The Blueprint: Canada's Conservative Podcast - This is not leadership. This is an empty promise.

00:00:00.000 Hello and welcome once again to The Blueprints. This is Canada's Conservative Podcast. I'm

00:00:13.380 your host, Jamie Schmael, Member of Parliament for Halliburton Coeur of the Lakes, with new

00:00:17.040 content for you every single Tuesday, 1.30 p.m. Eastern Time. Don't forget to like, comment,

00:00:21.580 share and subscribe to this program, and you can download it on platforms like CastBox,

00:00:25.340 iTunes, Google Play, and Spotify. On today's show, will Canada ever get a new pipeline to

00:00:31.400 Tidewater? Well, to talk about this and so much more, we bring on Blaine Culkins, the Member of

00:00:35.900 Parliament for Pinocchio-Didsbury. Thanks for coming on the show. My pleasure, Jamie. I have to get used

00:00:40.160 to your new riding name, so I apologize. Yeah, this is the third one I've had. I know. But great people,

00:00:45.280 great rural riding, great in the middle of, in the heart of central Alberta. So, and, you know,

00:00:50.080 great, great industry there, lots of agriculture, and of course, oil and gas. That's right. And

00:00:55.160 that's what we want to talk about today. We had a Memorandum of Understanding signed between Canada

00:00:59.560 and Alberta. That's right. We still have some concerns whether or not we'll actually see a

00:01:05.280 shovel in the ground. I hope for Canada's sake, we do. Well, look, I've been here for 20 years as a

00:01:12.560 Member of Parliament. I was here the whole time Stephen Harper was the Prime Minister, and now the

00:01:16.100 whole time that Justin Trudeau and Mark Carney have been the Prime Ministers. So, when Stephen Harper

00:01:20.520 became the Prime Minister, there were virtually no tidewater pipelines that we inherited. In fact,

00:01:25.560 there was no tidewater or even international pipelines that were anywhere near decision phase

00:01:32.860 or investment phase. There was four liquid LNG terminals proposed, but they were all import

00:01:39.140 terminals. This is where the Liberals' heads were at in 2006, was we're going to import natural gas into

00:01:46.020 a country that's got probably more natural gas per citizen than any other country on the planet.

00:01:51.960 But when we left office in 2015, only after four and a half, we only had one majority term for four

00:01:57.240 and a half years. There were at least four export terminals, three of them to tidewater, and of course,

00:02:04.180 depending on what stage of development of various projects we're at, where I think we had anywhere

00:02:11.620 from 12 to 16 liquefied natural gas export terminals on the books for both the East and West Coast.

00:02:18.500 And our argument then was, you know, it doesn't make sense for Canada to be beholden to one

00:02:23.700 purchaser, which we should be diversifying our market access. We made those arguments for the whole time

00:02:31.340 that conservatives were in government during that time frame. And of course, Liberals mocked us,

00:02:35.940 laughed at us, and made up misinformation or made themselves beholden to those who wanted to stop

00:02:41.160 those projects. And they immediately stopped them when they first came into office. In fact,

00:02:45.460 I think the very first press release issued from the new government was a review of the pipelines

00:02:49.940 basically killing Northern Gateway, the Energy East project. And of course, we all know what happened

00:02:55.200 with Keystone XL and the Kinder Morgan expansion, which ended up becoming a taxpayer-funded,

00:03:01.340 pipeline for more than, I think, three times the cost of what Kinder Morgan would have done in the

00:03:04.720 private sector. So, and the only LNG export terminal that was created, you know, it took 10 years to do

00:03:12.980 all of these things. Imagine where we'd be if all of those projects were allowed to proceed. But it

00:03:16.780 so it takes about 10 years to do these things. So we have an LNG export terminal now in Kitimat.

00:03:21.800 Instead of having eight or so on each coast, we could have had the revenue from our natural gas and our

00:03:27.400 oil would probably easily absorb the shock of any tariff threats that are coming from

00:03:33.940 the United States. So these are terrible mistakes that the previous administration made. And now

00:03:38.740 Mark Carney is pretending to revive some of these things. It's funny to listen to Liberals talk now

00:03:44.080 because you'd think, based on the speeches that you're hearing now, that they were conservative MPs 12

00:03:48.720 years ago in Stephen Harper's caucus. But we all know that he's not serious about these things.

