The new Interim Leader of the Conservative Party of Canada says she was incredibly disappointed by the rejection of a major pipeline project by the American government last week.
Speaking to The West Block‘s Tom Clark over the weekend, Rona Ambrose said Canada’s energy sector had high hopes for the project, and job losses in Alberta in particular could accelerate now that the Keystone XL pipeline appears to be heading for the scrap heap.
Instead of a purely scientific and impartial assessment of the project, Ambrose said, what Canadians — and their American neighbours — got was a highly political debate.
“The overall storyline here, which is really troubling for the energy sector, is this idea of politics being injected into the approval process of a major, multi-billion dollar infrastructure access-to-market pipeline project,” Ambrose said.
“And that is a major problem for the industry.”
The Conservative caucus chose Ambrose as interim leader last Thursday using a ranked ballot. Seven other candidates had been vying for the position. Former leader Stephen Harper made a brief appearance at the first post-election caucus meeting, delivering a brief address before leaving the Centre Block through a back door. He made no comment to reporters.
Other Conservatives heading into the meeting were happy to chat, however, with some saying they feel the party needs a revitalization after nearly a decade in power.
READ MORE: Tory MPs unusually talkative as post-Harper era begins
Asked about her new role as interim leader, Ambrose said she hopes to strike a more conciliatory and constructive tone in the House of Commons as her caucus works to hold the new Liberal government to account.
“I feel that we can be strong without being nasty, and I think that we can be very substantive. And I do not support pettiness in politics,” she said.
“So I hope that I will bring a new tone and I hope that my caucus appreciates that. I think Canadians will appreciate that.”
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