CAGC

By: Canadians for Affordable Energy Canada-United States energy policies are rapidly diverging. Donald Trump was supposed to be a White House train wreck. But as 2017 ends, the U.S. president is scoring wins that will boost the U.S. economy, create good-paying jobs, and advance his administration’s ambition of  American energy dominance . Former presidents focused on “energy independence,” which was neither sensible nor necessary government policy when friendly neighbours – like Canada and Mexico – can help meet rising U.S. energy demand. In contrast, President Trump wants his country to export energy, use its natural...

Published: The Owl By: ATB Financial's Economics & Research Team It may have been selling corn dogs at the summer fair or clearing tables at a local restaurant--all of us will vividly remember our first real jobs. Entry-level employment is rarely glamorous or high paying, but those first jobs are critical for gaining valuable work experience. Statistics Canada, in a report titled “Getting your foot in the ...

By: H.T. Published: The Economist Why oil is at a two-year high A STRANGE paradox underpins the recent rise in the price of oil to around $60 a barrel, its highest level in two years. On the one hand, it partly reflects optimism that when producers from the OPEC cartel meet in Vienna on November 30th they will extend an agreement with non-OPEC producers such as Russia to keep output under restraint until late next year. On the other hand, it partly reflects the fear that regional tensions between Saudi Arabia and fellow OPEC members Iran and Qatar could degenerate to such a degree that they disrupt supply from the world’s biggest oil-producing region. Such are the tensions within OPEC, according to Reuters, that Gulf oil officials have stopped using a WhatsApp chat group that used to be a useful co-ordination tool. So is it feasible to imagine that people who cannot bear talking to each other via social media can still agree to onerous production cuts that are vital to keepi...

By Rod Garland 100 years ago in October and November of 1917, four divisions of the Canadian Corps took turns assaulting Passchendaele ridge in Belgium during WW1. After separate attacks , t hey succeeded in capturing it and the ruins of Passchendaele village from exhausted German defenders. The battle that had dragged on for months was one of the deadliest in terms of losses on both sides, but showed the rest of the world how Canadian resolve, spirit and resourcefulness could get the job done. This week the World Energy Outlook 2017 (WEO-2017) was released by the International Energy Agency (IEA). It is the annual update of energy demand and supply projections to the year 2040, with reports under different scenarios, and their consequences for energy security, economic prosperity, efficiency, investment, air quality and climate change. The highlights are that the global energy landscape is changing and the rate of change will likely vary over the coming decades...

By Kenneth P. Green, Elmira Aliakbari and Ashley Stedman - The Fraser Institute Published: Fort Nelson News          TransCanada Corp. recently pulled the plug on Energy East, its proposed 1.1-million-barrel-per-day oil pipeline between Alberta and New Brunswick, a month after the company said it would conduct a "careful review" of the cost impacts of changes in National Energy Board regulations.          It was the latest in a chain of bad news for Canada's energy industry, and further evidence that Canada's growing regulatory barriers may be damaging our investment climate.          Plunging oil prices and the approval of competing pipelines such as Keystone XL certainly contributed to the cancellation of Energy East.          But governments, by continuing to pile on new taxes and create unclear regulations, are killing existing projects and driving investment away from Canada. ...

By: Rod Garland - CAGC Member Services The Future for Pipelines in Alberta The Alberta Enterprise Group recently held a panel discussion in Calgary to analyse the demise of the Energy East pipeline and discuss what it could mean for the future of energy infrastructure and investment in Canada. Who are the Alberta Energy Group? Formed in 2007, they are comprised of business leaders who advocate and lobby to improve the prosperity of Alberta as a place to live and conduct business. Their role is to communicate the benefits of doing business in Alberta; to positively inform the public and policy makers on complex and challenging issues facing the province and the country; and create real change as the community requires. AEG member companies employ over 150,000 Albertans and generate billions in economic activity each year. The Chairman and founding member is Murray Edwards also Chairman of CNRL. The panel included Dennis McConaghy – Former Executive VP, Corporate D...

Published: IPOLITICS By: Janice Dickson As the Trudeau government continues to defend its controversial tax proposals in the face of fierce private sector criticism, a new hashtag has emerged on Twitter poking fun at the things Trudeau "won't tax." Conservative MP Michelle Rempel appeared to help initiate the conversation. "This is just begging for a hashtag. I'll go first. His cabinet Minister's taxpayer funded limo rides to hockey games. #whattrudeauwonttax," tweeted Rempel. The hashtag emerged after it was reported that a document on the Canada Revenue Agency’s website indicates that employee discounts for merchandise should be treated as a taxable benefit. The document, known as a tax folio, states that when an employee receives a discount on merchandise because of their employment, the value of the discount is “generally included in the employees income.” But while the Conservatives and lobby groups say the government is targeting ...

