Natural Resources

A Conservative government will create Canada Shovel Ready Zones. These zones will be pre-permitted areas for construction, meaning the permits will be completed in advance, allowing companies to build mines, LNG terminals, or pipelines more quickly. This initiative will bring thousands of jobs to Canadian workers and help take back control of Canada’s economy from the United States.

Canada Shovel Ready Zones:

Identify locations suitable for major projects such as power stations, LNG plants, pipelines, or others.
Ensure the sites are safe for Canadians and the environment.
Work with other levels of government to secure zoning and permits in advance of construction.
Offer pre-permitting before an application is even submitted, so that permits can be published online along with a checklist that businesses must complete to ensure the protection of nature and people.

This process means businesses will be able to buy land, hire workers, and begin construction, knowing they already have the necessary permits in place.

This would also allow Canada to export energy to Europe, breaking its dependence on Russian gas while turning revenue from foreign dictatorships into paycheques for Canadians.

Canada should be the wealthiest country in the world, but after a decade of Liberal leadership, government obstacles have blocked projects that could bring jobs and growth. On average, it takes over 17 years to approve and build a mine in Canada, and the country has the second slowest permitting process in the OECD.

During the first five years of the Liberal government, $176 billion in resource and energy projects were cancelled due to government red tape and regulations.

These missed opportunities could have made Canada more self-reliant and less dependent on the United States. Instead, Liberal gatekeepers have kept Canada in a position where the U.S. receives 97% of our oil exports and 100% of our natural gas exports. Even worse, the Americans pay US$63 per barrel for our oil, while the global price is US$76 per barrel.

An example of this is the Northern Gateway project, which would have transported Canadian oil from Alberta to the Pacific for sale in Asia. Justin Trudeau vetoed this project, a decision endorsed by Mark Carney, who was simultaneously involved in purchasing pipelines in the Middle East and Asia. The Liberal government's radical "keep-it-in-the-ground" ideology opposes Canadian resources while supporting foreign, dirty oil.

A Common Sense Conservative Government will unleash billions of dollars in investments in power plants, nuclear energy, mines, pipelines, data centres, and much more. This will create high-paying jobs for hardworking Canadians, including welders, boilermakers, pipefitters, miners, and factory workers, who will spend their earnings at local businesses, stimulating the economy. The result will be a booming economy and reduced reliance on the United States.