Atlantic Liberals slam Conservatives’ opposition to bill that would facilitate offshore wind projects

Members of the Atlantic Liberal caucus say they are baffled by the opposition from Conservative MPs to an amendment to the Atlantic Accord.

Bill C-49, which would extend the accords to cover the regulation of the emerging offshore renewable energy sector, particularly offshore wind energy, passed first reading in the House of Commons at the end of May and drew lengthy second-reading debate Tuesday.

Kody Blois, the MP for Kings-Hants and the chairman of the Atlantic Liberal caucus, kicked off a news conference Wednesday on Parliament Hill by saying the Atlantic accords were created to govern and manage the oil and gas sector.

“The legislation tabled yesterday, supported by both the governments of Newfoundland and Labrador and Nova Scotia, builds on the existing success of those acts to allow existing offshore petroleum boards to regulate the emerging offshore wind sector,” Blois said.

“The legislation is straightforward and has been drafted with deep consultation with the provinces,” he said. 

Blois said “the legislation is required to give the certainty necessary to advance Atlantic Canada’s clean energy future in the offshore,” through an established pattern of joint management of both provincial and federal offshore resources.

‘Unbelievable’

“Which is why it’s simply unbelievable that the Conservative Party of Canada yesterday signalled its intent to be against Bill C-49,” Blois said. 

“They will not support this bill and a total of 10 members of Parliament spoke yesterday, including the shadow minister of natural resources, and said they would not advance this legislation.”

The bill would rename the two regulators established under the Accords Act to the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Energy Regulator and the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Energy Regulator.

The amendment would enable the newly named entities to regulate offshore renewable energy projects in a similar manner to how they currently regulate offshore petroleum development projects. 

This would include control over impact assessments and any required hearings, licensing, environment, health and safety matters, and decommissioning.

An offshore renewable energy project means any work or activity that relates to the exploitation or potential exploitation of a renewable resource to produce an energy project, that is not conducted by or on behalf of a government or educational institution.

Nova Scotia has created an offshore wind roadmap and plans to offer leases for five gigawatts of offshore wind energy by 2025.

‘An attack’

Blois said the Atlantic caucus views the Conservatives’ intended opposition to Bill C-49 as “an attack on Atlantic Canada” and the interests of our region. 

“It is an attack on our ability to fight climate change and to be able to enable generational economic opportunities in our region that provide good jobs and will drive investment in our region,” Blois said.

He said the Conservatives are standing against the wishes of two provincial governments, an entire clean energy industry, Indigenous communities and Atlantic Canadians at large who want to see this legislation advanced to make a difference for our region. 

Blois said the Conservative party’s position is the continuation of a trend by the party not to stand up for Atlantic Canada and not being there for our constituents.

Sean Fraser, the MP for Central Nova and the federal housing minister, referenced the 2021 provincial election campaign in Nova Scotia when now Premier Tim Houston said his party was different from and espoused different values than the federal Conservatives.

“I think that’s evident today when we see the opposition to common sense legislation that’s going to provide a regulatory framework for the offshore energy sector, in particular for the renewable offshore energy sector,” Fraser said. 

Fraser said the C-49 amendment provides a clear pathway for green energy projects in the offshore sector of Nova Scotia. 

“It calls into question for me whether (Conservative Leader Pierre) Poilievre and his caucus believe climate change is driven by industrial activity and if they do, whether they are willing to do anything about it. The reality is that in my home province in the past year we have lived through a hurricane that has devastated my community. The damage is still apparent everywhere I go. We have seen wildfires like much of the country that we have never seen before and we have seen families lose loved ones during recent floods. 

“The imperative to act is obvious.”

Seamus O’Regan, the MP for St. John’s South-Mount Pearl in Newfoundland and the federal minister of Labour and Seniors, said “time is of the essence” for offshore green hydrogen and wind projects. 

“We do not have time for foolishness, utter foolishness on partisan debates that are not founded in reality,” he said of the Conservatives’ objections to Bill C-49.

“We want to work with all sides on what is a new but extraordinarily promising industry.”

Blois and the Atlantic caucus is first calling on the Conservatives to change course, and if not, it is urging the eight Atlantic members of the Conservative caucus to break ranks and support the interest of the region.