FELDSTED: Without rational resource development and the investments, we are condemning ourselves and our children to steadily increasing costs of living and a steadily declining standard of living
Quebec paves way for oil, gas exploration with new plan … drawing criticism from environmental, aboriginal
and citizen groups
Bloomberg
News / Montreal Gazette ~~ December 12, 2016
Christopher Curtis / Montreal Gazette ~~ December 5, 2016
Not many
people realize that in 2016, while Quebec civic and provincial politicians were
expressing strong opposition to the Energy East pipeline project, the Quebec
government was approving a plan to expand its oil and gas production and
pipeline construction – including a new tanker loading facility.
Which leads
me to comment, “Lack of a coherent plan
for approval and construction of resource development projects in the national
interest is inexcusable.”
We are a
confederation of provinces with equal stature, powers and responsibilities not
a conglomeration of competing rivals.
The French
Province of Canada, and later the northern colonies in British North America,
were colonized and grew as a source of desired resources. Canada was formed
through a confederation of provinces, in part for mutual protection of
provinces against the threat of American invasion, and in part because the
government of the province of Canada formed in 1840 was ungovernable. The
eastern and western sectors (now Ontario and Quebec) could not agree on the
time of day and no political leader could attract sufficient support from both
entities to form a majority government.
We are
back-sliding into this conundrum with cities and municipalities who have no
constitutional authority over anything trying to get into the act. There is no
clear thinking, no common sense, no rationale and no leadership. The whole
notion that the City of Burnaby and the Province of British Columbia are
embarked on a noble crusade by opposing the Trans Mountain pipeline is
nonsense.
Provinces
do not appear to have any constitutional jurisdiction over the environment. It
is not enumerated in the classes of provincial jurisdiction and thus become a
federal matter.
Yes, provinces
have the right to enact laws respecting development of resources within the
province, but that does not extend to resources developed elsewhere. We
desperately need one federal law dealing with the environmental issues, and
overriding all provincial and municipal law. We cannot allow a multitude of
environmental laws to restrict investment in, and development of, our
resources. The instability and cross purposes investors and developers face at
present is not practical or sustainable.
We cannot
allow parochial resistance to projects, in the national interest, without
risking our ability to prosper, reduce our debts, and improve our standard of
living.
Without
rational resource development and the investments, the jobs and spinoff
economic activity it entails, we are condemning ourselves and our children to
steadily increasing costs of living and a steadily declining standard of living.
John
Feldsted
Political
Consultant & Strategist
Winnipeg,
Manitoba
National
Highlights … from PetroLMI:
In August 2018, Canada’s oil and gas
industry employed approximately 189,900 workers – reflecting a 0.5% increase
(or 2,320) from July 2018. The exploration and production sub-sector
experienced the only decrease among the sub-sectors at 3.8% (or -3,600). The
pipeline sub-sector experienced an increase of 1.2% (or 200) and oil and gas
services also experienced an increase of 7.5% (or 5,700).
Compared to
August 2017, oil and gas employment is up 7% (or 12,500). Over the same period,
the oil and gas labour force increased 6.2% (or 11,700). Employment in the
exploration and production sub-sector decreased by 6.1% (or 5,900) from August
2017, while the pipeline and oil and gas services sub-sectors increased by 33%
and 21% respectively.
Of the
189,900 workers employed in the oil and gas industry, 183,500 were employed
full time, and 6,500 were part time. Oil and gas services had the most part
time workers at 4,000, followed by the exploration and production sub-sector at
2,500.
The
Petroleum Labour Market Information (PetroLMI) … Division of Energy Safety
Canada
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