U.S. still covets Canada’s tarsands oil

Re Canada-U.S. trading no longer special, March 10 Thomas Walkom astutely outlines Canada’s changing relations with the U.S. But he’s wrong that “Americans no longer covet our oil.” The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) forecasts U.S. crude oil output to fall to 8.2 million barrels of oil per day (bpd) by 2017 from 9.4 million in 2015. Meanwhile, U.S. total liquid fuel consumption is forecast to rise by 250,000 bpd over the same period.

Canada is the largest source of U.S. petroleum imports (37 per cent) by far. Those imports are growing despite the rejection of the Keystone XL pipeline. Washington is intent that imports of Canadian oil grow so it can eliminate dependence on OPEC oil.

If Canada agrees to the continental “clean” energy strategy the three North American countries are secretly negotiating, Canada will likely be locked into our traditional role as drawers of carbon fuels and to continue expanding Alberta’s sands output.

The latter is Canada’s fastest growing source of greenhouse gases. Their rise will prevent Prime Minister Justin Trudeau from meeting his Paris climate promises. Gordon Laxer, author of After the Sands, Gravenhurst, Ont.

How do you spell Relief ?

Re Loud politics is the way to get a subway,

March 15 Bravo to Royson James for recognizing that a real, fact-based case made the extension of the Yonge subway to Richmond Hill a top Metrolinx priority since Day 1 in 2008. As commuters who ride those 2,500 buses and drive those crowded streets to the Finch lot, we have already suffered from decades of delay. Everyone needs relief on the Yonge Line — but don’t wait until the Relief Line is completed before starting on the North Yonge extension. These projects take years to finish, so start working on them now. Just get the timing right on completion dates so the Relief Line opens before the North Yonge extension opens. That will help meet everyone’s needs. Glenn Loney, Richmond Hill