By Canadian Press

Energy, economy, land rights face Trudeau as House of Commons returns

Feb 18, 2020 | 8:42 AM

OTTAWA — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau returns to a House of Commons eager to debate his government’s policies on the economy, energy, climate change and reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples after a week away.

The NDP is asking Commons Speaker Anthony Rota for an emergency debate on anti-pipeline blockades that have shut down swaths of the country’s train system and interrupted traffic on highways and bridges for more than a week.

The blockades are in support of Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs who oppose a natural gas pipeline that crosses the First Nation’s traditional territory in northern British Columbia.

Trudeau’s cabinet also has to decide whether to approve a major new oilsands mine called the Teck Frontier project, which a couple of weeks ago seemed to be the government’s biggest headache.

The mine would emit megatonnes of climate-changing greenhouse-gas emissions over its lifespan, but Alberta Premier Jason Kenney warns that nixing it would raise “roiling western alienation to a boiling point.”

Court proceedings

'The impact of this trauma will echo for generations': court case surrounding La Ronge woman's death reaches conclusion

15h ago

Going Global

P.A.'s Zablocki named to Team Canada for U18 Women's World Championships

15h ago

Election 2024

Birch Hills staff won't share election decision

16h ago

A decision on the Teck Frontier project is due by the end of the month.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 18, 2020.

The Canadian Press