Canadian election puzzle for oil industry
Industry bugbear Justin Trudeau may have lost his majority, but a minority government could be even less helpful for oil and gas
The Trudeau administration has been blamed for much of what has ailed the western Canadian oil patch over the past four years. But Trudeau leading a minority government, following the outcome of national polls in October, is rightly viewed with even greater trepidation. Prime minister Trudeau will now have to rely on support from the New Democratic Party (NDP) or Bloc Quebecois (BQ) to avoid a non-confidence vote on many issues in Canada’s House of Commons. Given the preeminence of fighting climate change amongst both parties’ manifesto policies, we must expect them to present diametric opposition to oil and gas development. The 21 October election result has already contributed to a surge
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