Thursday, July 9, 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

Officer Says She Noticed Nothing Unusual With Man Who Died In Halifax Jail Cell

HALIFAX - A special constable facing criminal charges in an inmate's death testified she didn't notice anything unusual about the prisoner as she checked on him in his cell.

Officer Says She Noticed Nothing Unusual With Man Who Died In Halifax Jail Cell

Black Man Thought He'd Go Blind After Beating, Police Officer's Trial Hears

Black Man Thought He'd Go Blind After Beating, Police Officer's Trial Hears
OSHAWA, Ont. - A young black man told a court Wednesday he didn't get the chance to fight back as a Toronto police officer and his brother rained blows on his body and struck his head with a long metal pipe nearly three years ago.

Black Man Thought He'd Go Blind After Beating, Police Officer's Trial Hears

Vancouver To Ban Fireworks But Will Still Allow Them For Some Cultural Events

Vancouver To Ban Fireworks But Will Still Allow Them For Some Cultural Events
VANCOUVER - A ban on the sale and use of consumer fireworks could be in place across Vancouver by 2021.    

Vancouver To Ban Fireworks But Will Still Allow Them For Some Cultural Events

More SeaBus Trips Cut, Bus Cancellations Loom, In Metro Vancouver Transit Strike

More SeaBus Trips Cut, Bus Cancellations Loom, In Metro Vancouver Transit Strike
Commuters have been warned to expect some bus cancellations as job action by transit workers continues across Metro Vancouver, but SeaBus service connecting Vancouver and North Shore is already taking a hit.

More SeaBus Trips Cut, Bus Cancellations Loom, In Metro Vancouver Transit Strike

Next Stop: $500,000! Surrey Train Conductor Keeps Riding The Tracks After Winning Daily Grand Prize

  A train conductor from Surrey is riding the tracks with an additional half a million dollars to his name after matching all five numbers in the October 21, 2019 Daily Grand draw to win the secondary prize of $25,000 a year for life.

Next Stop: $500,000! Surrey Train Conductor Keeps Riding The Tracks After Winning Daily Grand Prize

Vancouver Man Wins $10 Million In Lotto Max Draw

All seven numbers matched in the November 1, 2019, Lotto Max draw that led him to win the $10-million jackpot.

Vancouver Man Wins $10 Million In Lotto Max Draw