Latest news with #CoreyHogan
CBC
11-06-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Mark Carney has a national unity problem. A Liberal voice in Calgary might help
Viewed from a certain angle, it could be read as good news that only 30 per cent of Albertans believe their province would be better off on its own, a share that has grown only slightly over the last five years. In a hypothetical referendum, just 28 per cent said they would vote to secede. But among those who believe Alberta would be better off outside of Canada, feelings have seemingly hardened. And a referendum is no longer purely hypothetical. "What I always tell [people outside Alberta] is like, hey, Alberta has been a place of western alienation for a long time, and that's been worthy of resolving for a long time. What you're seeing right now is it getting louder and being more legitimized than it's ever been," says Corey Hogan, the newly elected Liberal MP for Calgary Confederation. "I've worked in the public opinion space a long time. And ultimately, public opinion does follow the conversation. That's just a simple reality. And so we're at this moment right now where the conversation has shifted. Public opinion will shift if we don't get on top of this. And we need to take this very seriously." Hogan, a former political consultant who then worked as a deputy minister in both Rachel Notley's Alberta NDP and Jason Kenney's UCP governments, compares the conversation in Alberta about separation now to public opinion a decade ago on a carbon tax in that province. Initially, most Albertans didn't feel strongly one way or the other. But the debate was ultimately driven by the loudest and most polarized voices. When Hogan says the conversation about Alberta has shifted, he says he is "referring to the fact that being a separatist is now a thing people say at cocktail parties in Alberta." WATCH | Can the new natural resources minister reset the conversation?: Reshaping Alberta's energy relationship with the federal government 29 days ago Duration 2:20 At least in Hogan's adult life — he's 44 years old — he had not previously encountered such party chatter. "So you are starting to see a social acceptability to the idea of being an Alberta separatist that honestly, I find a little baffling, but I also find very concerning," he said. Holding the country together has always been one of the primary tasks of a Canadian prime minister. But given the cocktail chatter, it is fair to say that responsibility may weigh heavier on Mark Carney than it has on any prime minister since Jean Chrétien. Can Carney rebuild the relationship? It is too easy to blame Carney's predecessor for separatist sentiments in Alberta. The roots of western alienation are deep — Mary Janigan's 2013 book Let the Eastern Bastards Freeze in the Dark takes its title from an iconic bumper sticker of the 1970s, but actually focuses on a federal-provincial conference in 1918 — and can't solely be pinned on the federal government. Hogan, for instance, points to the general dominance of voices from Central Canada in the public discussion of politics in this country. It's also not hard to build an argument that the criticism heaped on Justin Trudeau as an alleged opponent of the province's oil and gas industry is undeserved — the purchase and completion of the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion (TMX) was not cheap, either practically or politically, and oil production reached a record high in 2024. (If Trudeau was anti-oil, he was at least not very good at it.) But in Calgary, Horgan argues, the federal purchase of TMX is not understood as an example of the federal government acting for the benefit of Alberta, but as an example of regulatory failure and capital flight. And while some voices in Alberta might unfairly latch on to federal climate initiatives as grounds for complaint, Hogan says, a policy like the government's clean electricity regulations could be viewed as putting a heavier burden on western provinces. Carney is eventually going to be tested by the same sorts of policy questions that bedevilled the Trudeau government. If it was easy to square the circle on climate and resource policy to the satisfaction of everyone, someone would have done it already. For now, Hogan suggests there needs to be an emphasis on relationship-building. "Alberta and Central Canada — basically, we end up in this loop with each other where we're almost saying to each other, why won't you show some gratitude? And we're not having actual real conversations with individuals," Hogan says. "Alberta [will say] why won't you acknowledge how much money comes from this province.… And then people out here might say, well, we built you a pipeline, why aren't you happy? And the reality is, neither side is going to be happy if they're just [talking about] things that they had to begrudgingly do for each other. That's not how a nation is built." WATCH | Smith encouraged by first ministers' meeting: Hearing PM talk about northwestern pipeline 'very encouraging': Alberta premier | Power & Politics 9 days ago Duration 8:37 Alberta Premier Danielle Smith tells Power & Politics she found Prime Minister Mark Carney's comments on a possible northwestern pipeline 'very encouraging' and a 'sea change' from where first ministers' discussions on energy projects were six months ago. Hogan says he was "pretty heartened" by Natural Resources Minister Tim Hodgson's recent trip to Calgary, not so much for the well-received speech the minister delivered, but for the meetings Hodgson had with executives and industry groups in Alberta. (Hogan has since been named a parliamentary secretary to Hodgson.) "He built those connections and he heard them out. And I think that's got