Chilliwack-Hope MP Mark Strahl believes pipelines should be built without burdening the Canadian taxpayer.
“Justin Trudeau would have Canadians believe that the only way to build the Trans Mountain pipeline is to use billions of taxpayer dollars. It’s not.
“Four pipelines were built under the previous Conservative government without spending one cent of taxpayers’ money.”
In the wake of the TMX approval by the Trudeau government less than two years ago, “instead of providing certainty,” there has been “one delay after another, ” Strahl said.
The MP said if the focus is on setting the conditions for success, with low taxes and less red tape, “important energy projects like Trans Mountain can be built” without burdening the taxpayer.
Strahl said the Conservatives welcome “meaningful consultation” with Indigenous communities impacted by natural resource development.
“We are encouraged by communities like the Cheam First Nation being engaged, signing benefit agreements and actively participating in the monitoring of the Trans Mountain Expansion project.
“We are disappointed that Justin Trudeau and the Liberals have chosen to ignore the concerns of other Indigenous communities in Northern BC and Alberta who lost over $2 billion in economic benefits when the Liberals killed the Northern Gateway project - a decision that was made without consulting affected Indigenous communities.