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Liberal Party leader Carney (right) supports clean energy and climate policies, while Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre (left) backs the oil and gas industry. (Image: Poilievre, Carney social media)
Canada's federal election will take place on April 28, with a new Prime Minister set to be elected.
This election has seen energy issues come to the forefront, largely due to repeated threats from U.S. President Donald Trump. Notably, the leaders of Canada's two main political parties have shown rare consensus, both pledging to diversify oil exports and reduce reliance on the U.S. market.
Main candidates pledge to cut oil exports to U.S.
Currently, the U.S. is the primary destination for Canadian crude oil exports, with daily exports reaching 4 million barrels — about 90% of Canada's total crude exports.
However, Trump's tariff policies and provocative remarks, such as suggesting that Canada become the 51st U.S. state, have shifted Canadian public opinion toward supporting the expansion of east-west oil pipelines, enabling greater exports to countries beyond the U.S.
Mark Carney, the incumbent Prime Minister and leader of the Liberal Party, is seen as a stronger supporter of clean energy and climate policies. He has pledged to turn Canada into an energy superpower by boosting subsidies for electric vehicles and home energy retrofits, while aligning with the European Union's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) to use carbon tariffs as a tool to pressure businesses to cut emissions.
Carney continues the approach of former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau by capping carbon emissions for the oil and gas sector, promoting emission reductions without restricting production capacity. He also supports carbon capture and storage (CCS) development and is actively seeking alternative markets to the U.S.
However, his pragmatic stance has drawn skepticism, particularly after he abruptly canceled the consumer carbon tax—something he had previously praised—on the very day he took office.
Trump’s pressure pushes energy policy to the forefront of Canada’s election. (Photo: iStock)
Carney backs clean energy, while Poilievre champions oil and gas
In contrast, Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre, a strong contender for Prime Minister, is a vocal supporter of the oil and gas industry. He has vowed to eliminate carbon caps on the sector, scrap industrial carbon taxes, and allow provinces to set their own carbon pricing policies.
Poilievre also promises to fast-track energy project approvals, aiming to complete reviews within six months. He plans to repeal the Impact Assessment Act (IAA), significantly reducing the scope of professional evaluations on environmental, health, social, and Indigenous rights issues.
However, the Canadian Climate Institute reports that industrial carbon pricing is three times more effective in reducing emissions than consumer carbon taxes. Carbon Brief’s analysis indicates that a Conservative victory could lead to an extra 800 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions over the next decade.
Polling data from Abacus Data shows that voter concern about climate change has dropped sharply, with the issue failing to rank among the top ten factors influencing votes. University of Toronto political scientist Jessica Green notes that climate discussions have been marginalized in this election, with voters instead focused on electing a Prime Minister who can stand up to Trump.
Source: Reuters, CLEW, New York Times
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