Saturday, June 27, 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

Airbnb Limits Young People's Ability To Rent Properties Following Deadly Shooting

Airbnb Limits Young People's Ability To Rent Properties Following Deadly Shooting
TORONTO - Airbnb says it will limit young adults' ability to book some properties in Canada in a bid to cut down on unauthorized parties like the one where three young men were killed in Toronto over the weekend.    

Airbnb Limits Young People's Ability To Rent Properties Following Deadly Shooting

Omar Khadr Told To Answer Utah Plaintiffs' Questions About His Confession

Omar Khadr Told To Answer Utah Plaintiffs' Questions About His Confession
Relatives of a slain American soldier have won a skirmish in their attempt to collect on a US$134-million wrongful-death award against former Guantanamo Bay detainee Omar Khadr.    

Omar Khadr Told To Answer Utah Plaintiffs' Questions About His Confession

Impeachment, Shmimpeachment: Trump Plans To Run, And Win, On Economic Record

Impeachment, Shmimpeachment: Trump Plans To Run, And Win, On Economic Record
President Donald Trump declared his scorched-earth political style an unmitigated success Tuesday in a fiercely partisan, made-for-TV state of the union speech that made it clear he expects to be back in the White House 

Impeachment, Shmimpeachment: Trump Plans To Run, And Win, On Economic Record

People's Party Leader Maxime Bernier Sues Political Pundit For Defamation

A former member of Parliament and leader of a fringe federal political party is suing a prominent political commentator and strategist for defamation.    

People's Party Leader Maxime Bernier Sues Political Pundit For Defamation

Montreal To Fully Ban Plastic Bags By End Of 2020, Mayor Announces

Montreal To Fully Ban Plastic Bags By End Of 2020, Mayor Announces
MONTREAL - Given the urgent need to reduce the city's environmental footprint, Montreal will move to fully ban the distribution of plastic bags by the end of 2020, Mayor Valerie Plante said Wednesday.    

Montreal To Fully Ban Plastic Bags By End Of 2020, Mayor Announces

Crosswinds Hold Up Chartered Flight Taking Canadians From Wuhan

Crosswinds Hold Up Chartered Flight Taking Canadians From Wuhan
More than 200 Canadians due to be evacuated from the Chinese city of Wuhan should continue making their way to the airport if they are already on their way, even though their flight out of the centre of the new coronavirus outbreak

Crosswinds Hold Up Chartered Flight Taking Canadians From Wuhan