Trudeau dropped the ball in Europe on oil production, he needs to get this right – Brian Lilly

Canada can be part of the long-term and short-term solutions for weaning Europe off Russian oil and gas, but Trudeau can’t see it.

“Is Canada ready to increase its oil and gas output to help?” Trudeau was asked.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson had already said his government is ready to increase domestic supply, Trudeau could have done the same. Instead, he talked about supply chain problems during COVID and how he promised to have Canadians’ backs before turning to problems Russian oil was causing.

“What we’re seeing is a shift in Europe and elsewhere to understand that Russia is no longer a reliable partner. What Vladimir Putin has broken here is a trust,” Trudeau said.

Putin has broken more than trust.

His army is rampaging across Ukraine, bombing and pillaging the country while using his petrodollars to do it. With Europe hooked on Russia’s supply, Putin continues to receive millions of dollars each day to finance his brutal war.

It may not be easy, but Canada could ramp up production to help give European leaders obtain what they say is needed — an alternate supply. All Trudeau offered was vague assurances.

In fact, said Johnson, he will be unveiling a whole energy plan in the near future and called for greater self-reliance for Britain when it comes to energy.

Trudeau noted that Canada imported negligible amounts of Russian oil products and that those are now banned. He also noted that Canada is an exporting country when it comes to oil and gas.

What he didn’t do is look across the podium to Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and offer to make sure Canada does what it can to offer an alternative to his country’s reliance on Russian oil.

Canada, under Trudeau, has led the way on many fronts, including supplying military aid, pushing for tougher sanctions, and isolating Russian banks from the SWIFT system. These were not easy positions for him to take or for his party to adopt, but they were the right thing to do.

Now, the world needs Trudeau to step up and offer any assistance Canada can provide by increasing oil and gas production. Replace Putin’s oil with Canadian oil and choke off the funding for his war.

That will be of tremendous help to Ukraine and all of Europe.