Spreading the Word on Economic Benefits of Pipelines
Thursday, November 22, 2012 @ 2:41 PM
Leduc Alberta Mayor Greg Krischke and SPruce Grove Mayor Stuart Houston in P.G. to talk pipelines – photo 250News
Prince George, B.C.- For the Chair of the Alberta Capital Region Board’s Pipeline Linkages Strategy Committee , the Northern Gateway Pipeline project is a win win win project.
Stuart Houston says the project would spin off economic benefits for Alberta, B.C. and the country as a whole.
Houston is not only Chair of the Commmittee, he is also the Mayor of Spruce Grove. He, along with Committee member Mayor of Leduc Alberta, Greg Krischke, is visiting Prince George to meet with community leaders including those in business and those at Prince George City Hall. Not on the agenda is any meeting with First Nations who have been very vocal about their opposition to the project. “We are not trying to avoid it” says Mayor Krischke, and Houston adds that they have met with Treaty 6 First Nations who live in the area where the pipeline would start “We do have their perspective” says Houston. But this two day whirl wind tour is meant to gauge the issues in B.C. and to share their views on why this pipeline is critical to Canada.
“We are at a crossroads in Alberta” says Houston, “Right now, 99% of all oil produced in Alberta goes to the United States. Because of that, they (Americans) are able to discount the price by $27 per barrel. That translates to $66 Billion dollars a year lost.” And then there is the possible loss of that market as Houston says new technology and new discoveries in the U.S. will make that nation the largest oil producer by the year 2035. “Canada and Alberta need to find another market. We need to get our oil products to the world market and the biggest world market out there is Asia and India.”
Both men applaud the environmental review process, with Krischke saying it’s important that people speak up to ensure the environment is protected, but that shouldn’t stop all development “In a perfect world, BC is beautiful so should we just make it a park? I don’t know how BC residents will survive. I’m opposed to that (stopping development)”.
Krischke says the other message they want to share is that people can co-exist with pipelines “We have over a 100 thousand kilometers of pipeline in Alberta and we co-exist quite well. So part of our message is that you can co-exist with pipelines. Is there risk? Absolutely there is risk, there is risk in anything that happens, there is risk in walking across the road. So we want to spread the message that you can live next to a pipeline and you don’t even notice that it’s there.”
The Enbridge proposal struck alarm bells with many following the spill in Kalamazoo Michigan, but that disaster has resulted in a positive says Krischke “ It forced Enbridge to say ‘OK we understand what your concern is, we will do these added things to minimize the risk on this pipeline’, so in a back handed way, it wasn’t good for the people of Michigan but it was a good thing for this process because it heightened that issue of risk and I think good things are coming out of that.”
“We’re not here to tell anyone how to vote or approve or disapprove of the project” says Krischke, “we’re more here to say we see economic benefits not only for Alberta but for B.C. and all of Canada.”
According to the Capital Region Board, ( which paid for the two day tour) those economic benefits would , over 25 years, translate as follows:
B.C. $28 billion and 25% of the total jobs
Saskatchewan $5 billion and 3% of total jobs
Manitoba $4 billion and 4% of total jobs
Ontario $63 billion and 52% of total jobs
Quebec $14 billion and 13% of total jobs
Maritimes and Territories: $3 billion and 3% of total jobs
Their projection did not outline economic benefits for Alberta, but suggests nearly 780 thousand jobs would be created in Alberta.
Where will they find all the workers to fill those positions? “We’ll have to bring in skilled workers from other arts of the world” says Houston, “We have no choice.” Alberta, like all other parts of the country is facing a shortage of skilled workers.
The two will be in Kitimat tomorrow for meetings with leaders in that community.
Comments
The best thing about the pipeline is the number of jobs and amount of money it costs to clean up after them when they spill. BP has spent over $25 billion cleaning up the Gulf of Mexico and created thousands of jobs in doing so.
Too bad Enbridge has set it up so it has totally inadequate insurance, and no liability, so it would be taxpayers on the hook. As a government make work project, I can think of much better things to do with our money than clean up oil.
It’s always about the economic benefits.
