Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre in 2025
Courtesy Conservative Party of Canada
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre recently lambasted Prime Minister Mark Carney's energy policy during a press conference at a gas station, marking Carney's 166th day in office without approving a single project.
Poilievre contrasted Carney's record with Germany's swift construction of an LNG import terminal in 194 days, accusing Carney of prioritizing "Liberal show business" over action.
"He still doesn't even know what projects he wants to build or how he's going to build them," Poilievre said, noting that $60 billion in Canadian investment has fled to the United States, impoverishing Canadians and enriching foreign workers.
Carney recently launched the Major Projects Office (MPO) headquartered in Calgary, to fast-track nation-building infrastructure projects like ports, railways, and energy corridors, aiming to reduce approval times from five years to two.
The MPO, led by CEO Dawn Farrell, will streamline environmental assessments and coordinate financing from private and public sectors while emphasizing Indigenous consultation and partnership.
Poilievre proposed the Canadian Sovereignty Act, which would legalize pipelines, mines, LNG plants, and ports, and eliminate capital gains tax on reinvestment in Canada to boost economic self-reliance. He offered to help Carney draft and pass the legislation, urging, "Let's just get this done. It's time to stop stopping and start starting."
The criticism comes amid heightened energy policy debates, following Canada's August 26, 2025, partnership with Germany on critical minerals and energy.
Poilievre's remarks also reflect ongoing tensions over federal-provincial relations, particularly after Alberta's 2025 Next panels, which focused on provincial sovereignty.
The Conservative leader's proposal aims to address what he describes as a "lost decade" of energy project delays.