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New Liberal energy minister vows to support oil, pipelines, ‘clean slate’ for Alberta
OTTAWA — Newly minted Energy Minister Tim Hodgson said he’s “committed to a clean slate” in his maiden speech in Calgary, promising to turn the page on a decade of mistrust between Alberta and the Liberal government in Ottawa.
He stressed that his roots in Western Canada made him the right person to heal divisions over natural resource development in Alberta and other western provinces.
“I may live in Toronto now but I was born in the Prairies,” Hodgson said in remarks to the Calgary Chamber of Commerce on Friday morning.
“I want you to understand that I will be a voice for Alberta and Western Canada at the cabinet table.”
Hodgson said that Canada would “remain a reliable global supplier” of oil and gas under his watch.
He also promised to deliver new infrastructure to get Canadian energy to the coast and ultimately “to trusted allies” outside the U.S.
“It’s high time to trade more with people who share our values — not just our border,” said Hodgson.
The new energy minister also repeated Prime Minister Mark Carney’s campaign promise to fast-track projects of national interest, including major energy projects.
“Canada will no longer be defined by delay. We will be defined by delivery,” said Hodgson.
Hodgson, who shares Carney’s pedigree with investment banking group Goldman Sachs, and formerly served as a special adviser to Carney at the Bank of Canada, pledged to see through the new prime minister’s vision to “build Canada into a conventional and clean energy and natural resources superpower.”
He touted his various business ventures in the oil and gas sector, including his role in brokering the Canada-U.S. Alliance natural gas pipeline while a young associate at Goldman Sachs.
“(The Alliance Pipeline) is one of the deals I am still the proudest of today… That pipeline closed the natural gas price differential, supported jobs and brought Alberta better royalties and the federal government more revenue.”
Hodgson went on to serve on the board of Calgary-based oil sands producer MEG Energy between 2016 and 2019.
The energy minister closed his remarks with a call to national unity, stressing that “a strong Canada needs a strong Alberta.”
He added in a post-address interview with Calgary Chamber CEO Deborah Yedlin that one of his immediate priorities will be to look for “quick wins” in the energy sector.
“I can tell you in every meeting I’ve had, from St. John’s to Victoria… there are common projects that we can identify which will be quick wins,” Hodgson told Yedlin.
Hodgson wouldn’t get into specifics, but said he was “very encouraged” by the joint statement seven western provincial and territorial premiers put out on Thursday endorsing the creation of an economic corridor linking the West Coast to Hudson’s Bay.
Several notable provincial figures were in attendance for the talk, including Alberta Energy Minister Brian Jean, Rob Anderson, chief of staff to Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, and Alberta NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi.
Adam Legge, President of the Business Council of Alberta, said that Hodgson’s words to the Calgary Chamber were “music to his ears.”
“Minister Hodgson’s comments went a long way to giving me some confidence that this government understands the importance of building things of the natural resource sector in Canada,” said Legge.
“He set a great opening tone for Alberta in a portfolio that’s going to be very important to Alberta.”
Legge added that he expects Hodgson’s reassuring remarks will soothe some of the anxieties created by fellow cabinet member Steven Guilbeault’s assertion last week that Canada doesn’t need any more pipelines because global demand for oil and gas will peak in the next few years.
“Frankly, I think Minister Guilbeault spoke out of line, and we’re seeing a much more positive tone from the minister who’ll be in charge of these projects,” said Legge.
Hodgson, a rookie MP, was appointed last week to Carney’s 28-member cabinet , leapfrogging several more experienced Liberal caucus members.
He said in his first public appearance as a cabinet member that he looked forward to “digging in” and planned to visit Western Canada “very soon.”
Hodgson kicked off his western swing with a visit to Regina on Thursday.
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