Watch Videos:

Part 1: No Security for Canadian Energy

Part 2: The Need for Canadian Oil Independence

Part 3: Think like an Owner

Part 4: A non-Western way of Thinking

Having recently caused a stir in the House of Commons, Professor Gordon Laxer, Director of the Parkland Institute at the University of Alberta, defends his position. Canada’s lack of National Energy Plan or Security policy leaves the country at risk during a time of supply crisis, explains Laxer. While an accord - the Security and Prosperity Partnership (SPP) - by Canada , the United States and Mexico does exist, Laxer says “it is basically Canada supplying energy to the United States .” “They call it a North American security partnership,” he adds, “but it’s really the American security agenda.” According to Laxer, Canada needs to establish National Energy security immediately and put our own needs ahead of the United States’.

Speaking of the Canadian situation, Laxer says “we have no energy plan at all”, and yet we continue to export our oil and natural gas supply to the United States while “importing almost half of our needs.” Contrary to common sense assumptions, Canada does not fulfill its own energy needs before exporting supplies elsewhere. “Why doesn’t the Canadian government look into energy security for Canadians?” Laxer asks.

This deficiency is not due to lack of infrastructure, says Laxer. “We built a pipeline in the late 1970s from Sarnia, Ontario to Montreal , which brought western oil to Quebec ,” he says. That pipeline has since been reversed in order to transport oil through Ontario to the Michigan border. However, “if we reversed that Sarnia-to-Montreal pipeline, we’d reduce 30% of imports,” adds Laxer. Simply put, we should be taking care of our own needs before exporting elsewhere. Without a “strategic petroleum reserve,” he says, “we are one of the most vulnerable countries”. Out of the three NAFTA countries, Canada is the only one without Energy security. “In which country are the citizens most likely to freeze in the dark if there’s an Arctic cold front?” asks Laxer.

Canada needs its own National Energy Security, he says, but he is clear “it should be quite different from the National Energy Program.” In this new Energy Plan, “100% of surplus should go to the owner of the resource,” he says. Also, policies should put an “emphasis on conservation,” continues Laxer, “rather than increasing production.” He says “we need a moratorium; a suspension of new tar sands projects” unless “you meet these kind of tough environmental regulations, you process in Canada . . . that you pay a much higher royalty rate.” Governmental leaders are “stewards for citizens and all living forms,” says Laxer, so “why aren’t [they] looking out for these interests?”

Links:

The Parkland Institute

http://www.ualberta.ca/~parkland/