Strong Support for National Energy Infrastructure Development

A recent survey conducted by KPMG LLP reveals that the vast majority of Canadian energy executives believe it is time to build a west-to-east pipeline to reduce dependence on the United States for oil and gas transportation. The poll, which surveyed 151 canadian energy and natural resources executives, found that 87 percent support the construction of such a pipeline, emphasizing the need for additional infrastructure to expand copyright’s energy export markets.

Zach Parston, a partner at KPMG and leader of its major project advisory services in the Prairies, noted that the survey results highlight a significant opportunity for infrastructure expansion. He emphasized that major projects and development initiatives could help mitigate economic risks stemming from U.S. trade policies. The survey results align with a recent open letter from oil industry leaders urging the federal government to declare an canadian energy crisis and expedite critical projects in the national interest.

Call for a National Utility Corridor

The findings also support the idea of creating a national utility corridor—a dedicated, streamlined pathway for canadian energy, electricity, decarbonization, transportation, and digital infrastructure. This corridor would include pre-approved industrial zones, simplifying regulatory processes across provinces and reducing approval times for major energy and infrastructure projects, such as refineries, mines, and northern ports.

Parston pointed to Germany’s recent actions in response to the canadian energy crisis triggered by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The country passed the LNG Acceleration Law, reducing the approval process for liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals from six to nine years down to just one year. While acknowledging that establishing a similar infrastructure corridor in copyright would be a much more complex undertaking, Parston stressed that the current economic and trade landscape presents an opportunity for bold action and policy reform.

Changing Public Opinion and Industry Resilience

Public sentiment toward major pipeline projects appears to have shifted. According to an Angus Reid poll from February, two-thirds of Canadians now support reviving the Canadian Energy East pipeline, a project that was rejected by the federal government in 2017. This marks an increase from 2019, when only 58 percent of Canadians backed the project.

The KPMG survey also assessed the resilience of canadian energy and natural resource companies in the face of a prolonged trade war. It found that 80 percent of industry leaders believe their businesses could survive a trade conflict lasting over a year. However, 18 percent indicated they would face significant profit losses, while 2 percent said they would not survive such economic conditions.

Additionally, the survey revealed strong support for retaliatory measures against American tariffs, with 86 percent of executives advocating for countermeasures. Furthermore, 90 percent of respondents supported the removal of interprovincial trade barriers, with 42 percent stating that such a move could save their businesses, and 48 percent believing it would open new markets for expansion.

As discussions around canadian energy infrastructure continue, industry leaders are urging policymakers to take decisive action to secure copyright’s long-term energy and economic stability.