat to Canadian access to vaccines, noting the federal government has signed orders for millions of doses from a variety of foreign pharmaceutical companies in recent months.

Other nations could get vaccines before Canada: PM

B.C. officials clarify COVID-19 restrictions

B.C. officials clarify COVID-19 restrictions
Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix spent part of their news conference today explaining what counts as an event or social gathering.

B.C. officials clarify COVID-19 restrictions

Cannabis edibles found in Halloween bag results in illegal lab shutdown

Cannabis edibles found in Halloween bag results in illegal lab shutdown
Fortunately the parent spotted the candy and warned other parents in the area, and Delta Police received no other complaints or information about children consuming cannabis.

Cannabis edibles found in Halloween bag results in illegal lab shutdown

Rights complaints filed over bank's fraud claims

Rights complaints filed over bank's fraud claims
Maxwell Johnson's complaint says both he and his 12-year-old granddaughter were detained last December by Vancouver police officers when they tried to open an account at the Bank of Montreal using their Indigenous status cards.

Rights complaints filed over bank's fraud claims

How do leading vaccine candidates compare?

How do leading vaccine candidates compare?
The Canadian Press asked Kelly Grindrod, an associate professor at the University of Waterloo's School of Pharmacy, and Dr. Earl Brown, a virology and microbiology expert at the University of Ottawa, to break down those questions.

How do leading vaccine candidates compare?

Downtown house party results in $2,300 ticket

Downtown house party results in $2,300 ticket
Responding officers were surprised to see a group of people openly flouting COVID-19 restrictions for social gatherings.

Downtown house party results in $2,300 ticket