Oilsands producers now have the policies they need to boost output, Tim Hodgson says

Skip to Content News Archives Economy Energy Oil & Gas Renewables Electric Vehicles Mining Commodities Agriculture Real Estate Mortgages Mortgage Rates Finance Banking Insurance Fintech Cryptocurrency Work Wealth Smart Money Wealth Management Investor Personal Finance Family Finance Retirement Taxes High Net Worth FP Comment Executive Women Puzzmo Newsletters Financial Times Business Essentials More Innovation Information Technology FP500 Podcasts Small Business Lives Told Tails Told Shopping Financial Post Store Obituaries Place a Notice Advertising Advertising With Us Advertising Solutions Postmedia Ad Manager Sponsorship Requests Classifieds Place a Classifieds ad Working Profile Settings My Subscriptions My Offers Newsletters Customer Service FAQ News Economy Energy Mining Real Estate Finance Work Wealth Investor FP Comment Executive Women Puzzmo Newsletters Financial Times Business Essentials This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.HomeCommoditiesEnergyOil & GasOilsands producers now have the policies they need to boost output, Tim Hodgson saysOttawa revealed plans to remove federal environmental reviews of energy projectsAuthor of the article:Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Tim Hodgson speaks during a critical minerals update at the Eldorado Gold Saskatchewan offices in early September. “I think if you talk with the oilsands people, they have what they need from the federal government,” Tim Hodgson said in an interview on Sept. 9, 2026. Photo by Michelle Berg /Saskatoon StarPhoenixCanadian oilsands producers now have what’s needed policy-wise from the federal government to raise production enough to fill major new oil pipeline capacity, the country’s energy minister says.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLYSubscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.Exclusive articles from Barbara Shecter, Joe O'Connor, Gabriel Friedman, and others.Daily content from Financial Times, the world's leading global business publication.Unlimited online access to read articles from Financial Post, National Post and 15 news sites across Canada with one account.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLESSubscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.Exclusive articles from Barbara Shecter, Joe O'Connor, Gabriel Friedman and others.Daily content from Financial Times, the world's leading global business publication.Unlimited online access to read articles from Financial Post, National Post and 15 news sites across Canada with one account.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLESCreate an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountThe government on Wednesday revealed plans to remove federal environmental reviews of energy projects, including oil and gas pipelines, natural gas plants and oilsands projects. Those are the latest shifts from Ottawa in the last year to signal greater backing for energy production and speed up regulatory approvals.More than two million barrels of crude export pipeline capacity are planned over the coming decade (Canada currently produces just more than five million barrels a day of oil). That includes a proposed million-barrel-a-day line to the British Columbia coast that’s backed by both the Alberta and Canadian federal governments. Political leaders view the conduit as a means to boost oil exports to Asia and lessen reliance on the United States as a customer amid a gruelling trade war.“I think if you talk with the oilsands people, they have what they need from the federal government,” Tim Hodgson said in an interview on Wednesday. “They are working through various incentives with other parties and I am confident they have what they need to fill the infrastructure that we’re proposing to build.”The industry has complained about environmental policies placed on it under the previous government of Justin Trudeau, and haven’t meaningfully invested in expansion projects in more than a decade. That reticence to spend is running headlong into a policy turnaround under Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government, which has made becoming an energy superpower a key plank of its economic vision.The changes in regulations are in part a response to the trade tensions with the U.S., Hodgson said.“We are in a trade war, one we didn’t ask for, but we need to win,” he said. “If we are going to do that, we need to move faster. That does not mean do it less well, it means we raise the competence of government to do everything in an environmentally responsible way, to do everything in partnership with Indigenous peoples, but do it faster given where we are in the world.”The Canadian and Alberta governments are continuing to negotiate terms for a major carbon capture project with the five major oilsands producers (Canadian Natural Resources Ltd., Suncor Energy Inc., Cenovus Energy Inc., ConocoPhillips Canada and Imperial Oil Ltd.).Those talks involve possible incentives to encourage investment in new greenfield production, as well as the money needed to build the carbon storage project that altogether industry insiders and analysts say would require north of $100 billion.Carney has relaxed some environmental regulations and delegated authority on oversight as part of a push to have a “one project, one review” regulatory regime. His government has also lowered the industrial carbon price target, and removed a consumer carbon tax.This advertisement has not loaded yet.Notice for the Postmedia NetworkThis website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.