Harper Says He Aims to Speed Canada Energy Regulatory Approvals

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper said he will seek to expedite the regulatory process for new energy projects, as the country aims to diversify its exports of oil.

Harper, speaking to reporters in Edmonton, Alberta, said it’s “essential” for the country to build the capacity to sell the country’s energy to Asia. Harper said he will look more closely into complaints that “foreign money” is being used to “overload” the regulatory process.

“We have to have processes in Canada that come to a decision in a reasonable amount of time, and processes that cannot be hijacked,” Harper said. “The government of Canada will be taking a close look at how we can ensure our regulatory processes are effective and deliver decisions in a reasonable amount of time.”

Canada will begin hearings next week on a proposed pipeline by Enbridge Inc. (ENB) to ship crude from Alberta’s oil sands to British Columbia. Harper declined to comment on that specific project.

To contact the reporter on this story: Theophilos Argitis in Ottawa at targitis@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Paul Badertscher at pbadertscher@bloomberg.net