A reality Check – Defending Canadian Oil & Gas

Canada’s Prime Minister and his activist Cabinet need a strong dose of reality. Pandering to their personal global elite friends will have devastating ramifications on Canada’s economy, families, and jobs.

Trudeau’s announcement at COP26 in Scotland to cap oil and gas emissions as well as his appointment of an eco-activist as Environment Minister leaves no doubt Canadian energy is under attack by our own government.

Every Canadian must understand the critical role Alberta energy has on our lives, our economy and our standard of living.

When it comes to development of natural resources, Canada imposes the most stringent regulatory, environmental and human rights standards in the world. According to data from the Government of Canada’s 2019 National Inventory Report, Canada’s oil sands per barrel greenhouse gas emissions have fallen 34 per cent since 1990, an incredible success story of innovation and commitment.

Canadians rightfully have important questions for Trudeau regarding this announcement.

Will the emissions cap also apply to the 750,000 barrels of oil imported into Eastern Canada from places like Saudi Arabia, Nigeria and Venezuela? Countries with no environmental, human rights or labour standards whatsoever.

Will this cap on emissions also apply to the cement industry in Quebec? According to Environment and Climate Change Canada the GHG intensity of the mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction sector in Canada used 62.7 tonnes of CO2e per TJ of energy used and dropping. In contrast, cement production uses 73.1 tonnes of CO2e per TJ of energy used. Will the cap apply to the auto industry in Ontario? Again, according to Environment and Climate Change Canada we account for 1.6% of global emissions and 11% of that is from the oil and gas sector compared to transportation which accounts for 26%.

How will fossil fuels be replaced to heat homes, fuel vehicles and power our economy?

Here is a reality check. According to Gridwatch, six per cent of Ontario’s energy is coming from wind, solar and biofuels combined. What is the plan to replace the remaining 94% which comes from traditional fuels like nuclear and natural gas?

The fact is, even if Canadian oilsands were entirely shut down, 80% of Canadian emissions would be burned by cars and trucks, using fuel processed from countries with lower environmental standards, multiple human rights abuses and harmfully increasing global emissions compared to Canadian oil and gas.

This is not just an Alberta issue. Alberta oil and gas supports more than 1,000 Ontario businesses and more than 500,000 Canadian jobs. Canadian construction companies, manufacturing and technology firms, hospitals and schools all benefit from Alberta oil and gas. Canada’s energy sector accounts for more than 10% of nominal Gross Domestic Product and government revenues from energy was nearly $18 billion in 2018.

The contributions from energy development to our country cannot be overstated.
When it comes to reducing emissions Canada is not the problem. In fact, it offers the solution.

Here is how the Prime Minister can position Canada to take a leadership role in global environmental policy

First, leverage Canada’s world-class innovations and resources like carbon capture a storage and LNG. Export our technology, our skilled labour and our resources to displace “dirty” energy being used in other parts of the world.

Second, develop utility corridors across Canada to ensure our products like natural gas and hydro-electricity can be exported to other jurisdictions in Canada and around the world. This nation-building project would help unite Canada and reduce emissions. Canada should be energy self-sufficient and not hauling oil and gas by train or trucks.

Third, put your money where your mouth is. Under the Liberal government, greenhouse gas emissions increased three percent despite implementing harmful bills like C-69 and C-48. Therefore, immediately stop importing oil from authoritarian regimes with no environmental or human rights standards.

Fourth, stop ignoring the reality that significant harm is done to the environment by polluting our waterways. The government must get serious and ban municipalities like Montreal and Victoria from dumping raw sewage into the waterways.

If the fight really is about climate change and emissions reductions, then these opponents of Canadian energy and pipelines would be speaking the truth. The truth is in Canada we do it better, safer and cleaner than anybody else in the world.

Unfortunately, this is not about climate change or reducing emissions, because if it were the Liberals would be a proud champion of Canadian energy and implement these suggestions instead of stoking the alienation of Alberta.