Abby Shin

It has been confirmed that Mark Carney will remain Prime Minister leading a Liberal minority government. In his acceptance speech, climate change was mentioned once:

“And it’s time to build an industrial strategy that makes Canada more competitive while fighting climate change. We will build an economy with a government committed to free trade in Canada by Canada. The point is, is that we can give ourselves far more than the Americans can ever take away.”

I am very relieved to have avoided a Conservative government, but the fight for adequate environmental protections and climate change mitigation is just beginning. As the Trump administration unleashes dangerous attacks on vital environmental protections and climate progress, Canada must reject reckless, illogical government now more than ever. This post will focus on the broad energy platforms of the major parties comprising our new government. A following post will discuss the potential future for environmental policies and protections.

With threats from the US and internal cost of living, housing, drug, and crime crises, climate issues are continually pushed to the wayside. This is in spite of climate change being a major threat to every Canadian – no matter their ‘stance’ on climate change. It is ridiculous that climate change and other environmental topics continue to be highly politicized and divide constituents, politicians, and parties. Unfortunately, with the Liberal minority and new seat distribution, it is unclear how closely Carney’s government will stick to Liberal pledges surrounding the energy transition. In the longer term, it is likely that these promises will be diluted (at best) by Conservative plans which are in direct opposition of Carney’s climate platform. However, this is also uncertain with Poilievre losing his seat in the House of Commons.

The NDP faced major losses this election, losing their leader, 17 seats, and official party status. Meaning that they will struggle to maintain influence within the House and will be primarily focused on rebuilding as a party. The Greens (Mike Morrice) lost Kitchener-Centre, with Elizabeth May now maintaining their singular seat. This post will thus focus on the Liberals, Conservatives, and the Bloc.

Party	Seats Won
Liberal	169
Conservative	144
Bloc	22
New Democratic	7
Green	1

Liberals

Conventional energy

Despite his international history advocating for climate action, and the Liberal’s commitment to reduce GHG emissions, Trump’s tariffs have seen Carney’s government put more emphasis on conventional energy (fossil fuels) alongside clean. This is under Carney’s plan for Canada to become an energy superpower that is less reliant on the States. It will involve the creation of an energy corridor for “transport, energy, critical minerals and digital connectivity” through an unconfirmed number of roads, rails, and pipelines. On the campaign trail, both Carney and Poilievre promised the building of new pipelines. With Carney planning on establishing a Major Federal Project Office mandated to issue pipeline decisions after single review within two years (One Project, One Review). Pipelines and other new, expensive infrastructure are a strong signal of continual, long-term government-funded fossil fuel expansion. Upon first glance, it is highly contradictory to build pipelines while maintaining the industrial carbon tax. It will be very interesting to see how Carney balances conventional energy with clean.

Following his election, the presidents and CEOs of the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP) and Canadian Association of Energy Contractors (CAROEC), Lisa Baiton and Mark Scholz (respectively), voiced their support for Carney:

“Canada’s oil and natural gas industry is ready to work with Prime Minister Carney to support his goal of making Canada a global energy superpower. Developing our world-class oil and natural gas resources to their full potential by growing our exports to international markets will strengthen our energy security and economic sovereignty.” – Baiton.

“Both leading parties recognized the urgent need to expand oil and gas development, secure Canada’s energy and economic strength, and build critical infrastructure to counter rising global uncertainty and protectionism from our largest trading partner, the United States,” – Scholz

The province of Alberta will continue to be a significant barrier to the energy transition. A long-time problem for federal climate policies and a highly Conservative province, Alberta had major interest in a Poilievre-led government. They will undoubtedly put immense pressure on Carney’s Liberals to stop all perceived threats to their industry, with Premier Danielle Smith stating:

“As premier, I will not permit the status quo to continue. Albertans are proud Canadians that want this nation to be strong, prosperous, and united, but we will no longer tolerate having our industries threatened and our resources landlocked by Ottawa.”  

Clean energy

Despite Carney’s commitments to the oil and gas industry, he had also pledged many plans for the clean energy sector. His government plans to kickstart the clean energy supply chain by making major investments in critical minerals across the country. Critical mineral extraction has many adverse social and ecological impacts, but is also key for an energy transition. Carney’s Liberals also promised to build clean energy projects as quickly as possible across Canada, which will rely on weakened environmental impact assessments. It should also be noted that the One Project, One Review process through the Major Federal Project Office proposed under their clean energy plan is the same one that will be fast-tracking pipeline construction. Furthermore, Carney has promised to build an East-West electricity grid that will secure reliable, clean, sovereign electricity and reduced reliance on the States. It is also important to note that the Liberal clean energy commitments emphasize Indigenous leadership and participation across all projects and policies.

Conservatives

Below is what is known about the Conservative’s stance on climate during this campaign. Note that it is unclear if Poilievre will stay on as leader, which will influence how the party approaches energy policies in a Carney-led government.

