Ottawa's big test: energy politics

Natural Resources Minister Jim Carr is dispelling the idea that all Indigenous groups in Canada are united against pipelines after a group of First Nations in Canada and the United States signed a treaty opposing new projects.

"If you put the mayors of major cities in British Columbia and Alberta in a room you'd probably not get consensus and you'd certainly not get unity. If you put the premiers in a room talking about these energy projects there would be a difference of opinion. So too, no doubt, there will be a difference of opinion in Indigenous communities," Jim Carr told The House.

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• Canadian First Nations, U.S. tribes form alliance to stop oil pipelines

On Thursday, 50 North America First Nationssigned the Treaty Alliance Against Tar Sands Expansion to oppose building more pipelines to carry crude from Alberta's oil sands. The targets include files Carr's offices is reviewing, including pipelines proposed by Kinder Morgan Inc, TransCanada Corp and Enbridge Inc.

Carr says there are otherIndigenous communities "who have spotted opportunity" in natural resource development.

The House10:57Jim Carr faces a busy fall

The federal government has several key decisions to make regarding pipeline projects. Natural Resources Minister Jim Carr joins us to explain what his government is planing.

Rachel Notleynot concerned over NEB setbacks

Alberta Premier Rachel Notley says the fact that three members of the National Energy Board's panel on the proposed Energy East pipeline stepped down amid protests and controversy shows the process is credible.

The members' decision to step down came amid reports two of them met with former Quebec premier Jean Charest while he was working for TransCanada, the company heading the Energy East project.

• Energy East pipeline's chances of being built doubted after panel quits

"Yes, it delays the process but it means they're being responsive. And I think that if we are going to have a process that maintains its credibility and withstands scrutiny once a decision is ultimately made then where concerns are raised about the credibility of the process, you need to give them genuine attention," she told The House.

"What you're seeing is a more generalized interest in ensuring the process is transparent and respects the rule of law."

Notley, whose province stands to gain economically if TransMountain, Northern Gateway and the Energy East pipeline projects are approved, says just because some groups strongly oppose pipelines doesn't mean she'll stop trying to sell their merits.

"Those players in our political system who suggest that, 'Oh well you introduced your climate change leadership plan at this point and everybody hasn't completely changed their mind on this matter the next day,' are, I think, playing politics and not understanding the way these kinds of conversations rollout in a country as complicated and democratic and ours," she told The House.

The House10:39Rachel Notley's pipeline expectations

Alberta premier Rachel Notley talks about her approach to the pipeline debate.

Kathleen Wynne concerned how tightly health accord 'strings are tied'

Ontario Premier KathleenWynnesays she's not opposed to the government attaching strings to new funding in the forthcoming health care accord, it just depends on how restrictive they are.

• Kathleen Wynne booed at International Plowing Matc
• Ottawa favours targeted health-care spending over increased transfer to provinces

Targeted funding, an idea floated by federal Health Minister Jane Philpott, could act as a stumbling block in the new multi-year health accord negotiationsas some provinces try to hold on to theirautonomy.

"There is a basket of issues that we need to be able to agree on and so having a reasonable expectation that increases would go into those areasI thinkis absolutely acceptable, but it's going to depend on exactly how tightly those strings are tied," Wynne told The House.

During the premiers' meeting in the Yukon this summer, British Columbia Premier Christy Clark was open to the federal government identifying a specific use for additional funding,but Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard heartily disagrees.

"We know what to do. We know what should be done. We need the means to do it better," he said.

The House12:18Kathleen Wynne concerned how tightly health accord 'strings are tied'

Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne discusses ongoing climate change and health negotiations.

McNeillooking for "Nova Scotia" solution on climate change

While he's already voiced his opposition to a national carbon tax before, Nova Scotia premier Stephen McNeil is "encouraged" with the way discussions with Ottawa have been unfolding.

McNeil's concerns come from the fact thatNova Scotia has met the federal government's goal of reducing greenhouse gasemissions by 30 per cent of 2005 levels beforethe2030 deadline.That is ahead of any other province.

"We've done a lot of work ourselves and we expect that to be recognized," he told The House.

• Nova Scotia carbon tax would mean higher power bills, researcher says

"We're prepared to work with them to find a Nova Scotia solution that they can live me," he said."We're still having conversations about it, I've been encouraged by it."

The House7:38McNeil looking for "Nova Scotia" solution on climate change

Nova Scotia premier Stephen McNeil says he's 'encouraged' by the discussions he's having with Ottawa on crafting a climate change plan.

In House panel: The Liberals' expenses problem

The Conservatives came back to Parliament Hill this week ready to hammer the government over some of their expenses.

One of the results was that two of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's most trusted advisers are repaying more than $65,000 in "unreasonable" expensesafter the Liberal government controversiallyapproved $207,052.11 to cover the cost of moving the pair from Toronto to Ottawa.

In House panelists Susan DelacourtandJol-Denis Bellavance discuss how the Liberals have been handling the controversy.

The House8:24In House - Expenses politics

Susan Delacourt and Joel-Denis Bellavance assess how the Liberals have been handling questions about some of their expenses.