Podcast: Calgary Liberal MP says feds working hard on affordability, but Alberta risks losing investment

Corey Hogan, Parliamentary Secretary to Tim Hodgson, Canada’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, spoke with rdnewsNOW this week on affordability measures the federal government is taking whilst the war in Iran rages on.

Hogan is a Liberal MP, one of three from Alberta, representing the riding of Calgary Confederation.

Hogan was asked about the uncertainty Canadians coast-to-coast are facing, and if he thinks it viable for Canada to slash its dependence on overseas oil, largely in the name of avoiding a spike in gas prices and other related issues during hypothetical future conflicts.

“We produce three times as much [oil] as we use, and there’s no shortage of supply, but what we have is a world that is thirsty for that product, and that is driving up the price globally,” said Hogan.

“While we want to make sure we’re working together as Canadians, the simple reality is production [domestically] is not what’s going to reduce costs; what’s going to reduce costs is resolving this war in the Middle East, and the global market coming back into balance.”

Meanwhile, the feds have suspended the national fuel excise tax, from April 20 to Sept. 7, giving Canadians an estimated $2.4 billion in tax relief.

Given how difficult it is to say if the war will be over by then, could Ottawa extend that suspension?

“It’s not crucial for it to be reinstated. It’s something we want to keep watching,” Hogan explains. “We want to respond to the moment we’re in, and it’s been pretty volatile, but we’re always going to look at ways we can support affordability.”

Hogan says Ottawa is working with provinces and producers to increase production, adding that every country in the International Energy Agency (IEA) should have reserves to handle these scenarios.

In Canada’s case, its ability to increase production means it plays a big part in market stabilization.

“We’re in the middle of doing that right now,” he says.

“Alberta and Canada are at record production in oil and gas, and that production provides us a buffer, but it doesn’t completely insulate us from the shocks of a global oil market. We’re working hard with the Government of Alberta to make sure we have further development, that we’ve got pipelines to tidewater, a functioning oil market, and that we’re getting the kind of investment we want to see.”

Hogan sees positive signs, including what he claims is the highest level of foreign direct investment in Canada in 18 years.

But will that continue to include Alberta? He touches on that later…

In the meantime, Canadians continue to feel the pressure of not just rising costs, but growing debt.

Hogan says he doesn’t blame anyone for feeling like things are falling apart globally, subsequently experiencing anxiety, stress, pessimism, or all of the above, because of the war’s growing impacts.

“For the last 18 months, wages have grown faster than inflation. There are still persistent areas of inflation, like groceries, but what we’re trying to do is make sure that ultimately, affordability continues to increase by growing wages and by keeping price spikes down,” he says.

“For individuals who haven’t seen that wage growth yet, one of the first acts of this government was a middle-class tax cut for 22 million Canadians. We’ve also made sure the Groceries and Essentials Benefit — the old GST benefit — is even bigger.”

Canadians will receive that benefit beginning this July.

Hogan is in the unique position of being a Liberal MP from Alberta, given how unenamoured so many Albertans are with the province’s treatment by Ottawa over the years.

And the prospect of a majority Liberal government, never mind a minority one, doesn’t sit well with many.

So does Hogan see the tension between the two decreasing, and what does he make of the raging debate around Alberta separatism?

“Nothing against the last guy [Justin Trudeau], but I wouldn’t have run for him. I ran for Mark Carney, who is an Albertan. He grew up here, he understands this province, and he understands economics,” he says.

“I’ve got my own grievances about the last 10 years and how some things have run, but this is a new government; I’m new, the minister is new, the Prime Minister is new, and we’re going to take pragmatic approaches.”

On tension easing, he says, “I think Premier [Danielle] Smith would say that too,” opining that Alberta’s relationship with Ottawa is the most constructive it’s been in a very long time.

And on separation, well, Hogan is fairly direct about the side of the fence on which he sits.

“I don’t need to be a Liberal to tell you, but as an Albertan, I don’t think too much of it. I understand people are looking for outlets for frustration, but I know Albertans are proud Canadians. We know that from polling, and from talking to our neighbours,” he says.

“At the end of the day, we all put on that jersey for Team Canada. There are more productive ways to resolve these things, and I’ve got to tell you, as somebody who does this job and has to go to Ottawa about half the year and meet with all sorts of people on all sorts of issues, global capital is taking notice and not in good ways.

“We’re starting to have way too many people come to us and say, ‘What’s with this Alberta separating thing? Why would I want to invest in that part of Canada?’ I hate to hear those things.”

Hogan says it doesn’t come down to just economics, but also about what ties us together – like having family members across the country.

“I do think it’s important Canadian politicians stand up and be firm about the benefits of this country, because as much as we might frustrate each other sometimes in Confederation, this country is still a family and we’ve done incredible things together.”

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Hear more of our conversation with Parliamentary Secretary Corey Hogan on the April 24, 2026 episode of The Everything Red Deer Podcast!

by Josh Hall | @Vancan19

Podcast: Calgary Liberal MP says feds working hard on affordability, but Alberta risks losing investment

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