Newly minted Liberal Energy Minister Tim Hodgson says he supports Alberta’s energy sector, adding that he aims to reset strained ties with Ottawa and fast-track infrastructure projects to help make Canada “a conventional and clean energy superpower.”
Hodgson made the comments during an event hosted by the Calgary Chamber of Commerce on May 23, in what was his first public appearance in Calgary since taking office. The minister described his vision for the future of the energy industry, saying that every energy worker in the province is an “integral part of team Canada—you make Canada strong.”
“One of my first calls as minister was to [Alberta Energy] Minister Brian Jean. This relationship matters, and I am committed to a clean slate,” Hodgson said.
“I may live in Toronto right now, but I was born on the Prairies. I want you to understand that I will be a voice for Alberta and Western Canada at the Cabinet table.”
Born in Winnipeg, Hodgson served in the Canadian Armed Forces before joining investment bank Goldman Sachs, where he held several roles, including CEO of its Canadian operations.
“At Goldman, one of my first major deals is also one of the deals I am still the proudest of today: The Alliance Pipeline,” he said during his address, referring to the pipeline that transports natural gas from western Canada to the United States.
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Hodgson also served on the board of MEG Energy, a Canadian oil sands producer based in Calgary. He was recently the board chair of Hydro One, Ontario’s public electricity provider. He also worked as a special adviser to now-Prime Minister Mark Carney when Carney was governor of the Bank of Canada.
In his speech, Hodgson said collaboration between provinces, territories, and the federal government is important for advancing nation-building projects.
“This government isn’t just about people in suits in Toronto or Ottawa. It’s about people in hard hats, on the drilling pads, in the forests, and at the mills,” Hodgson said.
“From Peace River to Lethbridge, from engineers to rig workers—that work powers our country, and it earns our respect.”
Alberta’s energy minister said he was “encouraged” by Hodgson’s comments, adding that, given Hodgson’s previous experience in the oil sands sector, “he should understand the challenges we face and the importance of getting our oil and gas products to tidewater.”
“It is critical the federal government follows through on these promises and prioritizes the construction of pipelines and energy infrastructure while repealing job and investment-killing legislation and policies like the ‘Build-No-Pipelines Act’ and the emissions cap,” Jean said in a May 23 statement to The Epoch Times.
Alberta has long taken issue with a number of federal Liberal policies it says hinder resource development, including the Impact Assessment Act, which the provincial government calls the “Build-No-Pipelines Act,” due to what it describes as the legislation’s heavy regulatory burden. Another point of contention is the oil and gas emissions cap, which Alberta argues effectively limits production.
Hodgson’s comments also come at a time when the issues of western discontent and secession have surfaced, following the re-election of the federal Liberals for a fourth term on April 28. On the weekend after the election, hundreds of Albertans rallied in front of the Alberta legislature, calling on the province to consider separation from Canada.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has said her government opposes separation and would not propose a separation referendum, but that if a citizen-led petition meets the requirements to qualify as a referendum question, she would uphold the democratic process.
Fast-Tracking Infrastructure Projects
During his address, Hodgson said the new federal government would be defined not by “talk” but by action.
“I want to be very clear: in the new economy we are building, Canada will no longer be defined by delay,” he said. “We will be defined by delivery.”
He said the new government will reduce review times for projects of national interest by more than half by establishing a “Major Federal Projects Office” to serve as a single window for permits and cut red tape, in line with Carney’s commitment to a “One Project, One Review” policy.
Hodgson said Canada’s energy is a “tool for global stability and transformation,” adding that Canada needs to diversify its economy in the face of U.S. tariffs. He added that Canadian exports can help “our allies break dependence on authoritarian regimes,” referring to oil-producing nations with authoritarian governments like Venezuela and Iran.
“We need infrastructure that gets our energy to tidewater and to trusted allies,” he said. “We will invest in carbon capture, methane reduction, and other technologies to ensure Canadian oil and gas is not only produced responsibly, but is the most competitive in the world.”
He also said that turning Canada into an energy superpower would require reframing the national conversation, which he says will involve building consensus for projects while “meeting our duty to consult so indigenous peoples are true partners, and protecting our environment so we don’t have to clean up mistakes later.”
“I’m a pragmatist, a businessman,” Hodgson said. “When I see something that needs changing, I work hard to change it.”
