Erin O’Toole has long argued that energy should sit at the heart of the U.S.-Canada partnership.
Now the Canadian politician — who served as the Conservative opposition leader until 2022 — thinks energy is a way to “restart the conversation” amid President Donald Trump’s escalating trade war. Trump has implemented steep tariffs on Canadian imports, including on fossil fuels and cars, prompting Canada to retaliate with a 25 percent duty on U.S.-made cars and trucks.
“As much as we want to diversify, we can’t escape the fact that we’re an integrated partner with the U.S.,” O’Toole said. “It’s just the U.S. is taking a bit of a holiday from reality on international trade right now, but I don’t think we abandon a rapprochement at some point. We just have to really show the reasons for it, and I think energy is the linchpin.”
Energy looms large in Canada’s April 28 election, which will pit Liberal leader and incumbent Prime Minister Mark Carney against Conservative opposition leader Pierre Poilievre. Both the leading parties are pledging new federal offices to expedite natural resource development and boost Canada’s industrial economy and trade. Carney said he aims to make Canada an “energy superpower.”