to be done a hundred more times, right? It's not about inviting Albertans into the room. It's about taking the room to Albertans in some cases and saying, 'OK, what are we trying to do here? How are we going to make this nation work for everybody?'" That does not mean, Hogan adds, that the federal government should acquiesce to every concern. But building up trust and goodwill might at least make it easier to live with disagreements. Being a voice for Confederation Trudeau and members of his government would likely protest that they too made good-faith efforts to build trust between themselves and leaders in Alberta. Trudeau himself seemed determined, at least initially, to shake off the ghost of his father's reputation in Alberta (though Hogan argues that after Trudeau's first three years as prime minister, a certain "bunker mentality" set in). Regardless of how or why Trudeau's time in office didn't produce better feelings in Alberta, Carney's arrival is at least an opportunity to reset the relationship and start fresh — and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith's positive tone after last week's first ministers' meeting suggests there is at least an opening for progress. In terms of the broader conversation, Hogan could be a potentially valuable voice — for both the Liberals and the broader federalist cause. Though something of an accidental candidate — he only decided to run after the Liberal Party's original candidate in Calgary Confederation was forced to withdraw in late March — he is a former vice-president at the University of Calgary and a prominent political commentator (in addition to his experience in government). His campaign printed up signs that said "Confederation is worth fighting for" and he has used his own newsletter to directly challenge some of the arguments been advanced by would-be separatists. "We can't cede the conversation space. We need to be in the conversation," Hogan says of Albertans who like him oppose separation. "If we love this country, we need to fight for this country. And Albertans love this country, so it's time to stand up." Success, he says, would mean that some of the loudest voices on the other side are "less loud," but also "a broader appreciation that we do have a challenge as a nation and that the idea of sovereignist threats does not end at the Quebec border … that this is a country that needs to make sure it's investing in a sense of nation-ness."
CTV News
09-06-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
‘A very ambitious agenda': Alberta MP to support minister of energy and natural resources' efforts
Calgary Confederation MP Corey Hogan speaks with Alberta Primetime host Michael Higgins about being named Parliamentary Secretary of Energy and Natural Resources. This interview has been edited for clarity and length. Michael Higgins: You've now been named Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources. What does that put on your plate? Corey Hogan: Energy and Natural Resources, mostly. We become part of a bigger team that is involved in the energy conversations happening, of course, but also forestry, critical minerals and my role involves supporting the minister in that. Whether that be in Parliament, or whether that be with stakeholders as we try to put together a very ambitious agenda here. MH: Albertans have seen not only the images of interactions at the First Ministers roundtable, but also the PM and Premier Smith meeting face to face in recent days. What do you feel those meetings have achieved, actively accomplished? CH: I think first and foremost, we all know that we need to rebuild relationships. It's been a bit of a rocky time between Alberta and Canada, as far as governments go, and this is great. We've turned a page. We've got more constructive conversations and constructive relationships. Constructive conversations is the foundation on which we're going to build our future ambitions, whether they be energy corridors, increasing production, or whatever the case may be. So the prime minister and the premier are setting foundations for lots of great work to come. MH: How prepared are you for hurdles in navigating the road forward with the Smith government? CH: It's always good in theory and then the rubber hits the road, and I think what we need to make sure is that we're able to get through those hurdles. It's a goodwill relationship, and so it's part of why it's so important that they've gotten off on the right foot, the prime minister and the premier. So my job will be trying to make sure that we stay on the right foot as we walk down that road. MH: There was a degree of reaction in this province, even disappointment, over the fact you were not named to Mark Carney's cabinet. How do you engage those who say that because you're one of only two liberal MPs elected in Alberta, you should have a portfolio. CH: The reality is, there's 164 Liberal MPs that could be in cabinet, we all want to be in cabinet, we don't all get to be in cabinet, but because I am the sole Liberal in Calgary, I assure you there's still a very strong voice in this very strong place at the table for me to bring forward those issues and those concerns. I think that's in part reflected with this appointment that just happened. MH: It's only been a few weeks in Ottawa now, but what have you tackled post election? What has been the priority? CH: There's a lot of parliamentary nuts and bolts that need to happen whenever you've got a new government. We had the throne speech, the king was here. That throne speech sets out a very ambitious agenda which includes eliminating interprovincial trade barriers, includes building the strongest economy in the G7 through bringing a tax cut to 22 million Canadians, and also