Days after the Liberal government allowed for a Russian-owned gas turbine to be returned to Russia, Conservative MPs are accusing the federal government of "folding to Putin’s blackmail of Europe."."It is clear Prime Minister [Justin] Trudeau was more than willing to allow Europe to become dependent on Russian oil and gas, and is now prepared to look the other way while Russia funds its brutal and illegal war in Ukraine with the profits from the energy it sells to Europe," the MPs said in a statement released Tuesday..The statement was released by three shadow members of the Conservative Party; Minister for Foreign Affairs Michael Chong, Minister for Ethics James Bezan, and Minister for Public Services and Procurement Pierre Paul-Hus..The MPs were referring to the Liberal government's decision to grant a Canadian company a "time-limited and revocable permit" so they could return turbines from a Russian pipeline that supplies natural gas to Germany..The turbines, which are part of the Nord Stream 1 pipeline, had been sent to Siemens Canada in Montreal for repairs. But the federal government's sanctions on the Russian energy company Gazprom prevented the company from returning the equipment. .Amid a looming energy crisis in Germany, Canada faced pressure from both Russia and Germany to return the turbines..The Conservative MPs said by returning the gas turbine, Canada is circumventing its own sanctions on Russia. "The Liberal government has failed to recognize Canadian energy as vital to both our economy, as well as Canada and Europe’s collective security," they said..The MPs claimed instead of refusing to follow along with sanctions, the federal government should approve new pipelines and liquid natural gas terminals, allowing Canadian energy to "displace Russian energy supplies in Europe."."Allowing the return of the gas turbine sets a dangerous precedent of folding to Putin’s blackmail of Europe, and will negatively impact Canada’s standing on the world stage," the MPs added..Interim Conservative Leader Candice Bergen said the Liberals were "helping fund Putin’s brutal and illegal war in Ukraine," by breaking their own sanctions on Ukraine.."Canada must step up and provide our allies with energy for our and the world's security," she Tweeted..But People's Party of Canada Leader Maxime Bernier attacked the Conservative Party, saying they would rather, "help crash the German economy" than return the turbine..Bernier also criticized the MPs suggestion that Canada should instead focus on exporting energy to Germany.."It would be nice if we could export gas to Germany. But we don’t have the infrastructures for it now and it will take years to build them," Bernier added on Twitter.."The Germans have to buy Russian gas now or their economy will crash and they will freeze next winter," Bernier said. "That’s what Bergen and Chong support."