Not mentioned is the concerns about seismic stability in the area proposed for the pipeline. Oh oh oh I forgot these gents are mayors, politicians and are solely concerned about the loss to there pocket if we say no. Lets go chat up those stuffy folks in Prince George and get them to see how wonderful oil money is. Lets chat with the mayor and the good folks at city hall (can’t manage a core review if it there lives depended on it without hiking taxes).
Hey were from Alberta our province is covered in pipelines, you wouldn’t notice it unless one blows up in your back yard. So folks in Prince George, why so serious? Just let them put it in and everyone in Asia, Enbridge and Alberta will be happy with you all.
Money Money Money and hey sure a few jobs here and there just for good measure. We wont talk about the Enbridge history, yeah they suck at doing things right, they made mistakes but see you can hold them accountable if you push the point far enough.
Here’s what they are not telling us and even going so far as to avoid the issues we know about.
They want a double pipeline to push oil sludge (raw oil bearing sand and other abrasive particles) to the coast.
They want to skirt environmental impact studies until they get the green light, too cheap to do the home work.
They could care less about the residents of the area, and the aboriginal and there treaty rights, they just wanna grab that cash from the export of oil to China.
They will protect the environment…… Heh yeah according to everything internet they have a great record(not).
Political smoke screen from our friends to the east. All form and no actual substance.
âRight now, 99% of all oil produced in Alberta goes to the United States. Because of that, they (Americans) are able to discount the price by $27 per barrel. That translates to $66 Billion dollars a year lost.â
Then stop selling it to them if they only want to pay a discouted price!
Its a non-renewable resource, so they will need it eventually, and supposedly the price of oil/gas is only going to go up in the future. And if that truly is the case, then the value of our resources is only going to rise.
So I dont understand the big rush to sell sell sell right now. We have all the resources that everyone else wants. So why not make everyone else buy them on our terms and conditions?
Isn’t our mayor in China? Why would these people come here when the “top dogs” are away?
Why is it that Albertans just don’t seem to understand that the topography of B.C. is totally different than the flat land from where they come.
These guys can’t even drive the roads to Kitimat from here, and the roads were built in the easiest places.
Duffer:
It’s just like our Mayor to be out of town when guests come to visit, it’s a paid for trip who cares that HRH is out of town.
âWe are at a crossroads in Albertaâ says Houston, âRight now, 99% of all oil produced in Alberta goes to the United States. Because of that, they (Americans) are able to discount the price by $27 per barrel. That translates to $66 Billion dollars a year lost.â And then there is the possible loss of that market as Houston says new technology and new discoveries in the U.S. will make that nation the largest oil producer by the year 2035. âCanada and Alberta need to find another market. We need to get our oil products to the world market and the biggest world market out there is Asia and India.â
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Okay let me try and translate that in a different way:
“In Alberta, we’re REALLY worried that unless we can get our oil to non North American markets, that our economy is going to be in the tank within 20 years. We’ve done really well in being isolationist in the past, but now that we sense we may be in trouble, we’d like to risk YOUR beautiful environment and use your ports so that we can continue to prosper, and of course, remain isolationist for the foreseeable future.”
I have an idea. How about you go pound Oil Sand.
Hey mayors cough up more of your profits and back the liability, if not, careful the door don’t hit ya on i out.
Maybe another idea these guys could think about is to ship the oil back to the Eastern provinces. Don’t the Eastern provinces import oil from another country? That is my understanding anyway.
OMG, I’m sure eyes are burning and bricks are being thrown at computer screens all across Alberta after reading your comment duffer, LOL.
I am pro business, but I am not pro sell the tarsand to China. Refine it in Canada, and then it may be a different story.
OK, if we are getting pittance for compensation, than if there is a leak, The Government of Canada has to take on the risk of ensuring that proper clean up is executed when Enbridge and or its insurance money runs out.
Hey Christi, if its going to go anyway, make the deal early, not the last minute.
Stop selling raw materials to China, refine it first!
Nice photo in your china made free suite,go back to Alberta
Suit
Who needs jobs and economic benefits? Where’s my cheque?
“OK, if we are getting pittance for compensation, than if there is a leak, The Government of Canada has to take on the risk of ensuring that proper clean up is executed when Enbridge and or its insurance money runs out.”
