Saturday, December 27, 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

U.S. 'cherry-picked' evidence against Meng: lawyer

U.S. 'cherry-picked' evidence against Meng: lawyer
Canada's attorney general has said in documents that Huawei controlled Skycom's operations in Iran from 2007 until 2014, which contradicts Meng's statements.

U.S. 'cherry-picked' evidence against Meng: lawyer

CPP breaking rules on politics: environment group

CPP breaking rules on politics: environment group
Crestone Peak Resources is 95 per cent owned by the Canada Pension Plan. One of the company's five directors also works for the pension plan.

CPP breaking rules on politics: environment group

Judge orders Pascale Ferrier to remain behind bars

Judge orders Pascale Ferrier to remain behind bars
Timothy Lynch of the U.S. Attorney's Office in Buffalo, N.Y., described Ferrier as being "loaded for bear" when she was stopped Sept. 20 at the Peace Bridge border crossing.

Judge orders Pascale Ferrier to remain behind bars

Pandemic highlights duty to document: info czar

Pandemic highlights duty to document: info czar
Maynard is an ombudsman for users of the Access to Information Act, which allows people who pay $5 to request government records ranging from briefing notes to meeting minutes.

Pandemic highlights duty to document: info czar

Singh says martial-arts training kept him calm

Singh says martial-arts training kept him calm
Video posted to social media showed Singh being followed along a sidewalk by a man and others, at least one of whom was recording the incident.

Singh says martial-arts training kept him calm

Minimal risk to wild salmon from farmed fish: DFO

Minimal risk to wild salmon from farmed fish: DFO
Meetings with the First Nations, which have raised concerns about three salmon farms, are expected to begin in October.

Minimal risk to wild salmon from farmed fish: DFO