John Ivison: Conservatives are suddenly torn between being pro-union and pro-development

Advertisement 1 This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Breadcrumb Trail Links HomeNP Comment John Ivison: Conservatives are suddenly torn between being pro-union and pro-development While the Liberals have thrown the NDP a lifeline with Bill C-39 by antagonizing organized labour, they've put Poilievre’s party in a box Author of the article: By John Ivison Published Sep 23, 2026 3 minute read Join the conversation Conservative Party of Canada leader Pierre Poilievre during Question Period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa Sept. 21, 2026. PHOTO BY BLAIR GABLE /National Post Article content The main talking point for Conservative MPs since the government tabled its omnibus economic bill, C-39, is that it’s all media bluster that will result in no projects being built. Article content Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre set the tone by saying that the last time the Liberals introduced “sweeping” legislation to speed up project approvals with Bill C-5, all that got built was a new government department — the Major Projects Office — that has yet to approve a single new pipeline or mining project. Article content RECOMMENDED VIDEOS Article content Article content “How many more times will (the media) hype up these government announcements that result in nothing?” he queried on social media. Article content Channel Israel Columnist Jesse Kline keeps you up to date with what’s happening in Israel and the effects of antisemitism on life here in Canada. Friday mornings. Sign Up By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Article content The line was taken up by the party’s new communications director, Micah Green, who complained that an interview with Andrew Scheer, where the Conservative House Leader claimed 500 projects are still awaiting federal approval, was not used on evening news broadcasts. Article content Scheer himself said it was proof of “more media bias” on display, which is not a million miles from President Donald Trump’s claim that some media outlets report “fiction and lies” when covering him. Article content “They write glowing propaganda for the Liberal PM, who subsidizes them with your money, and censors out the Conservative response,” Scheer said. Article content This was curious because I watched a nine-minute interview with Scheer on CBC’s Power and Politics. He also appeared on CTV…