00:03:55.000 Yeah, I think so. Let's play two up. Cut one. We have him speaking at a conference here. Of course,

00:03:59.620 I don't see any hard hats in this crowd, but basically dismissing the fact that that Canada

00:04:05.860 has this ability and so much energy to supply the world here. Play cut one. One of my questions was,

00:04:12.360 is this pipeline going to come? So boring. It's not. It is. It is. No, but it is. It is because

00:04:19.340 it's, it's, look, there is this whole world. Okay, hands up. Who's working on the pipeline in this

00:04:24.960 room? Okay. Isn't that a problem? No, no, no, no. Look at all the variety. Like, Nav, like,

00:04:34.240 does your, like, it's, we'll have a much bigger impact on productivity in this country. Just laughs

00:04:41.860 it off. Is anybody working on this pipeline? Ha, ha, ha. Big, big joke. Yeah, I mean, it's obviously,

00:04:46.980 he's pandering to whatever crowd that is. But I can tell you, you know, over the last 10 years in

00:04:53.640 my constituency office, I've had numerous people come in that have had very successful other

00:04:57.620 businesses. They had, they were employees of, weren't working in the oil and gas sector. Tens of

00:05:02.880 thousands, if not hundreds, over a hundred thousand jobs, direct jobs lost in the energy sector.

00:05:06.640 So the, the, the Trudeau keep it in the ground liberals have basically killed any growth that

00:05:13.060 we would have had in Alberta's economy. And of course, that's where you get your revenue. That's

00:05:17.880 where you get your royalties from. You get all of that growth. So Alberta is a massive contributor

00:05:22.180 economically to this confederation. We're very proud of that. And we're happy to, happy to,

00:05:26.860 to do our share. We just want to keep doing the things that we're, we're doing. We have, we have one

00:05:30.940 of the most pristine environments in this country in Alberta. I mean, people, millions of people

00:05:34.600 every year come. You're a conservation guy. Come, come to Banff and Jasper and to, to see how beautiful

00:05:39.760 our lakes and our rivers and our streams and our countryside is in Alberta. We're, we're very

00:05:44.160 conscientious people. Yet we seem to get no credit for it. And this prime minister is basically laughing

00:05:50.320 at all of the people who lost their businesses, lost their homes, their families broke up because

00:05:55.080 of the fact that they lost their jobs. It was a very, very stressful time in central Alberta and all

00:06:00.560 of Alberta, frankly, Western Canada for the last 10 years. They put their boot on our neck in Alberta

00:06:05.680 and it's caused real economic harm and it's caused real damage to the, to our confederation. It's

00:06:13.900 alienating an entire, well, two provinces in this case, Alberta and Saskatchewan for that matter.

00:06:20.600 And all for what? Now we're even more beholden to the United States.

00:06:23.640 So we as an opposition put forward a test, a test to this liberal government on one of our

00:06:28.680 opposition days. Opposition days allows us as the opposition to talk about whatever we want.

00:06:33.220 And you have a vote on that topic, whatever it is. So we decided to take wording exactly from that

00:06:39.620 memorandum of understanding between Canada and Alberta and see if the liberals are truly serious

00:06:44.860 about it. Because Mark Carney's whole career has been shutting down energy development in Canada

00:06:50.640 while investing dollars elsewhere. Good way to make money when you're shutting down a country that

00:06:56.200 has so much resources. And, and so we wanted to put it to a test. The liberals voted against

00:07:02.500 that. Of course. Making up excuses. First excuses, well, you took away consultation, you took away this.

00:07:07.740 And then we, so we made an amendment to our motion and they, even with the amendments that added

00:07:13.520 more of the MOU into it, they still voted against. Yeah, no, they, look, they like to have their boot

00:07:18.820 on the neck of us in Alberta, especially when it comes to our oil and gas sector. Look, had the MOU,

00:07:24.360 had, had we actually put forward a motion that only included raising the industrial carbon tax,

00:07:29.180 they would have voted in favor of it. Because that's the only part that they really care about.