removing GST on new home builds, among many other things. Getting that through the House of Commons is job number one, and from there, we're also looking to strengthen our borders, and we are also looking to strengthen competitiveness more broadly. So bills have been introduced or will be introduced on all of those things. MH: To what degree are you working with those across the aisle, engaging with Conservative MPs from across Alberta? CH: Politics has a certain level of theatre. You see us yelling at each other in the House of Commons but the reality is, in the chamber is one thing, but in the lobbies behind it and in the halls of that, there's lots of constructive conversations. I've had lots of constructive conversations with my fellow Calgary MPs such as Greg McLean. We like to say that we share custody of the Bow River, and we're continuing to find common ground on a number of things. You saw that as recently as yesterday, where the Conservatives were happy to support the tax cut that was brought forward by this government. MH: How much is dialogue over the prospect of a referendum on separation weighing on your responsibilities in representing this province in the House of Commons? CH: It's a big part of why I ran. I wanted to make sure that I was able to be a strong pro-Canada voice, and I thought that we needed a strong pro-Canada voice. So that's a bit of my why. It weighs on everything, in a sense, but I also don't want to overstate it. We've seen polls that have support for separation anywhere from 20 to 35 per cent in terms of more mainstream polls, and that's roughly where it's been for a long time. That's obviously too high. We don't want Albertans to feel that they can only meet their ambitions outside of this country, but it is definitely a very minority opinion, and so you're always trying to strike a balance between addressing those concerns and not giving too much oxygen to those concerns but it weighs heavily. It comes up regularly. It's something that we talk about. It's certainly something everybody in the house is aware of, Liberal or Conservative, and it's something we know needs to be addressed. MH: Two weeks left in this short sitting of Parliament, though the PM indicating during a news conference today that may be extended. What should Albertans expect your government to accomplish in what remains of that sitting window? CH: We'll get through the bills that I was just talking about. We'll strengthen the border. We'll bring in a middle class tax cut and we'll get that through completion. We'll get interprovincial trade barriers down, among many other things. You can also expect us to get down to work on what we would call the portfolio work. People like Tim Hodgson, the minister of energy and natural resources, has already been out to Calgary, talked to stakeholders a couple of times. In fact, you can expect a lot of that work is going to continue. A lot of governing happens in the house, but a lot of governing happens outside of the house, and you're going to see that continue pretty aggressively through the summer. MH: Do you play a role in the upcoming G7 Summit? CH: Only in the sense that I'm a local MP but no, I'm not. I'm not speaking or anything, but I will certainly be supporting with some of the conversations that are occurring in the background.
CTV News
09-06-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
‘A very ambitious agenda': Alberta MP to support minister of energy and natural resources' efforts
Calgary Confederation MP Corey Hogan speaks with Alberta Primetime host Michael Higgins about being named Parliamentary Secretary of Energy and Natural Resources. This interview has been edited for clarity and length. Michael Higgins: You've now been named Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources. What does that put on your plate? Corey Hogan: Energy and Natural Resources, mostly. We become part of a bigger team that is involved in the energy conversations happening, of course, but also forestry, critical minerals and my role involves supporting the minister in that. Whether that be in Parliament, or whether that be with stakeholders as we try to put together a very ambitious agenda here. MH: Albertans have seen not only the images of interactions at the First Ministers roundtable, but also the PM and Premier Smith meeting face to face in recent days. What do you feel those meetings have achieved, actively accomplished? CH: I think first and foremost, we all know that we need to rebuild relationships. It's been a bit of a rocky time between Alberta and Canada, as far as governments go, and this is great. We've turned a page. We've got more constructive conversations and constructive relationships. Constructive conversations is the foundation on which we're going to build our future ambitions, whether they be energy corridors, increasing production, or whatever the case may be. So the prime minister and the premier are setting foundations for lots of great work to come. MH: How prepared are you for hurdles in navigating the road forward with the Smith government? CH: It's always good in theory and then the rubber hits the road, and I think what we need to make sure is that we're able to get through those hurdles. It's a goodwill relationship, and so it's part of why it's so important that they've gotten off on the right foot, the prime minister and the premier. So my job will be trying to make sure that we stay on the right foot as we walk down that road. MH: There was a degree of reaction in this province, even disappointment, over the fact you were not named to Mark Carney's cabinet. How do you engage those who say that because you're one of only two liberal MPs elected in Alberta, you should have a portfolio. CH: