Monday, June 15, 2026
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

Kidnapping and sexual assault investigation of Toronto man Shanthakumar Kandiah

Kidnapping and sexual assault investigation of Toronto man Shanthakumar Kandiah
The Toronto Police Service would like to advise the public of an ongoing sexual assault investigation.

Kidnapping and sexual assault investigation of Toronto man Shanthakumar Kandiah

Canada's clean-tech sector struggling

Canada's clean-tech sector struggling
Federal energy and environment officials were warned in late April that Canada's clean-tech sector was in danger as COVID-19 knocked the bottom out of the industry.

Canada's clean-tech sector struggling

Search continues for father of girls found dead

Search continues for father of girls found dead
The search for the father of two girls whose bodies were found Saturday in a small town southwest of Quebec City has entered its seventh day.

Search continues for father of girls found dead

Ethnocultural crime stats to be collected

Ethnocultural crime stats to be collected
Statistics Canada and the country's police chiefs have agreed to help collect and report data about Indigenous and ethnocultural groups when compiling information on victims and accused people.

Ethnocultural crime stats to be collected

Central bank holds key rate at 0.25%

Central bank holds key rate at 0.25%
The Bank of Canada is holding its key interest rate at 0.25 per cent in response to what it calls the "extremely uncertain" economic outlook from the COVID-19 pandemic, and plans to keep it there until the picture improves.

Central bank holds key rate at 0.25%

Two presumed cases of COVID-19 in Nunavut

Two presumed cases of COVID-19 in Nunavut
Nunavut is reporting two presumptive cases of COVID-19 at an iron mine on the northern tip of Baffin Island. The territory is the only jurisdiction in Canada without a confirmed case of the infection.

Two presumed cases of COVID-19 in Nunavut