00:07:31.880 Correct. Yeah. So let's, let's be real about this. Of course, nobody in the mainstream media

00:07:35.480 would ask that question. But had that been the crux of our motion, they would have gladly voted just for

00:07:41.060 that particular portion of it. So if, if they can't, if they can't wrap their head around the

00:07:45.880 notion of building a, or having a nation building project without somehow siphoning off, it's going

00:07:52.280 to cost the taxpayers of this country over $16 billion to invest in a Pathways project. So, you

00:07:58.960 know, yes, is, is the pipeline, if it ever gets built, which I doubt it ever will. Will it increase

00:08:04.180 revenues? Absolutely will. But if it's, it's, those revenues aren't going to benefit Canadians.

00:08:09.320 That's right. Right. Those revenues are going to go basically back into the pockets of corporate

00:08:13.160 giants to create a carbon capture facility for, for the oil sands projects. So the oil sands

00:08:21.520 companies are already reducing emissions, they've reduced the amount of water that they've used,

00:08:24.600 they're continually improving their environmental footprint or reducing their environmental footprint

00:08:29.720 as they extract oil from the oil sands. These, this oil ends up mostly in the United States

00:08:37.220 at a massively discounted price. The Americans then refine it or upgrade it and then sell it

00:08:43.320 around the world, pocketing not only the difference, but obviously the world market price. And that means

00:08:49.000 that we're not getting even remotely close to full value for these products. We need to get these

00:08:52.760 products into the international marketplace so that we can, we can have other customers. It makes no

00:08:58.380 business person would ever dream up a scenario where we have one single sole customer for our products.

00:09:04.500 As a nation, we shouldn't be doing the same thing either. So look, the liberals aren't sincere about

00:09:10.500 this because all they really care about is the one portion that, that they want to do, which is

00:09:16.020 increase the industrial carbon tax. They're not sincere about, I don't believe they're sincere

00:09:21.320 anyway about getting a pipeline built or expanding the oil and gas sector in Alberta.

00:09:25.320 Well, we have some divisions within their caucus. Let's cue up cut two, play cut two. We have the 0.91

00:09:30.260 energy minister here.

00:09:31.320 But we are supportive of the entire MOU.

00:09:34.320 You are supportive, but there are many of your other caucus members who are not supportive.

00:09:37.320 The caucus is supportive of the entire MOU people.

00:09:40.320 The whole caucus?

00:09:41.320 Yes.

00:09:42.320 The caucus is supportive of the entire MOU.

00:09:48.320 I've been speaking with members of the Liberal caucus and in particular the BC Liberal caucus

00:09:53.320 who use the words seething, anxious and angry to describe their reaction to news of an MOU.

00:09:59.320 Contrary to what some headlines have said, this is not about federal approval of a pipeline

00:10:04.320 to the northwest coast. You thought of a pipeline like this was never serious.

00:10:08.320 I mean, we gave up a lot, too much probably, for any short-term peace. It represents climate

00:10:13.320 backsliding and a distraction from the ambition we need.

00:10:17.320 And don't forget Stephen Gilboa, the former Heritage Minister, Environment Minister too, he's out too.

00:10:23.320 Yeah, look, these guys don't hide who they are. They're open and honest about it.

00:10:28.320 They want to keep all of these resources in the ground. So Mark Carney's got a very big problem

00:10:32.320 on his hands if he is sincere about building a pipeline. And of course, when you have a caucus

00:10:37.320 and cabinet, most of those people that were in that are or were cabinet ministers,

00:10:42.320 Liberal cabinet ministers. So, look, he's got a lot of problems in his caucus.

00:10:49.320 He's got problems within his own cabinet. He's got a lot on his plate if he thinks this is going to go through.

00:10:56.320 So he has the authority. He has the power to do it. I mean, it's constitutional that the government of Canada can do this

00:11:03.320 and is the sole authority in deciding whether or not a project is approved.

