Alberta shows how you don’t need to choose between the environment and the economy, as they move forward on both

January 29^th, 2018 Suncor announced that the Fort Hills project was continuing its steady ramp up of production following the safe start-up of secondary extraction two days earlier

Fort Hills, which is located approximately 90 kilometres north of Fort McMurray, saw an average of 7,900 people at peak construction. Now in operation, Fort Hills employs approximately 1,400 direct employees, with the vast majority have been hired from Alberta.

 

Foothills cogeneration facility has a total capacity of 180 megawatts,

and generates electricity from what would otherwise be waste heat

“… you don’t need to choose between the environment and the economy. We can and we must move forward on both” ~~ Margaret McCuaig-Boyd, Minister of Energy

Today in Alberta, Suncor marked another new milestone with the grand opening of the project.  Attending alongside of Suncor officials were Premier Rachel Notley and Energy Minister Margaret McCuaig-Boyd, local contractors, First Nations leaders and other delegates.

According to the Alberta government, estimates show that the Fort Hills project could end up generating $8 billion in royalties to its’ citizens.  Money which will be used for public services including roads, schools and hospitals.

Suncor CEO, Steve Williams, stated today that:
“Fort Hills is the new face of oil sands. Not only will it produce returns for shareholders, generate jobs, create revenue for vendors and suppliers, and contribute to the provincial and national economies. “

A comment which was echoed by Alberta’s Premier Rachael Notely:

“As we fight for good jobs and an economic future that works for everyone, the Fort Hills grand opening shows that things continue looking up for the Wood Buffalo region and working families in Alberta’s energy sector”. 

“It showcases how we’re continuing to innovate through technology and the mutually beneficial relationship that is possible with Aboriginal Peoples.”, she continued.

Over here in our province however, the Trans Mountain pipeline project remains mired in the muck of protest after protest, and court battle after court battle, trying to wear down the will to have the project go ahead.

In mid-July of this year, Steve Muir, founder and executive director of Resource Works, commented that, “It is that the other First Nations, ones that genuinely do care about environmental balance and pathways out of poverty for their people, suffer in silence. These nations have found beneficial ways that are true to their community values and result in benefits to be distributed to their members.”

Muir was at that time specifically referring to Kamloops area indigenous activist Kanahus Manuel a member of the local Neskonlith First Nation.  She and fellow activists had set up a short-lived protest camp in the North Thompson.  He continued by stating, “If Manuel and Greenpeace are successful, those accomplishments will not come to fruition. I'm concerned about what this means for the efforts of the majority of First Nations affected by the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion who have beneficially made their peace with the project, finding creative ways to be part of a success story that benefits all Canadians.

Protesters, fueled by BC Premier John Horgan who has virtually indicated the pipeline will never be built, has helped to fuel protests and blockades.  Those events, along with the recent Supreme Court case quashing the National Energy Boards (NEB) approval of the project simply mean that the movement of Alberta’s energy continues to be restricted to rail tanker traffic; a safety concern for many, but not for protesters it seems.

Alberta’s NDP Premier Rachael Notley was original targeted for what many thought would be the end of resource development in that province .  Don’t get me wrong, it has been a tough go in Alberta, and thousand and thousands lost jobs.  Now however it seems a pity that she can’t make headway with our own BC NDP Premier John Horgan in showing how he too can as she said, “ … fight for good jobs and an economic future that works for everyone.”

While the economic future is looking brighter next door, as far as resource development goes, we in BC continue to see smaller and smaller number of people opposed to the project, yet ensuring that men and women with the know-how to innovate and create an environmentally sound project, remain un-employed, or under-employed.

A hydraulic shovel places overburden
in a haul truck at the Fort Hills site

 “… you don’t need to choose between the environment and the economy. We can and we must move forward on both”, said Minister of Energy Margaret McCuaig-Boyd, today in Alberta.

That seemed to go hand in hand with a comment by Suncor’s Steve Williams who remarked, “it showcases how we’re continuing to innovate through technology and the mutually beneficial relationship that is possible with Aboriginal Peoples.”

We won’t have the opportunity hear words like those in BC, at least not until we get rid of this NDP government of John Horgan, which is being led on a merry anti-development parade by the Green Party and Andrew Weaver.

In Kamloops, I’m Alan Forseth, and I hope you’ll join the discussion.  Do you agree … disagree?  Let me know by posting your thoughts in the Comment Section directly below.