Or maybe just make sure the government executes the Enbridge executives. Take a look at what the Giant Mine left left in terms of tailings and toxins in the Yukon after the gold ran out. If you think it will be any different after the oil runs out (as in a major leak), guess again.
It`s true, 877,000 barrels are imported to Eastern Canada from Saudi Arabia, the price?..Brent crude price, today`s brent crude price..$108.00 per barrel
http://business.financialpost.com/2012/10/31/eastern-oil-pipeline-proposal-technically-economically-feasible-transcanada/
and the HST was supposed to be revenue neutral, and guess what, the HST referendum, the BC Liberals are pulling a double cross, a new tax on snack foods, and a new tax on school supplies, and many more items, can`t trust big oil, can`t trust BC Liberals, both are lying S.O.B.s
[url]http://blogs.theprovince.com/2012/11
/22/jordan-bateman-sneaky-libs-want-to-expand-taxation-with-new-pst/[/url]
Talk about 2 snake oil salesmen..From the propaganda piece..
“According to the Capital Region Board, ( which paid for the two day tour) those economic benefits would , over 25 years, translate as follows:
B.C. $28 billion and 25% of the total jobs
Saskatchewan $5 billion and 3% of total jobs
Manitoba $4 billion and 4% of total jobs
Ontario $63 billion and 52% of total jobs
Quebec $14 billion and 13% of total jobs
Maritimes and Territories: $3 billion and 3% of total jobs
Their projection did not outline economic benefits for Alberta, but suggests nearly 780 thousand jobs would be created in Alberta.
Where will they find all the workers to fill those positions? âWeâll have to bring in skilled workers from other arts of the worldâ says Houston, âWe have no choice.â Alberta, like all other parts of the country is facing a shortage of skilled workers. “
If you add up the job percentages for the above listed provinces, BC..Manitoba..Ontario..Northwest territories and the maritimes, the total comes to 100% of the jobs????
But then it states that Alberta will create “Their projection did not outline economic benefits for Alberta, but suggests nearly 780 thousand jobs would be created in Alberta.”
780,00 jobs on the Enbridge pipeline???
Even Enbridge`s figure say only a couple of hundred full-time jobs will be created in BC with Enbridge???
When you spin like a top no one believes the bullshit…1 pipeline will not create 760,000 jobs..You notice they use the word..”suggest”
Alberta /ælËbÉrtÉ/ is a province of Canada. It had a population of 3,645,257 in 2011
So 1 pipeline will require 25% of their population?
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You need proof that these bastards are lying?, each and every new oil pimp that weighs in on this issue bumps up the economic numbers, it`s pure bullshit..
Need proof, here it is..
This next part was from a study from the university of Calgary..Hang onto your hats, here it is..
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“The University of Calgary’s School of Public Policy issued an analysis Thursday concluding that with expanded pipeline access to U.S. and Asian markets, Canada’s gross domestic product would jump $132 billion in 2010 dollars between 2016 and 2030, generating $27 billion in federal, provincial and municipal taxes and 649,000 person-years of employment.
But the study also shows that the overwhelming economic benefit of pipeline expansion to B.C. goes to Alberta.
The opening of the Asian market would trigger $10.5 billion in gains and 52,000 person-years of employment in Canada, but almost $10 billion of that wealth and 44,000 person-years go to Alberta.
Ontario would get $286 million and 4,000 person-years, while B.C. would enjoy $131 million and 2,000 person-years.
The study also “suggests” that B.C. would gain an additional $85 million in GDP and another 1,000 person-years due to increased exports to California if pipelines are built to the West Coast.”
Read more:
http://www.canada.com/business/decision+pipeline+will+signal+world+Alberta+premier+says/5867912/story.html#ixzz1gsTYLF5a
“While Redford will face the voters this spring, B.C.’s election is scheduled to take place in the spring of 2013, months before the regulatory panel decides if the project should proceed.
The University of Calgary’s School of Public Policy issued an analysis Thursday concluding that with expanded pipeline access to U.S. and Asian markets, Canada’s gross domestic product would jump $132 billion in 2010 dollars between 2016 and 2030, generating $27 billion in federal, provincial and municipal taxes and 649,000 person-years of employment.
