OTTAWA – Federal Energy Minister Tim Hodgson accused the Tories today of peddling conspiracy theories as they asked questions about who the Liberals are seconding to work at the government’s major projects office.
Conservative pipeline and energy critics Shannon Stubbs and Carol Anstey pressed the Liberals during question period to disclose which private sector companies have lent employees to the new office.
Hodgson responded three times to the questions, each time saying the Conservatives were focused on conspiracy theories rather than helping the government create jobs.
The government established the major projects office to oversee its agenda to speed up reviews for infrastructure proposals such as pipelines, transmission lines and ports.
MPs have been asking questions about possible conflicts within the major projects office for months, after the Globe and Mail first reported that the major projects office had seconded employees from Bay Street.
The federal government has said it has used an interchange program since 1971 to bring in private-sector employees with specific expertise, and reimburses their employers for part of their salaries.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 4, 2026.
