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

Greenpeace activists chain themselves to pipes at Port of Montreal, get arrested

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