- Atlas News
- Posts
- Carney’s Energy Vision: Talks with Alberta’s Oil Titans
Carney’s Energy Vision: Talks with Alberta’s Oil Titans
Carney stresses collaboration as Alberta’s energy leaders push for regulatory changes and economic growth.
sean h
June 01, 2025
🤝 Carney Talks ‘Partnerships
Prime Minister Mark Carney made his first official trip to Calgary this weekend since being sworn in as Canada’s 24th prime minister. On Sunday, he hosted a closed-door roundtable with top oil and gas executives at the Harry Hays building — a meeting that signals his intent to make Canada a true “energy superpower” 🌍💪.
Among the heavy hitters around the table were Tourmaline Oil CEO Michael Rose, Pathways Alliance President Kendall Dilling, ATCO CEO Nancy Southern, Imperial Oil President John Whelan, and Jon McKenzie, president of Cenovus Energy. They were joined by federal cabinet ministers, including Energy Minister Tim Hodgson and Emergency Management Minister Eleanor Olszewski.
Reporters were allowed a brief glimpse before being ushered out, but Carney’s opening remarks struck a cooperative tone.
“Thank you for convening on a Sunday morning and also for what you’ve all been doing to help build our country… build our economy, build a future,” Carney said, emphasizing the importance of hearing directly from industry leaders.
This outreach didn’t come out of nowhere. In the weeks following his April 28 election win, Carney received a letter signed by 38 energy sector CEOs. They congratulated him and pitched ideas they believe will help him deliver on his promise to grow Canada’s economy faster than any other G7 nation 📈.
Among their key asks? Scrapping the federal emissions cap on oil and gas producers and repealing industrial carbon pricing — measures they argue will strengthen the sector and boost Canada’s global competitiveness.
🔍 Overhauling the Regulatory Landscape
The CEOs also called for an overhaul of the Impact Assessment Act, which governs how major projects are evaluated, and the Oil Tanker Moratorium Act, which bans tankers carrying more than 12,500 metric tons of crude oil from navigating parts of British Columbia’s coastline. These changes, they argue, would unlock new investments and streamline growth.
Carney, for his part, has signaled he’s open to reviewing and refining how these reviews are done. On the campaign trail, he promised to fast-track major energy infrastructure projects, leaning into a “one project, one review” approach. This would involve recognizing assessments done by provinces and territories, rather than duplicating them at the federal level.
Meanwhile, the federal government is standing by its proposed emissions cap regulations, unveiled last year, which would require upstream oil and gas operations to cut emissions to 35% below 2019 levels by 2030–2032. While these regulations are still in flux, they’re a major point of debate between the federal government and Alberta’s oil patch.
🔥 A Time for ‘Partnerships’
Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Carney reiterated the theme of “partnerships” — a word he used repeatedly.
“It’s a critical time for our country. The world’s certainly more divided and dangerous, and the imperative of making Canada an energy superpower in all respects has never been greater,” Carney said. “We will do everything we can at the federal government level to support those partnerships.”
Premier Danielle Smith, speaking on her weekend radio show, was cautiously optimistic. While she noted that the federal throne speech didn’t mention the word “pipeline,” she said she believes Carney’s references to “conventional energy” leave the door open for oil and gas expansion.
“He may not have said the words ‘oil and gas’ and he may not have said the word ‘pipeline,’ but conventional energy means oil and gas, and the only way to get it to market efficiently is through pipelines,” Smith said.
She also praised Carney for what she described as a more open, collaborative approach to working with the provinces than his predecessor, Justin Trudeau. Smith said she hopes to have a one-on-one meeting with Carney at the First Ministers’ conference in Saskatoon on Monday.
🌲 Recognizing Wildfire Response
Before wrapping up the meeting, Carney took time to acknowledge the ongoing efforts to combat wildfires raging across Western Canada. He thanked the Department of National Defense, the provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta, as well as the countless volunteers working tirelessly to fight the fires and support large-scale evacuations.
“The good news is those are proceeding well at this stage, but of course, it’s not over until it’s over, and we’re at the start of the forest fire season across the country,” he said. “So we’ll stay committed to doing everything that we can with partners.”
🗣️ Looking Ahead
Carney’s visit to Calgary underscores a new chapter in Ottawa’s relationship with Alberta’s energy sector. While his climate commitments remain firm, his emphasis on collaboration and partnerships suggests a more balanced approach — one that may offer the oil and gas industry a seat at the table as Canada navigates the transition to a low-carbon economy 🌿.
With crucial policy battles ahead, energy executives are hoping that Sunday’s meeting marks the beginning of real dialogue — and a more certain path for the sector’s future. Stay tuned as these discussions evolve!
Reply