Mr. Speaker, on the first day of the return of Parliament, we should address two items that are in our national interest in the middle of a health care crisis and an economic crisis.
The first is Keystone XL. We are in a jobs crisis. Our economic recovery from COVID-19 depends on vaccines and a plan to get back to work. That requires investments and projects to create jobs in every sector of this country and in every region of this country.
In recent days, our country has been dealt a serious blow by the new Biden administration with its executive order cancelling the Keystone XL pipeline.
There were neither consultations with our government nor any special relations with our country.
Let me be clear: This executive order is a mistake. Keystone represents a major strategic energy corridor that will enhance North American energy independence away from authoritarian regimes. The project has the potential for tens of thousands of well-paying unionized jobs in both Canada and the United States.
Shutting down Keystone XL would be a blow to our economic recovery, not just in the west but across Canada.
The Prime Minister has spent the last five years attacking our energy industry. It is time for the government to defend our ethical oil that partners with indigenous communities to the tune of over a billion dollars per year. Keystone was designed with the highest environmental standards to achieve net-zero emissions by 2030. Its rejection would actually result in 28% to 42% higher CO2 emissions via rail shipments.
We must secure our future. We must secure jobs in every sector and in every region of the country. For the sake of Canada-U.S. relations, our economic recovery and our environment, we need to get Keystone built; we need to get Canadians back to work.
The Prime Minister must stand up for Canadian workers and ask the incoming administration to reverse its executive order. This project is in our national interest and would help tens of thousands of families struggling amid this health and economic crisis.
Therefore, we respectfully request an emergency debate to drive toward a plan to save this project.