Time to 'push back' against federal government, Conservative leaders say at Sask. pro-pipeline rally

The battleground for pipelines and the oil and gas industry was set in Moosomin, Sask., on Saturday, as the federal Conservative Leaderblasted Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for his handling of the energy file.

"His attack on Canada's energy sector is by design. It's on purpose," Andrew Scheer told the audience gathered for the pro-pipeline rally, also attended by SaskatchewanPremier Scott Moe, New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs and Conservative Senator Denise Batters.

"This is the one area where he's doing exactly what he said would do."

Trudeau has spokenabout transitioning Canada away from fossil fuels. Scheer says, if he becomes prime minister, he would promote Canadian oil and gas.

"I will travel around the world promoting Canadians' energy sector, as a source of ethical and responsible and sustainable energy around the world," he promised, to cheers from the audience.

The federal government had bought the Trans Mountain pipeline in order to make progress on a stalled project, but a Supreme Court blocked further progress, rulingthat Canada's efforts tomeaningfully consult with Indigenous people, as required by law,fell short.

Scheerdid not address how he will deal with the Supreme Court ruling, but criticized Trudeau for overpaying for the pipeline by $1 billion.

"Justin Trudeau paid more than the sticker price for a pipeline that he can't even build," he charged.

• Ottawa may have overpaid for Trans Mountain by up to $1B, parliamentary budget officer says

Scheer had set the stage for Saturday's pro-pipeline appearance with an appearance in Saskatoon on Friday night, talking about the need to build pipelines.

"We know that the best way to transport that energy, the most environmentally friendly way, taking oil and gas off of rail cars, is to build pipelines," Scheer said, while speaking in Saskatoon on Friday, one day before news of a derailment of a train carrying crude oil in Manitoba.

• 'You can smell crude in the air': Train carrying oil derails near western Manitoba village

"We need a government that has a plan to get them built through the private sector by providing certainty and clarity in approvals process and that's what my plan will do."

Scheer said his plan, if he is to become prime minister in this year's election, would be to repeal a carbon tax and repeal Bill C-69, which he argues muddies the approval process for pipelines. Bill C-69 provides a process for assessing the environmental, health, social and economic effects of pipeline and otherprojects.

Instead, these pipelines need to be declared in the national interest, because of the benefits they confer to every single region, said Scheer.

"And come October, after forming government, we will start to clean up the mess that [Trudeau's] left us," he promised the crowd.

Moe also took to the stage, saying the strength of the audience on a frigid February day spoke volumes about their frustration with the downtrodden oil and gassector.

"For far too long, this conversation has been dominated by those who disapprove of how you and myself and and our neighbours in this province make a living in our communities," he said, adding the federal government was simply not listening to people whose livelihoods depended on sectors like oil and gas and mining.

"The moment has come in the nation of Canada. It's time for us to begin to push back and we need to push back pretty hard."

Moosomineconomy driven by energy

The rally was organized byMoosomin Economic Development, with Moe saying that the southern Saskatchewan town of about 2,500 people was among the communities that depended on a thriving oil and gasindustry.

• TransCanada pulls plug on Energy East pipeline

• Energy East's cause of death: Business, politics or climate?

A news release indicates "Moosominwould have played a part in the cancelled Energy East projectwith a 1,050,000 barrel tank farm planned for the Moosomin Compressor Station and a feeder pipeline from Cromer, Man.,to the Moosomin Compressor Station, both part of the Energy East plan."