By Mark Smith
Drayton Valley-Devon constituency
There was a lot of buzz in the Legislature this past week regarding Motion 505, brought forth by Wildrose Shadow Economic Development and Trade Minister Prasad Panda, a motion to end Canada’s dependence on foreign dictator oil in favor of Alberta oil.
It makes no sense to be importing oil from countries like Saudi Arabia, a dictatorship that does not respect Canadian values like the rights of women or freedom of religion. Nor does the oil and gas industry in Saudi Arabia have a stellar environmental record yet our province produces the most environmentally responsible oil and gas production in the world.
According to the National Energy Board, 84,000 barrels a day were shipped from Saudi to New Brunswick’s Irving Oil Ltd. Refinery and another 650,000 barrels a day imported to other refineries in Quebec, Ontario and Newfoundland.
The answer to this dilemma is to push forward with the Energy East pipeline that would supply our Alberta oil to refineries in Eastern Canada. The pipeline would transport 1.1 billion barrels of oil per day and would create more than 14,000 direct and indirect full-time jobs across Canada!
On the afternoon of Monday, May 8 Motion 505 was passed unanimously in the Legislature. Let us hope the federal government listens to our strong message that we Albertans are opposed to dependence on foreign dictator oil and are ready and wanting to move Canada toward energy independence.
Mark Smith is the Wildrose MLA for the Drayton Valley-Devon constituency, including much of the County of Wetaskiwin. He can be reached by phone 780-542-3355 toll free 1-800-542-7307, Drayton Valley – Devon constituency office Box 7272 Drayton Valley, AB, T7A 1S5, email draytonvalley.devon@assembly.ab.ca.