In their latest report card, the Buffalo Project looked deeply at Conservative Party leadership candidates’ (CPC) policies regarding energy development and export, with Pierre Poilievre scoring the highest grade..The Buffalo Project is a group of concerned citizens from Alberta and Saskatchewan who are demanding a fair new deal in confederation..According to a Buffalo Project news release, the report card grades how CPC candidates stack up in terms of policies that will support issues of importance for Western Canada. ."Grades also consider candidates’ previous actions, because actions speak louder than words," the release stated..“For over a century, Western concerns have been routinely ignored in other parts of Canada. We cannot allow this to continue. The West faces an existential moment in confederation," Buffalo Project Chair Dallas Howe said..The report card also suggested that Canada does have the natural resource and human potential to become one of the world's energy superpowers to the enormous benefit of Canadians’ standard of living. However, no candidate scored an "A" in the report..Pierre Poilievre scored a "B" in the report card and the Buffalo Project says he has made pipelines and Canadian energy a focal point of his rallies throughout the campaign promising to clear the way for pipelines “north, south, east, and west”..Projects that Poilievre has committed to quickly, according to the report card, include approving major energy infrastructure projects, and repealing Bills C-69 and C-48. He has been a vocal advocate for the Bay du Nord and LNG Newfoundland and Labrador.."Poilievre has also expressed support for the Canadian mining sector, in particular, uranium in northern Saskatchewan," the report card stated.."He has reiterated the need to export Canadian energy to foreign markets in an effort to break Europe’s dependence on Russian oil. He has also committed to ending the importation of oil from overseas within 5 years.".The report card outlines that Poilievre has certainly presented himself as passionate, but the Buffalo Project wonders is he promising too much.."His intentions of upgrading the Port of Churchill is great on paper, but is much easier said than done. There are many logistical challenges around the northern Manitoba port which have called its viability into question and the need for massive government support.".The report card also says Poilievre has also been "very quiet on the environmental side of his policy."."The issue of climate change is not going away, and ESG metrics are still a key consideration for investors. We’d like to know more about how he plans on balancing growth of the energy sector with environmental considerations.".That being said, the Buffalo Project still considers him to be the strongest candidate to promote Canadian energy by far, but "more nuance to his policy is needed."."Overall, we grade Poilievre at a B," the Buffalo Project said..The project said they hope Canadians will consider their report card on the CPC members before voting.."If another election cycle goes by with the West being demonized or ignored, confederation itself is at risk," Howe said.."We hope CPC members take these results into consideration when considering how to vote. The Buffalo Project will put continuing efforts behind ensuring Conservative leadership candidates and other politicians in the West truly represent Western priorities and stay committed to standing up for them.".To view the report card, click here.
