In his first visit to Calgary since taking office, Prime Minister Mark Carney met privately with more than two dozen leaders from Canada’s oil and gas industry to explore ways to strengthen partnerships and advance his government’s vision of making Canada a global energy superpower.
The closed-door roundtable, held Sunday morning at the Harry Hays Building, brought together top executives from across the sector, including Michael Rose (Tourmaline Oil), Kendall Dilling (Pathways Alliance), Nancy Southern (ATCO), John Whelan (Imperial Oil), and Jon McKenzie (Cenovus Energy). Carney was accompanied by key federal cabinet members including Energy Minister Tim Hodgson, Minister of Emergency Management Eleanor Olszewski, and Dominic LeBlanc, the minister responsible for Canada-U.S. trade relations.
Before the media was asked to leave the room, the Prime Minister delivered brief opening remarks thanking attendees for their contributions and engagement.
“Thank you for convening on a Sunday morning and for everything you’ve been doing to help build our country, build our economy, and build a future,” Carney said. “Given the importance of the issues, I believed it was essential to meet in person rather than continue exchanging letters.”
The meeting follows a joint letter signed by 38 Canadian energy CEOs congratulating Carney on his April 28 election victory and proposing policy reforms to accelerate growth. The energy leaders called for the repeal of the federal industrial carbon pricing system, the removal of the emissions cap on oil and gas, and changes to the Impact Assessment Act and the Oil Tanker Moratorium Act to improve regulatory certainty.
Carney reaffirmed his campaign promise to adopt a “one project, one review” approach for major energy infrastructure proposals and expressed openness to provincial-led environmental assessments. His government is also considering regulatory streamlining to attract private investment while meeting climate obligations.
“Partnership is a theme for our discussion this morning,” Carney emphasized. “The world is more divided and dangerous than ever. The imperative of making Canada an energy superpower—in all respects—has never been greater. We will do everything possible at the federal level to support these partnerships.”
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, speaking on her weekend radio show, noted that while pipelines were not explicitly mentioned in the recent Throne Speech, she interpreted references to “conventional energy” as inclusive of oil, gas, and pipeline infrastructure. She praised Carney’s willingness to engage with provinces and expressed hope for a one-on-one meeting during the upcoming First Ministers Conference in Saskatoon.
In addition to energy policy, Carney took time during the visit to thank first responders and volunteers supporting wildfire evacuations in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta, calling their efforts “essential” and pledging continued federal coordination.
“It’s early in the fire season, and while things are stable for now, we remain vigilant. We are committed to doing everything we can—with partners—to protect Canadians,” he stated.
As the federal government prepares to roll out key legislative changes related to emissions and project approvals, Carney’s Calgary visit signals a renewed emphasis on dialogue, pragmatism, and energy sector cooperation.