Natural Resources  Mr. Speaker, despite the minister's talk, the obstacles, roadblocks, and challenges remain. With only three days left until the deadline, the natural resources minister said, incredibly, “There's no certainty in these things.” However, certainty is precisely what Kinder Morgan and all energy investors need, not tax dollars or pension-funded insurance.

Natural Resources  However, Mr. Speaker, the Liberals have used no tools in their toolbox to ensure that the expansion would go ahead in the past year and a half. This crisis is a result of their lack of action and failure of leadership. This weekend, the justice minister even said they are still “considering all options”.

Committees of the House  Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. Yesterday, I asked twice for unanimous consent to expedite debate and a vote on Bill S-245 to provide certainty for Kinder Morgan to proceed with the Trans Mountain expansion. Earlier in the day it was denied by the Bloc, and later in the afternoon it was denied by the Liberals.

Rural Crime  Mr. Speaker, I want to thank and acknowledge the Liberals stating their intention to support Motion No. 167. This may be a rare moment when we are all working together to do the right thing on behalf of the people we represent in every corner of the country, despite our passionate, or otherwise, regular disagreements.

Criminal Code  Madam Speaker, I rise on a point of order. It is a follow-up to my seeking consent for a motion earlier today. I understand there have been discussions among all parties and if you seek it, I believe you would find unanimous consent to ensure expeditious debate, study, and a vote on Bill S-245.

Business of the House  Mr. Speaker, I am rising on a point of order. In a moment I will seek unanimous consent for a motion. I will briefly explain why. Earlier today, I tabled Bill S-245, which would provide certainty for the Trans Mountain expansion and clearly exert federal jurisdiction over all aspects of its construction and future operations, to stop roadblocks and delays.

Trans Mountain Pipeline Project Act  moved that Bill S-245, An Act to declare the Trans Mountain Pipeline Project and related works to be for the general advantage of Canada, be read the first time. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to present Bill S-245, the Trans Mountain pipeline project act, in the House of Commons. The Trans Mountain expansion was approved in the national interest more than a year and a half ago.

Natural Resources  Mr. Speaker, last month, the Prime Minister, the Minister of Finance, and the Minister of Natural Resources all promised a law to provide certainty for Trans Mountain, but there is still no law and still no plan. The Prime Minister's failure harms Canada's reputation in the world and risks future energy development.

Natural Resources  Mr. Speaker, the problem is that nobody believes this Prime Minister's empty words, and there are only eight days left until the deadline for the Trans Mountain expansion. The Prime Minister caused this crisis. He is damaging confidence in Canada. The president of ATCO said, “The delay of those projects is almost as good as a cancellation”.

Business of Supply  Mr. Chair, of course it has already been severely obstructed and impeded by multiple delays and roadblocks from opponents, and the Prime Minister and the finance minister have sat on their hands for a year and a half since the approval. Could the finance minister at least give some clarity around why there are mixed messages coming from his ministers?

Business of Supply  Mr. Chair, what is also concerning is that a senior Department of Finance official commented that the finance minister's announcement of possible indemnification or taxpayer dollars being sunk into the Trans Mountain pipeline was a so-called test of Kinder Morgan's commitment to their expansion.

Business of Supply  Mr. Chair, Kinder Morgan's response to the finance minister's announcement was that they are not yet in alignment, which means that this scheme the finance minister is cooking up with nine days left is not actually the answer for Kinder Morgan because, of course, the problem was never money.

Business of Supply  Mr. Chair, in fact, more energy investment has left Canada under the Liberals than in any other two-year time period in 70 years, more than half a century. The collateral damage of this is that hundreds of thousands of Canadians are out of work, and job losses have rippled throughout other sectors.

Business of Supply  Mr. Chair, Kinder Morgan has already invested $1 billion in the Trans Mountain expansion and estimates that it has lost $200 million for every month of delay. Could the finance minister at least answer whether the indemnification will be retroactive?

Business of Supply  Mr. Chair, there is no question that the project is commercially viable. That is why Kinder Morgan has been willing to invest billions upon billions of dollars into completing the expansion that it initiated. The finance minister said earlier tonight that indemnification was something regular in business transactions, but of course it has not been regular, standard, or required to build pipelines in Canada until these Liberals came to power.