Canadian election puzzle for oil industry
Industry bugbear Justin Trudeau may have lost his majority, but a minority government could be even less helpful for oil and gas
The Trudeau administration has been blamed for much of what has ailed the western Canadian oil patch over the past four years. But Trudeau leading a minority government, following the outcome of national polls in October, is rightly viewed with even greater trepidation. Prime minister Trudeau will now have to rely on support from the New Democratic Party (NDP) or Bloc Quebecois (BQ) to avoid a non-confidence vote on many issues in Canada’s House of Commons. Given the preeminence of fighting climate change amongst both parties’ manifesto policies, we must expect them to present diametric opposition to oil and gas development. The 21 October election result has already contributed to a surge
Also in this section
19 January 2026
Newfound optimism is emerging that a dormant exploration frontier could become a strategic energy play and—whisper it quietly—Europe’s next offshore opportunity
16 January 2026
The country’s global energy importance and domestic political fate are interlocked, highlighting its outsized oil and gas powers, and the heightened fallout risk
16 January 2026
The global maritime oil transport sector enters 2026 facing a rare convergence of crude oversupply, record newbuild deliveries and the potential easing of several geopolitical disruptions that have shaped trade flows since 2022
15 January 2026
Rebuilding industry, energy dominance and lower energy costs are key goals that remain at odds in 2026
