Singh Prioritizes Clean Electricity, Employment Changes in Energy Plan

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh Prioritizes Clean Electricity Network

he prioritizes an east-west clean electricity network over new pipelines. While not completely shutting the door on pipelines, Singh emphasizes strict criteria for their approval. These criteria include community acceptance, environmental protection, good job creation, and adherence to Indigenous consultation requirements.

"We're open to projects if they meet those criteria," Singh stated. "The project I'm really excited about is an east-west energy grid, but we're open to other projects as well."

This focus on clean energy stems from the current threat of American tariffs on Canadian exports, including a 10% levy on energy products like oil. Singh believes an east-west clean electricity grid, first proposed during the 2019 election campaign, would offer a solution.

"Imagine the climate we could create, the business climate, the manufacturing climate ... if we connected the cheap, low-cost, clean electricity from jurisdictions like Manitoba, like B.C. and Quebec, and connected that across the country," Singh said.

In addition to the clean electricity grid, Singh proposes changes to employment insurance and an expansion of the work-sharing program. This program allows employers to temporarily reduce worker hours instead of cutting jobs, with EI supplementing the reduced pay. Singh aims to increase EI benefits for participants, expand eligibility, and remove the waiting period for benefits.

Other politicians vying for the prime minister position have also presented their energy market expansion plans. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre supports an east-west pipeline and simplified resource project approvals. Liberal leadership candidate Chrystia Freeland aims to make Canada an "energy superpower" by expanding hydro power and liquefied natural gas exports. Former MP Frank Baylis, another Liberal leadership contender, proposes establishing two pipeline corridors for transporting liquefied natural gas to Asian and European markets.