00:11:08.320 But, you know, they use arguments like, well, there's no proponent. Well, there wouldn't be a proponent in this environment

00:11:13.320 because they basically made it impossible. So to say out of his mouth that he's going to keep the tanker band in place

00:11:21.320 yet proceed with the pipeline, I mean, these are ridiculous notions, right? 0.90

00:11:24.320 Well, so you can build a pipeline to a dead end.

00:11:26.320 Exactly.

00:11:27.320 You're not allowed to have a tanker go from that terminal out to an international marketplace.

00:11:33.320 Meanwhile, the Americans again are laughing at us because tankers are merrily sailing from Alaska down to the mainland

00:11:40.320 and back, taking oil from Alaska down to continental United States or into their mainland along the west coast.

00:11:49.320 And we can't do the same. We are our own worst enemy in this country.

00:11:53.320 This is a tremendous resource. It's something that we're good at. It's something that we're one of the best in the world at.

00:11:58.320 We should be proud of this energy sector. We should be proud of the technology that we have.

00:12:02.320 It's an engineering and technological marvel. We take this technology around the world, other countries.

00:12:07.320 We've helped other countries get into their oil and gas, their shale deposits, because we in Canada know how to do this.

00:12:13.320 We know how to do it well. We know how to do it safely. We know how to do it responsibly.

00:12:16.320 We might as well benefit from the resources that we've been blessed with.

00:12:19.320 Absolutely. So let's see if Mark Carney actually lives up to what he says, despite the divisions within his caucus.

00:12:25.320 It'll be interesting to see how he manages that. Because during the campaign, he promised both sides.

00:12:30.320 He promised both sides what they wanted. Well, that's why it's not sincere.

00:12:33.320 Yeah, exactly. Because you can't have two different messages depending on where you are in the country.

00:12:38.320 If you're sincere about doing this, then you have to be honest with Canadians wherever they are,

00:12:42.320 and explain to them and rationalize with them why it makes sense for Canada to have this project,

00:12:48.320 as many of these projects as we possibly can. And we see what's happening to the forestry sector.

00:12:53.320 We see what's happening to the steel and aluminum sector. We see what's happening to the auto sector.

00:12:56.320 And if we make sure that the United States is our only customer for oil and gas,

00:13:01.320 then that sector will be potentially at risk depending on where the trade negotiations go as well.

00:13:06.320 So this is our most lucrative export commodity is our oil and hopefully our natural gas.

00:13:15.320 We might as well take advantage of it. Like I said, this money should be used to build schools,

00:13:20.320 to pay for police, to fund all of the programs and services that Canadians need.

00:13:25.320 We would need to deficit finance these things if we actually had the royalties and revenues

00:13:29.320 from a strong, vibrant oil and gas sector.

00:13:32.320 Yeah, that'd be nice. We only have a few minutes left, but I wanted to switch topics quickly if I could.

00:13:37.320 You are known in many circles fighting for law-abiding firearms owners and sports shooters, hunters, all of that.

00:13:47.320 Thank you for doing that. You're doing a fantastic job. You've been traveling the country trying to bring common sense to this topic.

00:13:54.320 And I think this pilot project, if you will, that the Liberals tried in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, didn't go so well.

00:14:02.320 I think 20 some odd firearms they picked up.

00:14:04.320 Yeah, we don't even know if those were actually the OIC-banned firearms.

00:14:08.320 We just know that 22 firearms were turned in. They won't even say what they actually were.

00:14:12.320 But look, yeah, so Cape Bretoners have told their Liberal MPs and all of the Liberals that have been elected in Nova Scotia

00:14:18.320 that they want nothing to do with this program. As a matter of fact, it cost the police chief there, it seems to have cost the police chief there, his job.

00:14:25.320 And now I just got back from Charlottetown where Charlottetown Council voted unanimously 10-0 to reject the signing on to the Liberal gun grab.