The reality is, there's 164 Liberal MPs that could be in cabinet, we all want to be in cabinet, we don't all get to be in cabinet, but because I am the sole Liberal in Calgary, I assure you there's still a very strong voice in this very strong place at the table for me to bring forward those issues and those concerns. I think that's in part reflected with this appointment that just happened. MH: It's only been a few weeks in Ottawa now, but what have you tackled post election? What has been the priority? CH: There's a lot of parliamentary nuts and bolts that need to happen whenever you've got a new government. We had the throne speech, the king was here. That throne speech sets out a very ambitious agenda which includes eliminating interprovincial trade barriers, includes building the strongest economy in the G7 through bringing a tax cut to 22 million Canadians, and also removing GST on new home builds, among many other things. Getting that through the House of Commons is job number one, and from there, we're also looking to strengthen our borders, and we are also looking to strengthen competitiveness more broadly. So bills have been introduced or will be introduced on all of those things. MH: To what degree are you working with those across the aisle, engaging with Conservative MPs from across Alberta? CH: Politics has a certain level of theatre. You see us yelling at each other in the House of Commons but the reality is, in the chamber is one thing, but in the lobbies behind it and in the halls of that, there's lots of constructive conversations. I've had lots of constructive conversations with my fellow Calgary MPs such as Greg McLean. We like to say that we share custody of the Bow River, and we're continuing to find common ground on a number of things. You saw that as recently as yesterday, where the Conservatives were happy to support the tax cut that was brought forward by this government. MH: How much is dialogue over the prospect of a referendum on separation weighing on your responsibilities in representing this province in the House of Commons? CH: It's a big part of why I ran. I wanted to make sure that I was able to be a strong pro-Canada voice, and I thought that we needed a strong pro-Canada voice. So that's a bit of my why. It weighs on everything, in a sense, but I also don't want to overstate it. We've seen polls that have support for separation anywhere from 20 to 35 per cent in terms of more mainstream polls, and that's roughly where it's been for a long time. That's obviously too high. We don't want Albertans to feel that they can only meet their ambitions outside of this country, but it is definitely a very minority opinion, and so you're always trying to strike a balance between addressing those concerns and not giving too much oxygen to those concerns but it weighs heavily. It comes up regularly. It's something that we talk about. It's certainly something everybody in the house is aware of, Liberal or Conservative, and it's something we know needs to be addressed. MH: Two weeks left in this short sitting of Parliament, though the PM indicating during a news conference today that may be extended. What should Albertans expect your government to accomplish in what remains of that sitting window? CH: We'll get through the bills that I was just talking about. We'll strengthen the border. We'll bring in a middle class tax cut and we'll get that through completion. We'll get interprovincial trade barriers down, among many other things. You can also expect us to get down to work on what we would call the portfolio work. People like Tim Hodgson, the minister of energy and natural resources, has already been out to Calgary, talked to stakeholders a couple of times. In fact, you can expect a lot of that work is going to continue. A lot of governing happens in the house, but a lot of governing happens outside of the house, and you're going to see that continue pretty aggressively through the summer. MH: Do you play a role in the upcoming G7 Summit? CH: Only in the sense that I'm a local MP but no, I'm not. I'm not speaking or anything, but I will certainly be supporting with some of the conversations that are occurring in the background.
CTV News
05-06-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Calgary MP Corey Hogan appointed as parliamentary secretary for energy and natural resources
Newly elected Liberal MP Corey Hogan speaks about his win in the Calgary Confederation riding during an interview in Calgary, Tuesday, April 29, 2025. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh) Calgary Liberal MP Corey Hogan has been appointed as the parliamentary secretary to the minister of energy and natural resources. Hogan was elected as the MP for Calgary Confederation in April's federal election. He was the only Liberal member elected in Calgary. Prime Minister Mark Carney announced the parliamentary secretary appointments on Thursday, selecting a long list of appointees to assist ministers and secretaries of state. 'Canada's new parliamentary secretary team will deliver on the government's mandate for change, working collaboratively with all parties in Parliament to build the strongest economy in the G7, advance a new security and economic partnership with the United States, and help Canadians get ahead,' Carney said in a news release. After Hogan was elected in April, he expressed interest in lending a hand with future pipeline policy, citing years of 'first-hand experience' working on pipeline projects. Hogan was one of two Liberal MPs elected throughout Alberta – Eleanor Olszewski won the seat for Edmonton Centre. The Conservatives claimed almost all the ridings in the province, with just one other constituency in Edmonton going to the NDP.
