Natural Resources Minister Jim Carr is confident the increased energy export capacity the Trans Mountain and Line 3 pipelines afford Canada does not mean Ottawa will be quick to reject other projects under review.

In an interview on BNN, Carr said the federal government will continue to let the review process for TransCanada’s proposed Energy East pipeline play out on its own merit, instead of declaring Canada’s export infrastructure expansion fulfilled.

“My understanding is that TransCanada intends to continue through the process, the National Energy Board will be well-placed, Canadians will be given ample opportunity to express themselves, and after that process is over, the government of Canada will decide,” he said.

Carr said the federal government’s stance on the controversial Keystone XL pipeline remains unchanged, and Ottawa will be willing and able to support TransCanada if it decides to refile its application with the new U.S. administration.  

“Our position on Keystone XL is that we support the project,” he said. “We supported it in the first place, all of the approvals are in place north of the 49th parallel, and if the company wants to proceed, then we’ll be supportive.”