Joe Oliver concerned about a Canada divided over energy – Business – CBC News.
Finance Minister Joe Oliver says he is concerned that divisions within Canada over the energy sector will eventually hold back the country’s growth.
In a year-end interview for The Exchange with Amanda Lang, Oliver cited opposition to fracking and to pipelines in some provinces as potential points of conflict.
“It’s important to communicate with Canadians that we’re not just missing out on a new opportunity. We’re potentially also looking at a decline which would adversely affect the Canadian economy and degrade the standard of living of Canadians across the country,” Oliver said.
New Brunswick recently announced it would impose a moratorium on fracking and Quebec and Ontario have set conditions for the development of the Energy East pipeline within their borders.
Pipelines critical to economy
Oliver terms the need to get Canadian oil to tidewater so it can be shipped overseas a “critical strategic imperative” for the country.
