Federal Election 2025: Tracking Poilievre-Carney Energy-Related Promises – Atlantica Centre for Energy

On March 23, the 45^th Canadian federal election began. Election Day is April 28^th.

As a non-partisan organization, the Atlantica Centre for Energy observes government regulations and policies and provides unbiased feedback on how such decisions could impact Atlantic Canada’s energy sector. With the federal election underway, the Centre believes it is important for the public to have information about what policies federal parties and party leaders have committed to during leading up to and during this campaign period.

Liberal Party of Canada – Mark Carney:

• Project and infrastructure development:
  • Prime Minister Carney promised to create a federal “One Window” approval process for large infrastructure and natural resource projects, and will “create clear, predictable, and efficient review processes.” Most projects would also recognize provincial environmental and impact review processes and decisions. (source)
  • Require all federal regulatory authorities, including the Impact Assessment Agency, to complete reviews for “projects that serve the national interest” on a two-year timeline. Large investments will be prioritized with even quicker approval timelines to accelerate critical economic developments.
  • Establish a First Mile Fund to build transportation networks to connect energy extraction sites to rail lines and roads. (source)
  • Immediately direct federal departments (including Natural Resources Canada) to take meaningful action on reducing red tape and strengthening our internal trade and supply chains. (source)
  • Doubling the Indigenous Loan Guarantee Program from $5 billion to $10 billion. Information is limited and it is unclear when this change is effective. (View)

• Carbon pricing:
  • Prime Minister Carney has committed to “put more of the burden on big polluters” regarding industrial carbon pricing. (source)
  • It is important to note that Prime Minister Carney already repealed consumer carbon pricing effective April 1, 2025. (source)

• Oil and gas sector:
  • Prime Minister Carney’s stance on the federal government’s proposed Oil and Gas Sector Greenhouse Gas Emissions Cap remains unclear.
  • Environment and Climate Change Canada’s Minister stated there are no plans to remove the proposed Emissions Cap. However, Prime Minister Carney stated a willingness to work with industry to reduce emissions: “working with industry and with provinces on specific ways to get those reductions… as opposed to having preset caps or preset restrictions on preset timelines.” (source)

Conservative Party of Canada – Pierre Poilievre:

• Project and infrastructure development:
  • Poilievre intends to create “shovel-ready zones” with pre-approved permits for major resource or energy projects. These zones would be identified, and go through environmental reviews, zoning and permitting to offer pre-permitted sites for developments. (source)
  • Repealing the changes made by Bill C-69: An Act to enact the Impact Assessment Act and the Canadian Energy Regulator Act, to amend the Navigation Protection Act and to make consequential amendments to other Acts within 60 days and replace it with a legislation to approve developments within a year of an application (source)
  • Creating a First Nations Resource Charge (FNRC) that would allow development companies pay a share of their federal corporate taxes to local First Nations. Local First Nations could choose the FNRC agreement to replace the financial component in Impact Benefit Agreements (IBA) or supplement IBAs. (source)

• Carbon pricing:
  • Poilievre committed to repeal the entire carbon pricing laws for consumers and industry. (source)

• Oil and gas sector:
  • Poilievre committed to eliminate the proposed Oil and Gas Sector Greenhouse Gas Emissions Cap. (source)
  • Repealing the changes made by Bill C-48: An Act respecting the regulation of vessels that transport crude oil or persistent oil to or from ports or marine installations located along British Columbia’s north coast. (source)

• Training and labour:
  • Poilievre promised to boost training and employment for workers in skilled trades by expanding training halls and providing direct grants and faster access to employment insurance for apprentices in licensed trades. (source)

• Energy investment tax credits (ITCs):
  • Poilievre committed to “expand eligibility” for the clean technology and clean manufacturing tax credits, alluding to incentivizing businesses that made products with emissions lower than the global average. (source)

• Taxes (energy only):
  • Poilievre would name a Tax Reform Task Force to design a “Bring it Home Tax Cut” that will lower taxes on energy, among other areas. It is unclear what taxes on energy this commitment alludes to. (source)

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