PM Suggests Policy Could Change Based on Emissions Progress

Prime Minister Mark Carney signaled Friday that his government may reconsider the planned emissions cap on oil and gas producers, saying its future “depends” on other national efforts to cut greenhouse gases — a marked departure from his earlier commitment to keep it in place.

Speaking to reporters in Ottawa, Carney said his government is focused on results, not rigid targets, suggesting that if other sectors make sufficient progress, the oil and gas cap could be reassessed.

“In order to satisfy all those conditions, it depends on what's done. What this government is interested in is results, not objectives,” Carney said.

The emissions cap, set to take effect in 2030, requires upstream oil and gas operations to reduce emissions to 35 per cent below 2019 levels. Draft regulations were tabled last year, two years later than planned.

Balancing Climate Goals and Industry Pressure

Under the Paris Climate Accord, Canada is committed to reducing emissions by 40 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030 and achieving net-zero by 2050.

Carney’s comments represent a more cautious tone, especially as his government faces growing pressure from Alberta’s UCP government and oil executives calling for the repeal of the emissions cap and the tanker ban off B.C.’s coast.

The oil and gas sector accounts for roughly 30 per cent of Canada’s total greenhouse gas emissions and remains the only major sector where emissions have continued to rise.

A recent Canadian Climate Institute report found emissions from oil and gas rose 1.9 per cent last year, offsetting reductions made elsewhere.

‘Grand Bargain’ Talks with Alberta

Carney confirmed he is in ongoing discussions with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, who has urged Ottawa to repeal environmental restrictions she calls “bad laws.”

The two leaders have been exploring what Smith has described as a “grand bargain” — a potential deal linking Alberta’s desire for a new West Coast pipeline to the completion of the Pathways Alliance carbon capture project.

“This government believes in nation-building projects,” Carney said, adding that any pipeline proposal must have economic benefits, align with climate goals, and support Indigenous participation.

Smith has said she hopes to finalize a framework by mid-November, while Carney hinted that Ottawa remains open to “constructive proposals.”

Interprovincial Tensions Over Resource Development

The debate has reignited tensions between Alberta and British Columbia, as B.C. Premier David Eby warned that repealing the tanker ban could jeopardize community support for future coastal projects.

Eby said the ban helps maintain a “fragile consensus” around sustainable development, while Smith called his comments “un-Canadian and unconstitutional.”

Energy Minister Tim Hodgson told the Senate this week that while Ottawa supports pipeline expansion “in principle,” Alberta and B.C. must find common ground before any new projects can proceed.

Future of the Keystone XL Revival

In a separate development, Carney raised the possibility of reviving the Keystone XL pipeline during his meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington earlier this week.

The proposal would link the pipeline’s return to U.S. tariff relief on Canadian steel and aluminum, though critics say the plan is unrealistic without changes to the emissions cap.

Conservative MP Andrew Scheer told reporters, “It doesn’t matter if you can build a pipeline if you can’t put anything through it.”

The Syilx Okanagan Nation in British Columbia has denied issuing a cease and desist letter that claims to protect a controversial ostrich farm facing a federal cull order, calling the document fraudulent and deeply concerning.

The letter, allegedly shared with RCMP by representatives of the Universal Ostrich Farm in Edgewood, B.C., claimed to place the farm “under the protection of the Secwepemc and Syilx Tribal people.” However, the Syilx Okanagan Nation’s Chiefs Executive Council said in a statement that it “can confirm definitively that it was not issued by our Nation.”

“Moreover, the claimed signatory appears to resemble the name of the Premier of Manitoba, Wab Kinew, raising serious concerns about the letter’s authenticity,” the statement read.

The council condemned anyone falsely invoking the Nation’s name or authority, calling it a serious misuse of Indigenous identity for private or political purposes.

Ostrich Farm Dispute Over CFIA Cull

The controversy stems from a Canada Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) order to cull over 300 ostriches at the Edgewood farm after an avian flu outbreak in December killed 69 birds.

The farm, co-owned by David Bilinski and Karen Espersen, has drawn hundreds of supporters — including figures linked to the Freedom Convoy movement — who have called the cull government overreach.

Farm spokesperson Katie Pasitney, daughter of one of the owners, claimed earlier that “signatory Indian tribes” had ordered protection of the land and ostriches. When informed that the Syilx leadership had denied involvement, Pasitney insisted, “That’s wrong,” but declined to speak further on record.

Experts Warn of Indigenous Identity Appropriation

Hayden King, executive director of the Yellowhead Institute at Toronto Metropolitan University, said the case reflects a broader trend of non-Indigenous movements appropriating Indigenous identities and values to legitimize their actions.

“More conservative or conspiratorial movements are using Indigenous values to validate their positions,” King said. “It’s a self-interested attempt to claim credibility through tokenism.”

King added that while some Indigenous individuals might align with populist causes, most communities are “critical thinkers who can distinguish genuine solidarity from exploitation.”

No Record of ‘Secwepemc Signatory Tribe’

CBC Indigenous was unable to locate any recognized First Nation known as the “Secwepemc Signatory Tribe,” the entity referenced in the cease and desist letter.

