Bloc Leader Blanchett ‘Fiercely Opposed' to Any Pipelines Crossing Quebec

Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet speaks in the foyer of the House of Commons following a vote in the House on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Oct. 2, 2024. The Canadian Press/Spencer Colby

The Bloc Québécois is “fiercely opposed” to any projects like Energy East that would see pipelines run through Quebec, the party’s leader says.

Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet has rejected the idea of reviving the Energy East oil pipeline that would convey crude oil from Alberta through six provinces to an export terminal situated in Saint John, N.B.

“We are fiercely opposed to any type of transport on Quebec territory of hydrocarbons from Western Canada to any market whatsoever,” he told reporters in French during a Feb. 6 press conference. “It does not serve Quebec. It does not serve the environment. It does not serve the planet.”

Blanchet also said potential U.S. tariffs can’t be used as an excuse to ignore green initiatives.

“The sacrifice of interests in green energies that make Quebec rich and that are a contribution to environmental issues, which are suddenly being pushed aside from the public debate to say, ‘we are in crisis,’” Blanchet said. “What a great opportunity to bypass Quebec considerations and ecological considerations.”

He also stated his opposition to a potential liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal near Saguenay, referring to the potential project as a “zombie that was never really alive.”

Blanchet’s comments come at a time when the Quebec government says it would be open to reviving the LNG project to ship energy from Alberta overseas.

Quebec’s decision not to authorize GNL Québec Inc.’s proposed liquefaction facility and export terminal in 2021 was subsequently echoed by Ottawa in 2022, with both governments citing concerns regarding environmental impacts.

U.S. President Donald Trump’s threats to impose tariffs on Canadian energy may have changed Quebec’s stance on the project, however.

Quebec Environment Minister Benoit Charette said this week he is “not closed” to energy projects as long as they meet environmental protection standards.

Pipeline Support

Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith have been calling on Ottawa to back the long-stalled Energy East pipeline initiative—a project they say is crucial in preparing the nation to handle potential tariffs imposed by Trump.

The majority of Canada’s oil and gas exports go to the United States. Houston and Smith have said that kind of reliance on the U.S. leaves Canada vulnerable to any tariffs the country puts on Canadian energy. A pipeline would bolster the economy by giving Canada the opportunity to export its oil to international markets, they said.

The 4,600-kilometre pipeline was first proposed in 2013 but  was shelved by TC Energy just four years later, citing regulatory barriers.

Quebec Premier François Legault recently said there was “no social acceptability” in his province for the revival of the project. He noted, however, this position could be reassessed should Trump tariffs justify such a change.

The lack of support from Blanchet and Legault appears to counter the wishes of the majority of Quebec’s residents, however.

A recent survey from Angus Reid found that 47 percent of the Quebec residents who took part in the poll agreed that Canada needs a coast-to-coast pipeline, while 27 percent “strongly agreed.” Twenty-two percent of Quebecers polled disagreed and only 4 percent strongly disagreed.