But the study also shows that the overwhelming economic benefit of pipeline expansion to B.C. goes to Alberta.
The opening of the Asian market would trigger $10.5 billion in gains and 52,000 person-years of employment in Canada, but almost $10 billion of that wealth and 44,000 person-years go to Alberta. Ontario would get $286 million and 4,000 person-years, while B.C. would enjoy $131 million and 2,000 person-years.
The study also suggests that B.C. would gain an additional $85 million in GDP and another 1,000 person-years due to increased exports to California if pipelines are built to the West Coast.
Redford, whose standing in public opinion polls has soared since her election as Tory leader this autumn, was born in Kitimat in 1965. Her father was an apprentice electrician working at the Alcan smelter, but they moved when she was two.
Despite her glowing media reviews during a recent speech in Toronto, Redford was non-committal when asked if she plans to visit B.C. to promote the controversial Gateway project.
“If there are opportunities to talk about this in a positive way in British Columbia” then she or one of her cabinet ministers will take that step, she said.
Redford, in a meeting earlier this week in Edmonton with Clark and Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall, touted the benefits of a national energy strategy that would include pipeline expansion.
Clark acknowledged the importance of the oilsands industry to Canada, but her refusal to openly back the project prompted Wildrose leader Smith to say that it’s “concerning” that Redford couldn’t win over her B.C. counterpart.
“It’s both simplistic and naive to think you move the policy agenda forward by trying to convince someone to move immediately and quickly on an issue that has long-term implications for their province,” Redford said.
“You know, it’s very easy to be an armchair quarterback and to sit back and say, ‘You know what? If I just snap my fingers this would work and this would work.’ It’s not really the way of the world and that’s fine.”
While Redford acknowledged that Alberta has to remain sensitive to B.C.’s political culture when it comes to environmental issues, she said many British Columbians underestimate her province’s commitment to green issues.
“It’s something we’ve put a tremendous amount of emphasis on in the past 10 years.”
http://www.canada.com/business/decision+pipeline+will+signal+world+Alberta+premier+says/5867912/story.html#ixzz1gsTYLF5a
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So who the hell are those clowns think they`re fooling, the numbers are off the chart, …
These were the numbers presented..
Wait another 6 months and they will say BC will gain $200 trillion over the life of the project and 4 million jobs.
Effing fibbing bastards, look at them, would any of you buy a used car from those clowns, look, they don`t even believe the numbers!
And look where their numbers come from..And I quote.
“According to the Capital Region Board, ( which paid for the two day tour) those economic benefits would , over 25 years, translate as follows:”
Effing snake oil con men, sheesh,
44,000 person years over 20 years and those clowns are saying..
780,000 jobs alone for Alberta..
A difference of a factor of 20..
Are you kidding me!
Never fails to amaze me how many of you can cut and paste garbage here. Uh, one of you braindeads want to inform us all where exactly Enbridge denies liability for spills on this pipeline? They are liable for damages on all their other lines, and they pay dearly for screwups. By the way, some of you should visit Spruce Grove. Vibrant, industrious: just like Hinton, Edson etc. Bit different than the economic strangling we suffer here.
One spill comes to mind! Kalamazoo! They are still cleaning it up. I won’t cut and paste the court documents go find them yourself birdman. Read them, the results are disturbing. We don’t need their incompetence in BC. BC is getting the equivalent of two nickels to rub together from this project and all the risk. Enbridge won’t install automatic shutoff valves to stop a disaster like Kalamazoo. The door is shut Enbridge now go away.
bird: “Never fails to amaze me how many of you can cut and paste garbage here. “
No kidding. This board needs an anti-spam policy. It’s getting out of control, at least with some people.
Good thing all these naysayers wernt around in the 60’s when we built the Trans Canada Pipeline, plus many others.
Alberta has options, such as the Keystone Pipeline, and perhaps twinning the Trans Canada so the oil can be refined in the East.
BC has to make some tough decisions in regards to economic benefits versus enviromental benefits.
People all over the world have to take risks in the oil business. Some have had some very bad experiences, such as the leak in the Gulf of Mexico, and of course the Exxon Valdez, to name a few.