00:14:36.320 Of course, four Liberal MPs on the island there that are offside with where their constituents are, the farmers and hunters in Prince Edward Island. 0.93

00:14:43.320 Hunting is a huge part of the culture in Atlantic Canada, Quebec, in fact, all across Canada.

00:14:49.320 Sports shooting is too. It's a major part of our Canadian identity and heritage.

00:14:53.320 And the government, through the admission of the minister himself when he didn't realize he was being recorded,

00:14:58.320 basically admitted that this program is all about votes. It's all about crass politics.

00:15:04.320 And this is the sad part about the way the Liberals govern. They're very divisive in everything that they do.

00:15:10.320 And they're actually ruining not only, they've ruined in part the oil and gas sector in Western Canada,

00:15:16.320 and now they're ruining, of course, this sport shooting hunting sector as a shadow of what it used to be,

00:15:22.320 all for the sake of doing whatever it takes. They're just driven and motivated strictly by being in power,

00:15:28.320 and they don't care who they run over or who they crush in their wake in order to do that.

00:15:33.320 And there's a lot of good people. Law-abiding Canadian gun owners are the safest and most responsible people in the country,

00:15:39.320 statistically proven, least likely to commit a crime. We don't do that because we know that if we do,

00:15:45.320 we risk losing our firearms if we do. That's what the law says.

00:15:50.320 So we're the most law-abiding people in the country, and yet we're still bearing the brunt of Liberal politics,

00:15:57.320 and we'll continue to do so, unfortunately, until we get a new government led by Pierre Polyev and Conservatives,

00:16:03.320 where we will bring back to life our oil and gas sector, build some pipelines,

00:16:07.320 and, of course, make sure that our law-abiding firearms owners are respected while we'll focus the energies of our police and law enforcement agencies

00:16:16.320 going after criminals, protecting our border, and stopping the smuggling.

00:16:19.320 Wouldn't that be nice? It would be a nice change.

00:16:21.320 Blaine, the show's pretty much over, but the guests always get the last word. Please close us out.

00:16:26.320 Well, yeah, thank you very much. I appreciate what you're doing.

00:16:29.320 And I just want to reassure Canadians that Pierre Polyev and the rest of the Conservative team,

00:16:34.320 including Jamie here and myself, are working hard to restore common sense to our country,

00:16:39.320 to bring down prices at the grocery store to restore affordability,

00:16:43.320 make sure that our younger generation can afford to buy homes, restore that hope and that dream and that promise,

00:16:48.320 and actually do things and use taxpayers' dollars wisely and efficiently on things that actually make a difference for everyday Canadians.

00:16:54.320 So that'll be the question, I believe, in the next election.

00:16:57.320 And looking forward to one day having a strong, stable majority Conservative government again to the benefit of all Canadians.

00:17:04.320 2014, Canada had the richest middle class in the world.

00:17:07.320 Now we have fallen way down that index.

00:17:10.320 But you would think, listening to Liberals today, that Canadians have never had it better.

00:17:14.320 There is better, folks, and better is coming.

00:17:16.320 Wouldn't that be nice just to think back to 2014 when the middle class could afford going on a vacation?

00:17:23.320 We weren't talking about any of these things in 2014.

00:17:25.320 No, we weren't. We weren't.

00:17:26.320 Blaine, thank you for all your work you're doing. You're fantastic.

00:17:28.320 Blaine Calkins, a Member of Parliament for Pinocchio-Disbury.

00:17:31.320 Again, thank you for your time. Thank you for yours.

00:17:33.320 Don't forget to tell your friends to download this program on platforms like CastBox, iTunes, Google Play and Spotify.

00:17:39.320 And, of course, as always, like, comment, subscribe and share this program.

00:17:44.320 We need to get this message out because, as was pointed out earlier, the mainstream media is not helping at all.

00:17:50.320 We need you to help us with that.

00:17:51.320 And, as always, new content every single Tuesday, 1.30pm Eastern Time.

00:17:56.320 Until then, low taxes, less government, more freedom. That's the Blueprint.

The Blueprint: Canada's Conservative Podcast - January 06, 2026

This is not leadership. This is an empty promise.

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