Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver sided with big oil, characterizing concerned communities and individuals who have signed up to take part in the democratic hearings examining Enbridge's controversial Northern Gateway pipeline as bogeymen. Over 4,000 people are registered to speak at the hearings, 79% are residents of British Columbia.

This disrespect for democracy and Joe Oliver’s preferential treatment of Big Oil marked the beginning of his marriage to big oil players such as Enbridge, Exxon, Shell, Total, and British Petroleum (BP).