The Shuswap Nation Tribal Council, which represents nine Secwepemc communities, confirmed it had not issued any statement on the matter.

Broader Implications for Indigenous Representation

The Syilx Okanagan Nation said it will continue to monitor the situation and warned that misrepresentation of Indigenous governance undermines legitimate efforts toward reconciliation and sovereignty.

“We condemn, in the strongest possible terms, any organization or individual who falsely invokes our Nation’s name to advance their own agenda,” the Chiefs Council stated.

The Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) announced Thursday evening that it will move from its nationwide strike to rotating local strikes starting Saturday at 6 a.m., local time.

The union says the shift will allow mail and parcels to begin moving again while keeping pressure on the corporation and the federal government amid ongoing negotiations.

“We did not take the decision to move to a nation-wide strike lightly,” the unionsaid. “Postal workers would much rather have new collective agreements and be delivering mail instead of taking strike action.”

Talks Continue with Federal Government

CUPW met Wednesday with Joël Lightbound, the federal minister responsible for Canada Post, to discuss concerns over the government’s proposed overhaul of postal operations. The union said another meeting with Lightbound’s office is scheduled for next week.

Among the proposed changes are:

• The gradual end of door-to-door mail delivery for most Canadian households within a decade

• Reduced delivery frequency

• Potential closures of local post offices

CUPW has described these measures as “an attack on public service”, saying the government is overstepping in the bargaining process.

Canada Post Responds

Canada Post has welcomed the switch to rotating strikes, saying it will help clear backlogs and deliver essential mail while discussions continue. The corporation has faced mounting financial challenges and said operational reform is necessary for long-term survival.

CUPW, however, says the employer has consistently “chipped away at postal services and good jobs,” and vowed to continue pressing for fair contracts and stable employment conditions.

The union first declared a nationwide strike on September 25, hours after the government announced its new postal framework.

Ottawa Extends Relief for TR to PR Applicants

The Government of Canada has extended the deadline for open work permit applications under the temporary resident to permanent resident (TR to PR) pathway until December 31, 2026.

The policy, originally introduced in 2021 to help temporary residents maintain legal status while waiting for permanent residence, allows applicants to work in any occupation and for any employer during the processing period.

According to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), the extension aims to reduce administrative backlogs, prevent permit renewals, and support family reunification by expanding eligibility to include family members abroad.

What the Extension Means

Individuals who applied for permanent residence under the TR to PR pathway in 2021 or 2022 can continue working legally in Canada while their files are processed.

Those who already hold an open work permit under the policy can extend it until the end of 2026. The government says the decision is intended to provide stability for both workers and employers, while reinforcing Canada’s long-term strategy for labour market retention.

Background

The TR to PR pathway was launched on July 4, 2021, offering a route to permanent residence for essential workers, international graduates, and French-speaking applicants already residing in Canada.

A replacement public policy was introduced in April 2022, effective June 6, 2022, to streamline open work permits for applicants awaiting their PR decision.

The federal government says the latest extension will ensure “continuous employment authorization” for eligible candidates and their dependents, reducing disruptions for both workers and Canadian employers.

Key Dates

• Original TR to PR work permit policy: July 4, 2021

• Replacement policy signed: April 21, 2022

• New deadline: December 31, 2026

A Quebec court judge is expected to rule this morning on whether to redact parts of the evidence in the closely watched economic espionage case involving a former Hydro-Québec employee.

The decision will determine if details of the prosecution and defence arguments can be made public when the trial of Yuesheng Wang begins later this month. Hydro-Québec has asked the court to shield certain documents, arguing that their disclosure could reveal commercial or technical secrets tied to its research and energy projects.

Wang, 38, was arrested in 2022 and is the first person in Canada charged with economic espionage under the Security of Information Act. The former researcher, who worked at Hydro-Québec’s energy storage and battery materials division, faces allegations that he obtained or attempted to obtain trade secrets for the benefit of the People’s Republic of China.

He has pleaded not guilty to all charges, which include fraudulent use of a computer, breach of trust, and fraudulently obtaining trade secrets. In 2024, prosecutors added two further counts: committing preparatory acts on behalf of a foreign entity and informing that entity of his intentions.

Hydro-Québec said internal security systems first detected irregularities, prompting an internal probe and immediate termination of Wang’s access. The RCMP later alleged that the employee used his position to conduct research of strategic value to foreign interests.

The upcoming ruling on the utility’s motion could set an important precedent for how Canadian courts handle corporate confidentiality and national security in espionage cases. Arguments on the motion are themselves under a publication ban.

The trial, to be heard by Judge Jean-Philippe Marcoux, is expected to last about four weeks. If convicted, Wang would face penalties under both the Security of Information Act and the Criminal Code.

The Hydro-Québec case comes amid rising concern over foreign interference and intellectual property theft in Canada’s high-tech and energy sectors. For prosecutors and defence lawyers alike, the first challenge will be balancing transparency, trade secrecy, and national security as the proceedings begin.