Canada Standard
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Canada Standard
Speech: Minister Tim Hodgson at the Calgary Chamber of Commerce
"Canada Strong: Building the Future of Energy" Date of delivery: May 23, 2025 Introduction Hello, Thanks for having me here today. And above all, thank you for the work you do as a Chamber. Your priorities - securing diversified trade, attracting, retaining and investing in talent, and making it easier to do business - are going to keep Calgary strong now and into the future. I also see my colleague, MP Corey Hogan, Ministers Jean and Schulz, and Mayor Gondek, as well as several other former or current MPs, MLAs and Mayors in the audience - I want to thank them for being here, and for the work they do to represent and strengthen this province and this city. I've found that Calgarians are pretty quick to ask me where I'm from. My father was in the Canadian Armed Forces ... and later on I was in the Forces myself ... so when people ask me that, I've always said, "where would you like me to be from? Because I can be from there." Of course ... now when I say it ... people think I'm just trying to be a politician. But it's true. And, I think, a pretty Canadian thing to say. So many of us come from somewhere else. Somewhere else in the country. Somewhere else in the world. What we have in common is fierce loyalty to where we live. To our cities. To our provinces. But above all, to our country. And that is what I want to speak about today. About our country. About what unites us as Canadians. About this province and city ... and the role they will play in making Canada a conventional and clean energy superpower. But you likely don't know much about me. Like Johnny Cash sang - I've been everywhere, man. But my roots are in the Prairies. My grandmother was born in Moosejaw, when it was the Northwest Territories - before Saskatchewan was created. My mum was born in Calgary, and most of her family still live here. Following my dad's example, I joined the Canadian Armed Forces out of high school when I was 17. That stint taught me a lot about service. And if you know anyone who has served, you know that it shapes your life forever. Then, I went to work for Goldman Sachs, commuting from New York to Calgary. At Goldman, one of my first major deals is also one of the deals I am still the proudest of today: The Alliance Pipeline. In the 1990s, there was too much gas in Alberta. Prices were low, and nobody was making money. We helped get that project off the ground, delivering rich natural gas and liquids from the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin to the Chicago market hub - and putting the basin back in balance. That pipeline closed the natural gas price differential, supported jobs, and brought Alberta better royalties and the federal government more revenue. A better price for Canadian energy helped every Canadian - just like more recently, with the building of the TMX expansion. My experience in the energy and resource sector did not stop there. I served on the boards of MEG Energy and Hydro One. I've helped finance OSB mills in High Level and Grande Prairie. I worked on IPOs, including Cameco's listing on the NYSE and Capital Power's IPO here in Alberta. And I helped finance potash projects and even a pulp mill in Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan. During the global financial crisis, I had the privilege of serving our now-Prime Minister, Mark Carney, as his special advisor at the Bank of Canada. Those were turbulent days, and they taught me that leadership is about action when it matters most. But ultimately - that belief in the power of leadership - combined with the deep sense of public service and patriotism I learned in the Forces ... led me here today. I'm a pragmatist, a businessman. When I see something that needs changing, I work hard to change it. That's why I joined this government: because I believe in public service that delivers results. And most of all, because I love this country. Where We Are Now Today, we find ourselves at a pivotal moment. Global economies and markets are volatile. President Trump's tariffs are disrupting trade, threatening Canadian jobs and industries, and rewriting the rules of the game. We did not ask for this trade war. But we are going to win it. When President Trump says, "We don't need Canada's lumber, energy, autos, or minerals," it's not exactly subtle. We know what that really means: the Americans really need all those things. The President likes to talk about it like a card game. So, if we're going to sit across the table from him or anyone else, we need to hold Canada's best cards. That means being able to sell our products to the world. It means expanding our markets, modernizing our infrastructure, and creating the conditions to compete and win. That's why I'm working with my new Cabinet colleagues and every provincial and territorial government to retool our economy to strengthen Canada's hand - not just in Washington, but everywhere. Ultimately, though, this is not a game. Jobs and livelihoods are at risk - from miners in Saskatchewan to forestry workers in B.C., from rigs in Alberta and Newfoundland to Ontario's auto plants. The old economic relationship with the United States is over. We need to accept that. We need to prepare to compete as Canadians, on our terms. Prime Minister Carney has laid out a clear strategy: We will be masters in our own home. We will not bow to economic aggression. We will defend our workers, our industries, and our values. And we will build a new foundation - one that delivers the strongest, most resilient economy in the G7. We are living through what the Prime Minister calls a "hinge moment" in our national story. This is not a time for half-measures or slow steps. It is a time for bold action, clear decisions, and a renewed spirit of building. That means reframing the national conversation. No more asking, "Why build?" The real question is, "How do we get it done?" That means breaking apart barriers and ripping down red tape. It also means doing things responsibly the first time: meeting our Duty to Consult so Indigenous Peoples are true partners, and protecting our environment so we don't have to clean up mistakes later. I want to be very clear. In the new economy we are building, Canada will no longer be defined by delay. We will be defined by delivery. Canada as an Energy and Natural Resources Superpower So what does delivery look like? It begins with a vision: to build Canada into a conventional and clean energy and natural resources superpower. We have the resources. We have the people. We have the ideas. And we now have a government determined to lead and help unlock the potential of Canadian workers and businesses. We are taking major steps to back that vision with action. First, we will identify and fast-track Projects of National Interest. These are the projects that matter - to our economy, our environment, and our sovereignty. No more five-year reviews - decisions will come in two years for all projects. To make that happen, we're standing up a Major Federal Projects Office. It will be a single window for permits, bringing together what used to be scattered across departments. It's about making "One Project, One Review" real. Less red tape, more certainty, better outcomes. And we're doing this not just for speed, but for purpose. Because Canadian energy is not just about domestic prosperity. It's a tool for global stability and transformation. It's high time to trade more with people who share our values - not just our border. Your new government will work fast with the provinces and territories, industry and Indigenous partners to diversify our trade and open and expand new markets for energy and natural resources. Every barrel of responsibly produced Canadian oil and every kilowatt of clean Canadian power can displace less clean, riskier energy elsewhere in the world. Our exports can help our allies break dependence on authoritarian regimes and help the world reduce our emissions. And by working with the energy sector to make investments that fight climate change, we can get more barrels to market while cutting carbon emissions. And by the way, the building doesn't stop with energy: we need housing too, as you in Calgary know well. And that housing needs lumber. Good thing Canadian lumber and engineered wood products are among the best in the world for building. This is basic economics: comparative advantage. We're better at energy, forestry and mining than most of the world. We do it cleaner, safer, and with stronger labour standards and Indigenous rights. Let's be proud of that. And let's use the revenues to strengthen our economy, fund public services, and build the next generation of Canadian prosperity. I'm not here to waste time - mine, yours, or Canada's. Like Prime Minister Carney, I have a strong vision for each sector within Canada's energy and natural resources fabric. So, let's talk about what that looks like. Oil & Gas Let's start with oil and gas. Canada will remain a reliable global supplier - not just today, but for decades to come. The real challenge is not whether we produce, but whether we can get the best products to market before someone else does. We need infrastructure that gets our energy to tidewater and to trusted allies - diversifying beyond the U.S. We will invest in carbon capture, methane reduction, and other technologies to ensure Canadian oil and gas is not only produced responsibly, but is the most competitive in the world. All of us - governments and industry - need to get the Pathways Project done. This government will not be a government of talk, but a government of action. We need the same from the province of Alberta and the Pathways Alliance. Your federal government has committed to certainty, to support, and to making Canada an energy superpower, but we need a partner who is also willing to make good on their promises to Canadians. We need to demonstrate to our customers outside the U.S., and to our fellow Canadians, that we are a responsible industry - and this government believes Pathways is critical to that reality. Through it all, we need to ask questions about two things at the same time: economics and security. They run in parallel, but they are not the same. One project can be an answer to both, but first let's make sure we are asking the right questions. I am old enough to remember the oil embargo in 1973, when the SS Manhattan, bound for Quebec, was diverted to the United States, leaving Eastern Canadians vulnerable. We can't let that happen again. Eastern Canada needs better supply security. We need to reduce our exposure to foreign energy, in a world where we may not be able to rely on trade agreements with our southern neighbours. Energy is power. Energy is Canada's power. It gives us an opportunity to build the strongest economy in the G7, guide the world in the right direction, and be strong when we show up at a negotiation table. Hydrogen, Nuclear, and Biofuels We can't end the energy conversation having only talked about oil and gas. We must also invest in promising, scalable energy sources like