By: Kevin Turko Published: Oilfield Pulse         If one takes the time to surf through all the news and the NEB website, I've got to tell you, it is tough not to get depressed with the state our country is in these days. Before I jump into the middle of this pool, a thought occurred to me the other day which made me wonder how all the politicians, eco-activists and concerned environmentalists would react to the following scenario. I know this is more than a little far fetched as it would cripple the Canadian economy for years to come, but work with me for a few more minutes.        Let's say, just hypothetically or perhaps hysterically, that we gave in entirely to all the carbon-free warmongers and decided to kill the oil & gas industry in Canada. As they say, we capitulate totally and leave it in the ground. After all, that is what they are dreaming of, and that is what they are being funded for! Nothing less is acceptable in their mind...

By: Terry Etam Published: Fort Nelson News // BOE Report           Not many commodities are hot anymore; investors are quite comfortable shunning the segment. But perhaps you may want to know about a commodity that in contrast is particularly overheated these days.         Natural gas firm service transportation out of Alberta, for the upcoming winter season.         Firm service prices are being bid up to unusual levels, even in the face of a relatively low commodity price forecast. Producers appear somewhat panicked about their ability to access markets for their natural gas. This is understandable; current market conditions for AECO-priced gas are extremely shaky with some forecasts of sub $1 gas for the next few weeks due to capacity constraints. This happens not infrequently whenever there is a pipeline outage for western Canadian production, which has few markets that are in the shadow of potential US shale out...

By: Mark Scholz - President of CAODC Published: The Hitch - Summer 2017 President's Message L ocals and globally-funded environmental groups who oppose the Kinder Morgan Trans Mountain expansion project object to any infrastructure that might result in a proliferation of tankers that would disturb the beautiful Saelish Sea ecosystem. This position, while seemingly well-intentioned, is not rooted in fact; and it has presented one of the most compelling threats to Canadian federalism since the Quebec referendum of 1995. Let’s look at a few facts. To date, there have been no major tanker incidents off of the coast of British Columbia, largely due to developments in double-hulled tanker technology and thoughtful marine planning and cooperation on the part of companies and municipal governments. About 250 large commercial vessels enter the Port of Vancouver every year, five of which are tankers destined for the Westridge Marine Terminal. 1 The Trans Mountain expansion is...

Published: Oilfield Pulse By: Kevin Turko - CEO - Oilfield Hub Inc            It's almost impossible these days to watch an cable news network or national news broadcast without encountering some sort of story covering a protest rally or group shouting out or marching for their favorite or latest causes. Up until November of last year, there was a constant barrage of environmental groups and eco-activists out there at every opportunity chastising the oil and gas industry, chanting their vocal support to fix climate change and rid the planet of the new demon called 'carbon pollution'. Then, thank God, along came President Donald Trump who, right or wrong, has shifted both the medias and protestors' focus away from the energy sector. Here are just a few of my personal favorite chants: THE PEOPLE! UNITED! WILL NEVER BE DEFEATED! NO BAN! NO WALL! THE TRUMP REGIME HAS TO FALL! SAY IT LOUD! SAY IT CLEAR!REFUGEES ARE WELCOME HERE!WE WANT A LEADER! NOT A CREE...

By: C. Kenneth Reeder Published: Pipeline Observer - CAEPLA Why supporting Canadian energy transport projects can mean fewer wars and refugees We generally think of the pipeline debate in terms of economy and environment, but pipelines can be a war and peace issue as well.       An American diplomat once said, "If goods cannot cross borders, armies will." If people can't get what they need through cooperation and trade, then they must resort to violence and plunder.       That is why most of history's wars have been fought over land and resources. In the modern era we basically accept that oil and gas have something to do with many conflicts. We know why so many "strategic interests" include the Middle East and not the Congo.        We can see this in Syria. The war-torn country is ground zero for clashing foreign interests. There are many layers to the conflict but one of these is competing gas pipelines.  ...

By: Scott Jeffrey Published:  Roughneck Magazine The Global Petroleum Show wrapped up on June 15, and we need no further evidence that the industry is not back from its glory days. Less than 600 exhibitors were signed up for the three day event, about 1/3 of record numbers when the show was held every two years. As an exhibitor, we also noticed the number of attendees was down, and a view of cards gathered indicated that many producers didn’t take the time to attend the show. It’s still a great event, and the exhibitors were enthusiastic, selling oil and gas equipment and services with their usual aplomb. Activity is up, oil prices are stable(ish), and demand for product is strong and rising throughout the globe. We are sitting on reserves that put us in the top five in the world, and we may actually see increased pipeline deliverability in the next five years. However, it is now time for every individual who makes a living from the industry, or who is a proponent of the ind...

By: David Coglon Published: Context Magazine Five reasons why Canada's oil and natural gas resources are an essential part of the future energy mix for our nation and the world. Energy runs the world. It meets our most basic needs, such as having a warm place to live, lights to read by, and a means of cooking food. It also underlies our ability to travel great distances, transport goods for trade, and build amazing products from smart phones to artificial hearts. Oil and natural gas have formed the backbone of an energy revolution that has transformed the lives of billions for the better. Oil and natural gas have the promise and opportunity to transform the lives of billions more, with Canada at the lead as a sustainable, responsible and innovative energy producer. As the world moves to a lower-carbon future, some have pronounced the doom of the hydrocarbon industry. This does not stand up to scrutiny. Oil and natural gas have a critical role to play in meeting the world’...