At the end of the day BC will have to decide what level of risk they are willing to take. If the answer is NONE, then of course we will not get the economic benefits.
explain what the economic benefits are going to be for the average BCer that is not in the business of catering to the oil and gas industry? The pittance in economic spinoffs for the next 30 years? I think I had it calculated down to $15 per person per year at the current population…or the job benefit of 300 full time jobs created over the 30 years span, with china already stating they would be more than happy to send thier own workers over here to put it through? Or are you suggesting we simply put our environment in the hands of a very incompetent and dishonest company?
But: “explain what the economic benefits are going to be for the average BCer that is not in the business of catering to the oil and gas industry?”
Oh I don’t know… how about infrastucture, roads, schools, hospitals, and the multitude of government social programs people take advantage of every day… just to name a few.
“Good thing all these naysayers wernt around in the 60’s when we built the Trans Canada Pipeline, plus many others.”
No kidding! Canada (including BC and Alberta!) already benefits from millions in taxes and royalties, not to mention thousands of jobs generated from pipelines and the oil and gas industry.
But judging from most of the uninformaed souls on here, you might as well just shut off the lights and hang the closed sign on BC. Rejection of this pipeline project will have a ripple effect in that other businesses and industries will hesistate in doing business here in the future. Add to that an impending NDP provincial government, and you have some scary times ahead.
these mayors and there supporters should be aware, by now, of an alternative to use a new rail line(well, some rail exists already) from ft.mac to valdez, alaska,
http://www.mining.com/the-northern-gateway-workaround-a-rail-line-connecting-alberta-and-alaska-43884/
now, this isn’t what i would like to see, but, to utilize the now idle refiners/upgraders in Alberta and Ontario to process the oil sands…
surely, if these big companies have the money, combined, it can be processed in this country…
“Oh I don’t know… how about infrastucture, roads, schools, hospitals, and the multitude of government social programs people take advantage of every day… just to name a few.” .. and without the pipeline we don’t have those? Try again….bleeeeeep…wrong answer.
Isn’t it funny how the opponents to the pipeline are “uninformed” but those in favour are the only ones who know the “real” truth? Those are the words of people who have run out of any more BS lies to tell.
Isn’t it funny how the opponents to the pipeline are “uninformed” but those in favour are the only ones who know the “real” truth? Those are the words of people who have run out of any more BS lies to tell.
Isn’t it funny how the proponents to the pipeline are “uninformed” but those against are the only ones who know the “real” truth?
see how easy that is? ;)
“.. and without the pipeline we don’t have those? Try again….bleeeeeep…wrong answer.”
Like most lefties, you don’t have any clue where money comes from or how an economy functions. Don’t worry, you’re not the only one.
As always there are a few who don’t understand. Bcers and many canadians down stream from BC would do much better having clean water than having hydrocarbons refined in China at elevated prices. I feel shure that Canadians have the will and expertese to refine our own hydrocarbons and market them in Canada and to the rest of the world. Then one can see that there is one thing that Canada has made at home and the rest of the world is willing to buy at world prices.
The sky is falling!!!, the sky is falling!!!
The past with the Liberals in office has been wonderful for business people. Not so much for the working stiff and the poor.
The Liberals are done in BC. Many of you should go with them.
We don’t have the pipeline now JohnnyB and are doing just fine without it. Build more schools to close down? Look around JohnnyB schools are closing not opening. Is that because if the economy? No, just not enough kids to fill the schools. BC will be okay, the lights will stay on without this pipeline.
A few comments:
from JohnnyBelt;”Like most lefties, you don’t have any clue where money comes from or how an economy functions.”
Why don’t you tell us where the money comes from. Is it from big business and banks who take it from the workers or is it from the government who just print it?
Please tell us.
And then there is our energy plan!
A. Redford said we should have a national energy plan. Pierre Trudeau said the same thing. IT is absolutely ridiculous to think that a gov’t does not have one. We live in a country where we import lots of petro fuels for the Atlantic provinces while the Atlantic provinces export petro fuels to the US. This makes no sense. And we are arguing about exporting Tar Sands fuel to China. This is the dirtist fuel in the world and we want to mine it so a few companies can make a lot of money before China starts fracking for gas and cuts us off. It is time Canada and BC’s gov’t woke up to the reality of the situation.
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