Tuesday, June 30, 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

VPD Formalizes Police Stop Policy In Accordance With Provincial Guidelines

VPD Formalizes Police Stop Policy In Accordance With Provincial Guidelines
Vancouver Police have finalized a ‘street checks and police stops’ policy in line with new provincial policing standards issued by the Province of B.C. that went into effect on January 15.

VPD Formalizes Police Stop Policy In Accordance With Provincial Guidelines

CFSEU-BC Seizes About 50 Kg Of Suspected Heroin, Other Drugs In One of B.C.'s Largest Drug Raid

On January 8th, 2020, while conducting a targeted investigation into potential prolific drug traffickers, CFSEU-BC officers observed what they believed was a significant drug transaction taking place.

CFSEU-BC Seizes About 50 Kg Of Suspected Heroin, Other Drugs In One of B.C.'s Largest Drug Raid

Viral Video: 13-Year-Old Ryan Pourjam Gives Moving Speech For Father Mansour Who Died In Iran Plane Crash

At a memorial for his father and another victim of the airline crash, 13-year-old Ryan Pourjam spoke about his father.  

Viral Video: 13-Year-Old Ryan Pourjam Gives Moving Speech For Father Mansour Who Died In Iran Plane Crash

WATCH: Amritsar Khalsa College Students Perform Bhangra In Snow-Clad Solang Valley

A video of men from Khalsa College Amritsar performing bhangra in a snow-clad Solang Valley, Himachal Pradesh has gone viral on social media.

WATCH: Amritsar Khalsa College Students Perform Bhangra In Snow-Clad Solang Valley

U.S. Sanction Law Not Enough To Prove Canadian Fraud: Meng's Lawyers

Lawyers for a Huawei executive wanted on fraud charges in the United States are accusing Crown attorneys of relying on American sanction law to make its case for extradition from Canada.    

U.S. Sanction Law Not Enough To Prove Canadian Fraud: Meng's Lawyers

Huawei CFO Lawyers Say Her Alleged Crimes No Crime In Canada

Defence lawyers argue a senior executive of the Chinese tech giant Huawei should not be extradited to the U.S. because her actions would not be considered crimes under Canadian law.

Huawei CFO Lawyers Say Her Alleged Crimes No Crime In Canada