hydrogen, geothermal, advanced biofuels, renewables and nuclear. These are not speculative bets - they are scalable, exportable solutions with rising global demand that will diversify and strengthen our economy. Electricity Further, as former Board Chair of Hydro One, I also know one or two things about the power of Canadian electricity. I believe our future depends on integrated electricity grids. Our new government will quickly work with provinces and territories on east-west transmission and better integrate our systems. This is part of what the Prime Minister means when he says one economy, not thirteen. A pan-Canadian grid means more reliable, affordable, sustainable power for Canadians. It means powering industries from AI to manufacturing. And it means exporting energy between provinces who want Canadian solutions. Critical Minerals When it comes to mining, we know that Canada also has what the world needs here: lithium, copper, nickel, cobalt, manganese and- of course - one of the world's largest supplies of high-quality uranium. But we need to do more than dig. We need to process and refine here at home, and export to the world, not just the U.S. Our First and Last Mile Fund will connect remote projects to infrastructure, ensuring our critical minerals get to market with the associated value-added processing. This is about creating a secure, vertically integrated supply chain that makes Canada the global supplier of choice. Forestry Finally, the forestry sector - the lifeblood of some 300 communities across Canada, including here in Alberta. Canadian forest companies continue to face unjustified duties when exporting lumber to the U.S. These duties continue to place needless pressure on the Canada-U.S. trading partnership, impacting everyone from workers to home builders to consumers. While we continue to work towards a long-term resolution, we will use more Canadian wood at home to address Canada's housing and other building needs. Alberta and the West Now ... let's talk about Alberta, specifically. One of my first calls as Minister was to Minister Brian Jean. This relationship matters, and I am committed to a clean slate. I may live in Toronto right now, but I was born on the Prairies. I want you to understand that I will be a voice for Alberta and Western Canada at the Cabinet table. President Trump has done a lot. But one thing he's done unintentionally is remind us that we need to act as one Canada. And not just one Canada, but one economy, and one market. That includes actively working with provincial and territorial governments to harmonize and link carbon markets across the country. Improving our system of carbon markets will make sure that, as Canadian industry reduces emissions, we are still competitive, able to withstand America's trade war, and positioned to take advantage of new opportunities. I'm working closely with Minister Dabrusin and others to make this a reality. The nation-building projects we must deliver cannot be delivered by governments on their own. These projects will be built by the private sector, with the support of Indigenous communities and other stakeholders. Governments can be a catalyst and an enabler - and the federal government is ready to do our part. I know - with your support - we can get this done. These projects are crucial because not only are global markets changing but so, too, is our global environment. We need to build to meet both these challenges, and that will not be easy or free. That will involve thinking outside the box, outside of electoral cycles, and digging in on solutions that allow us to hand down a competitive, sustainable economy to our children and grandchildren. I also want to say to every energy worker in this province and this country: Thank you. You are an integral part of Team Canada. You make Canada Strong. I went to a vocational high school in Winnipeg, and many of my classmates didn't go to university. One of my best friends spent 25 years on the rigs. His job on those rigs in Alberta bought him a home. It financed a good life. That's how it should be. During the election, I went door to door in my riding. It's a suburban Toronto riding that would look a lot like the suburban ridings in Calgary or Edmonton. I learned that you can knock on any door, anywhere in Canada, and hear the same thing from new Canadians: We came here to build a better life. They know, like we do in this room, that because of the opportunity Canada offers - through jobs in sectors like energy - it is the best country in the world. And that's what we need to protect. A Canada where hard work still pays off. Where good jobs - with or without a degree - are available for future generations. This government isn't just about people in suits in Toronto or Ottawa. It's about people in hard hats, on the drilling pads, in the forests, and at the mills. From Peace River to Lethbridge, from engineers to rig workers - that work powers our country, and it earns our respect. Time to Build A strong Canada needs a strong Alberta. To be strong, we will build things in this country again. We will make Canada a true conventional and clean energy superpower. That is our promise. So let's work together - government, industry, Indigenous partners, labour - to make it happen. The Canadian energy industry is the best in the world. Let's treat it that way. Let's keep it that way. Thanks for having me today. And I'll be back. Because this is just the beginning. Your federal government's door is open. My door is open. Bring your ideas. Bring your ambition. And together - let's build. Thank you.
