The Bridge with Peter Mansbridge Moore Butts Encore - Why Are Pipelines So Hard To Build?
Jan 1, 2026
James Moore, a former Canadian cabinet minister, and Gerald Butts, a seasoned political advisor, dive into the complexities of pipeline construction in Canada. They discuss a new MOU between Alberta and Ottawa, but highlight historical opposition rooted in Indigenous rights and environmental concerns. Moore critiques political opportunism as a barrier to building projects, while Butts connects pipeline debates to Canada's national identity. Both emphasize the importance of empathy and political courage in reconciling competing interests.
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Why Pipelines Trigger Deep Regional Conflict
- Pipelines are hard because extracting resources in one place benefits different jurisdictions unevenly across routes and endpoints.
- That mismatch creates political, economic and regional conflicts that persist across Canadian history.
Multiple Fault Lines Make Agreement Hard
- Opposition to pipelines arises from multiple fault lines: economic, legal, cultural and political concerns can all justify saying no.
- Complex projects invite many reasons to oppose them, which makes national consensus rare.
CEO Predicted Pipeline Purchase Would Be Framed Negatively
- After the Trudeau government bought Trans Mountain, an energy CEO warned people would say the purchase was meant to shut the pipeline down.
- That prediction proved true and highlights how actions are quickly reframed politically.