PIPELINE PARANOIA
Granted, it’s not official NDP policy that Alberta’s massive oil reserves should stay in the ground, but it’s worrisome that Toronto- Centre candidate Linda McQuaig should say just that.
“Ms. McQuaig was not referring to NDP policy, rather she was referring to what one particular international report has said that might be necessary under Stephen Harper,” said the party’s natural resources critic, Malcolm Allen, after McQuaig — one of the party’s star candidates — made the damning remark Friday during a CBC television panel discussion.
Her statement might not square with NDP policy, but it’s reflective of an increasingly worrisome narrative in Canada — that instead of being a source of pride, the oilsands are something to be ashamed of. Nothing could be further from the truth, of course. The oilsands are the thirdlargest proven crude oil reserve in the world, according to the provincial government.
It’s extraordinary that someone like McQuaig could seek public office while holding such views about Canada’s energy sector. It is curious that there was no talk of mothballing Ontario’s automobile manufacturing industry, given that the bulk of energy greenhouse gas emissions are caused by the burning of fuel, not during extraction and processing. McQuaig is all too typical of an increasing number of Canadians who think they can enjoy transportation, computers and a warm home without actually producing energy. It’s an odd breed of naiveté that seems to be gaining ground — much like the notion that you can make an omelette without breaking a few eggs.
One of the projects that is being put forward to carry western oil to new markets is the Energy East pipeline. It’s running into opposition because of concern about greenhouse gas emissions. The pipeline would stretch 4,600 kilometres and carry approximately 1.1 million barrels of oil per day from Alberta and Saskatchewan to refineries and port terminals in Eastern Canada. The easternmost terminus is New Brunswick, where Irving Oil currently secures its supplies from a number of sources, including Saudi Arabia. It’s sad that people like McQuaig and some others, including provincial premiers, would apparently rather ship oil from Saudi Arabia, a country with a dodgy human rights record and laxer environmental regulations than Canada, than support a strong domestic energy industry.
McQuaid is not alone, of course. Kinder Morgan, which wants to expand its pipeline to Burnaby, B. C., has been compelled to cancel its advertising after an NDP MP claimed the messages were unfair during an election campaign.
Like it or not, energy is an issue during this election. It’s too bad some people are standing on the wrong side.