Harper says Canada could have become an energy superpower over a decade ago, blames Trudeau's policy choices

OTTAWA — Former prime minister Stephen Harper said Canada lost its potential to become an energy superpower after he left office, blaming the policies of former prime minister Justin Trudeau, while congratulating Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government on its efforts to revive that opportunity.

“In 2015, Canada was poised to become that energy superpower,” said Harper, during the closing speech at the Canada Investment Summit in Toronto on Tuesday.

“Today, we are not. Why? Because of deliberate policy choices that followed over the next decade, but there is no point bemoaning what is past, especially because the opportunity of becoming that global energy superpower is fortuitously offering itself to us once again,” he added.

The former Conservative prime minister, who currently serves as chairman of the Alberta Investment Management Corporation and is co-founder of the investment fund Vision-One Management, congratulated Carney’s government on the measures it has taken to fast-track major projects, including in the oil sands.

Harper also referred to the government as “Canada’s new government,” which is a common refrain from Carney in an effort to distinguish himself from the policies of the Trudeau government.

Harper said more comprehensive reforms are needed to speed up Canada’s permitting processes, and believes Carney’s government is committed to further reforms.

“Ironically, if we do not do these things as a country, the Americans will continue to be our sole customers, and they will not lack the urgency that we have lacked here in Canada,” said Harper.

Harper said the U.S. administration views Canada’s economic integration as incompatible with our separate sovereignty.

“Thus, to maintain that sovereignty, we must pursue diminished reliance upon the United States,” he said. “There will be significant costs to this effort, but those are costs that I hope and believe Canadians are able and prepared to accept.”

Harper’s presence at the Liberal government’s investor summit raised some questions for Carney earlier Tuesday. Carney said he was “pleased” with Harper’s support.

“I’ve taken advice from Mr. Harper, I’ve taken advice from Mr. Chrétien, Mr. Trudeau, as I should in this role,” said Carney, during a press conference at the summit on Tuesday. “I’m pleased that he’s here supporting…this effort.”

Carney said like other former prime ministers, Harper is a Canadian patriot and is well positioned in the global investment landscape.

“I’m aware that…in his current role, he’s influential, and he’s influential with a number of investors and businesses around world, and it’s helpful for Canada,” said Carney. “So, I thank him for those contributions.”