People’s Party of Canada Sean Taylor was asked if his government will support the Trans Mountain pipeline project. “Most definitely,” he said. “This is a national infrastructure project that’s in the best interests of Canada.” Taylor said the inability to get our natural resources to market leaves us beholden to the United States.

Incumbent MP Richard Cannings noted that the Constitution protects Indigenous rights which have to be respected. Therefore, proper consultation is required first before the pipeline is built. “The point that I would like to make is that all these pipeline proposals on the table now are all expansion projects designed to increase the production of oil in Alberta at a time when the world is awash in cheap oil and the oil demand in the world is trending downwards.” Green Party candidate Tara-Lyn Howse said she definitely does not support the pipeline, adding that Canada doesn’t need a new pipeline. “Fossil fuels are quickly going downhill. We do not need to be investing in infrastructure and development that is not going to serve our future.”

According to Taylor, it is counterproductive to take Canada’s oil out of the market. “There’s no doubt that we’re moving toward the end of fossil fuels; it’s a long ways off and we need to capitalize on this to be able to have the funds to transition to the next phase.” Cannings said it sounds good but reminded that the government spent $4.5 billion buying the pipeline and will spend another $10 billion to complete the expansion. “We could have spent that money on good things, on good climate action.” Howse responded, “It sure was symbolic, Connie” It symbolizes that the government was not taking the climate threat seriously.” She said those billions of dollars could have been invested in the renewable sector. Taylor said the money Canada is leaving on the table by not building the pipeline is too huge. He pointed out that renewables aren’t the answer, adding that two things will take the country off carbon, and that’s fourth generation nuclear and thermal nuclear.