Your vote and our natural resources
The world needs more energy, and Canada has it, Chris Bloomer writes
With strong views on both sides of the pipeline debate, now is the time for voters to consider how their decision could shape Canada’s energy future.
Every day, people across the country drive or commute to school and work, heat their homes, cook their food and enjoy the modern conveniences of life because of the movement of crude oil, fuel and natural gas — all enabled by a vast network of pipelines. In fact, transmission pipelines safely transport nearly all of Canada’s oil and natural gas to domestic and international markets. Even as Canada turns to more low-carbon energy sources, pipelines will play an increasingly important role here and around the world.
Economically, the reasons for this are hard to ignore. Transmission pipelines generate enormous economic benefits that every Canadian can count on — billions of dollars every year — for vital services like health care and education. The industry provides thousands of well-paying jobs and every year gives back millions of dollars to build better, stronger communities. These benefits are the result of an industry that has been a vital contributor to Canadian prosperity for decades.
Environmentally, as the world addresses climate change, Canada’s energy will be an important part of the solution. Global demand for reliable and affordable energy continues to rise and despite major growth in renewables, oil and natural gas will remain essential parts of the energy mix for decades. Natural gas, for example, will help power the movement away from fossil fuels and toward clean energy options, such as electrification. This change will take time and natural gas will be needed as a clean-burning supplement when that energy isn’t available in reliable supply. Petro-chemical products will also continue to be essential in new renewable energy production facilities, including solar and wind.
The ongoing demand for oil and gas will be met one way or another, but the energy should come from Canada, where our oil and gas resources are developed and transported under some of the strictest environmental and regulatory standards in the world. Where our industry is making operational changes and investing in new technologies to reduce emissions. And where companies have already reduced Canada’s oilsands emissions by 28 per cent since 2000, with further reductions expected.
With a resource base that is the envy of the globe, Canada is in a unique position to help lower global greenhouse gas emissions by providing our responsibly-produced products to countries that are still reliant on higher-emission energy sources.
But we need to move faster to capitalize on the growing demand for cleaner energy products like liquefied natural gas or LNG.
Right now, Canada is losing tens of millions of dollars daily due to a lack of pipeline capacity and limited access to tidewater. We need to be more competitive to attract investment dollars and we need new pipelines to ensure we get a fair market price for our resources. While the approval of the Trans Mountain expansion project and the development of LNG Canada and the Coastal Gaslink pipeline are steps in the right direction, these projects are only part of the solution.
Canada needs a clear vision and coherent plan for the country’s energy future and the role oil and gas will play in the energy mix. A balanced approach to environmental, social and economic considerations is critical to ensure Canada can continue to develop and transport our resources in the safest, most responsible way. Without a clear path forward, Canada is sending mixed messages that will continue to divert critical investment dollars from Canada to other countries that are more competitive.
These issues affect every single Canadian and should be carefully considered before we go to the polls. The world needs more energy, and Canada has it. Now is the time for our country to take ownership of its vast natural resources and the opportunities they provide for people here and around the world.