Poilievre’s Conservative Party opposed all major federal climate change measures at the time of their campaign. They continually framed these policies as attacks on oil and gas, positioning themselves as advocates for the industry and its expansion, aligning with the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers’ (CAPP) 2025 Federal Policy Priority recommendations. Essentially, Poilievre’s Conservatives called for complete deregulation of oil and gas. Including: elimination of the industrial carbon tax, elimination of pollution caps for the oil and gas sector, and opposition to the Clean Fuel Regulations, Clean Electricity Regulation, Electric Vehicle Availability Standards, the Impact Assessment Act, and Just Transition policies. Poilievre was in support of new pipelines across Canada and hosted a private fundraiser with oil executives and lobbyists for $1650 a plate. Under Poilievre, it is clear that the Conservatives would have bent to all of the oil and gas industry’s whims, exacerbating the devastating climate change impacts already being felt nationally and internationally. If Poilievre finds a seat in the House and continues to be a significant voice for the Conservatives, clean energy opportunities will likely be faced with robust opposition.

Bloc Québécois

Bloc Québécois supports Canada’s current emission reduction targets and has called for fossil fuel subsidies to be redirected toward clean energy. They support maintained carbon pricing as will as strong federal regulations for clean electricity and improved electricity transmission within provinces. Quebec has shown to be a leader in clean energy whose constituents demand strong climate action and policies. Quebec voters were also key in securing vital red seats, which will likely be leveraged by the Bloc to strengthen influence in policymaking. They have also agreed to support the Liberals as this new government gets its footing. Knowing all of this, it can be presumed that Liberal clean energy and transition proposals will be supported by the Bloc.

Final thoughts

In his first days in office, Carney has emphasized that Canada needs a united government and united constituents as we face Trump. However, in comparing general party stances on the energy transition, this does not seem possible for climate policy. Despite Carney’s promises to the fossil fuel industry, his win remains the lesser of two evils for Canadian climate action. The Liberal’s stance on clean energy is hopeful, especially when compared to the alternative reality in which Prime Minister Poilievre operates in the pockets of Big Oil. While there is and will be many opportunities for criticism of Carney’s energy policies, I take a sliver of comfort in knowing his previous experience has equipped him with the understanding of the extreme environmental, social, and economic precedents of addressing climate change.

I would lastly like to outline that I am in no way a political expert, and that these are my opinions based on personal research and knowledge.

Works Cited

Dangerfield, K. (April 29, 2025). Read the transcript of Prime Minister Mark Carney’s victory speech. Global News. https://globalnews.ca/news/11154593/canada-election-mark-carney-victory-speech/

De Souza, M., Meyer, C. (March 14, 2025). Here’s what Canada’s new prime minister stands on the future of oil and gas. The Narwhal. https://thenarwhal.ca/mark-carney-tariffs-oil/

Elections Canada. (April 30, 2025). April 28, 2025 General Election: Election Results. https://enr.elections.ca/National.aspx?lang=e

Ellis, B. (April 29, 2025). Canadian oil and gas industry ready to work with Carney on ‘energy superpower’ promise. CTV News. https://www.ctvnews.ca/calgary/article/canadian-oil-and-gas-industry-ready-to-work-with-carney-on-energy-superpower-promise/

Keating, C., Lempriere, M. (April 23, 2025). Canada election 2025: What the manifestos say on nature, energy, and climate. Carbon Brief. https://www.carbonbrief.org/canada-election-2025-what-the-manifestos-say-on-nature-energy-and-climate/

Liberal Party of Canada. (April 9, 2025). Mark Carney’s Liberals to make Canada the world’s leading energy superpower. https://liberal.ca/mark-carneys-liberals-to-make-canada-the-worlds-leading-energy-superpower/

Markusoff, J. (April 9, 2025). Carney pledges faster project reviews to make Canada ‘energy superpower. CBC News. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/mark-carney-liberals-energy-reviews-oil-gas-calgary-promise-conservative-pierre-poilievre-1.7506199

Nature Canada. (April 16, 2025). Where Canada’s Federal Parties Stand on Nature and Climate in 2025. https://naturecanada.ca/news/blog/where-canadas-federal-parties-stand-on-nature-and-climate-in-2025/

Shingler, B. (April 29, 2025). Key takeaways for Quebec after Liberal minority projected. CBC News. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/quebec-election-day-after-1.7521763

Steward, K. (March 19, 2025). Pierre Poilievre’s positions on climate change, biodiversity, and social justice. Greenpeace. https://www.greenpeace.org/canada/en/story/68985/pierre-poilievres-positions-on-climate-change-biodiversity-and-social-justice/

Syed, F., Waters, S. (April 28, 2025). What Carney’s win means for environment and climate issues in Canada. The Narwhal. https://thenarwhal.ca/federal-election-results-2025/

Wherry, A. (April 29, 2025). Carney’s win caps a remarkable turn of events — and sets up the immense challenges ahead. CBC News. https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/carney-poilievre-election-result-analysis-1.7521385