Dear Minister Wilkinson and Mr. Blanchet,
I am writing in response to your recent comments regarding oil and gas.
Minister Wilkinson, when speaking to reporters, you stated that oil and gas development makes Canadians poorer and should be phased out, claiming that oil demand is going to peak this decade. You went further to say, “In fact, oil is probably peaking this year”. This contradicts several energy organizations’ predictions.
As the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, it is crucial to understand this important industry to avoid making deceptive claims to the public. Your statement is not supportable and is not a fact. As a cabinet minister, your words are influential and your deceptive claim discourages investment in Canadian businesses.
OPEC’s analysis challenges your assertion about declining demand; they project continued growth in oil demand. Additionally, even McKinsey & Company, a consulting firm favoured by the Liberal government, estimates that oil demand will peak in 2030 and decline only by half by 2050.
Furthermore, there is a growing demand for natural gas, the feedstock for everyday products like fertilizers and plastics. McKinsey’s demand graph indicates a viable business case for this industry. As the world’s fifth-largest oil and gas producer, Canada has a significant opportunity that we should embrace.
Regardless of when peak demand occurs, it doesn’t mean that demand will drop to zero overnight. Canada can still play a vital role in the global supply chain and lead in production and delivery methods. It seems, however, that you prioritize partisan politics over the interests of Canadians, neglecting the truth when it doesn’t align with your narrative. I would encourage you to at least try to tell the truth.
Under your government’s leadership, Canada’s GDP per capita – the economic health of the country – has been anemic. Undermining investment in one of our top primary industries will not improve this trajectory.
Mr. Blanchet, by supporting this government, you contribute to its legacy of harmful policies. Your calls for an immediate shutdown of oil and gas production and divestment by Canadian banks reflect a position only slightly more radical than the governing Liberals. In 2020, you claimed that oil was dead and would never return. Clearly, that was mistaken. Actively opposing my industry is misguided. Oil and gas, and its workers, are not going away quietly. We can’t; oil and gas are integral to our economy and the very lives of Canadians.
It is astonishing to me how politicians take from taxpayers with pride and entitlement, yet with no regard for where the money comes from.
Sincerely,
Deidra Garyk
A proud oil and gas worker
Source: EnergyNow Media