Senator Gold: Thank you for the question. No, I do not acknowledge that. With all respect, Senator Housakos, that’s just a distortion of economic reality and a distortion of the facts.

This government has pursued a balanced policy, trying to steer a proper and sustainable course forward in terms of sustainable development of our energy sector and protection of our environment.

I will remind the honourable senator that some of the difficulties, especially with exporting natural gas to our European allies — a subject, by the way, which Minister Freeland addressed eloquently in her speech in Washington — were decisions made by our province in Quebec and other provinces who, rightly or wrongly, have felt it unacceptable for pipelines to be built in their jurisdictions.

That said, I am encouraged with developments in New Brunswick where there are discussions. The government is engaged with the proponents of a LNG receiving terminal in New Brunswick by the Spanish energy company Repsol. This government is committed to do what it can to help its allies. It is committed to doing what it can to provide a sustainable and dynamic energy sector.

I simply do not accept the basic premise of your question, as I have tried to explain.