Taking action in support of our vital natural resource sector

Canadians are supportive of doing more to help provide energy security worldwide, according to a new public opinion Research Co. Poll conducted on behalf of Canada Action. More than three-out-of-four Canadians (77 per cent) agreed that our country has an excellent opportunity to play an increasingly important role in enhancing energy security for our allies and closest trade partners.

“Canadians are right – the world needs more Canadian energy,” said Cody Battershill, Founder and Chief Spokesperson of Canada Action.

“As a nation rich in natural resources, we are responsible for meeting growing energy demands while ensuring that energy production is done responsibly and sustainably. The poll results suggest that Canadians are ready to take up this challenge.”

Since the beginning of 2022, natural resource security has taken frontstage for policymakers across the world – especially in regions like Europe that rely heavily on energy imports. Canadians are also well aware of the importance of having sustainable and reliable supply chains, with 81 per cent finding it is critical that countries source the food, energy and minerals they need from responsible, democratically aligned jurisdictions.

Canadians were also asked about if they believe oil and natural gas are a significant part of Canada’s overall prosperity. With $505 billion in government revenues generated for Canadian governments from the oil and gas sector between 2000 and 2019 and another $500+ billion forecast between now and 2032, more than seven-in-ten (72 per cent) agreed that the industry is important for our national prosperity.

Nearly three-in-four Canadians (74 per cent) also support passing a bill similar to the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act, which offers financial incentives for investing in cleantech, carbon capture and storage, and domestic energy production, to help retain jobs and investment within Canada.

“Our polling feedback suggests Canadians want to be the supplier of choice to meet growing oil and natural gas demand worldwide. As a responsible nation that values its workers, families, and the environment, a strong Canadian presence in the global energy market is vital,” Battershill said.

The new poll also indicates that Canadians aren’t fully informed on how big of an energy powerhouse their country is. Only 39 per cent of respondents knew that Canada is the:

• fourth-largest oil producer
• sixth-largest natural gas producer
• third-largest hydropower producer

…in the world. This indicates a pressing need for a more hands-on approach to educating Canadians about our country’s world-class energy resources and the good we can do for local jobs, global energy security and climate action by developing them responsibly.

Additional findings include:

• At least four-in-five Canadians consider the following three issues as “very important” or “moderately important”:

> That countries source the food, energy and minerals they need from responsible, democratically aligned jurisdictions (81 per cent)

> That we strike a balance between investing in renewable energy sources like wind and solar, and continuing to develop Canada’s oil and natural gas resources (80 per cent)

> That every Canadian has access to Canadian oil as we gradually eliminate dependence on imported oil from countries such as Russia and the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) members (also 80 per cent)

• Just over four-in-five Canadians (81 per cent) would rather use energy from Canada for their daily needs than rely on energy imports from other countries.

• Practically three-in-four Canadians want Canada to carry on with the following two recommendations:

> Pass a bill similar to the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act, which offers incentives for investing in clean technology, carbon capture and domestic energy production, to retain jobs and investment within our country (74 per cent)

> Continue oil and natural gas production as long as there is a worldwide demand for it, while concurrently working towards reducing emissions through innovation and collaboration (73 per cent)

• More than three-in-four Canadians (77 per cent) agree that Canada has an opportunity to play a key role in enhancing energy security for allies around the world.

• More than three-in-five Canadians (62 per cent) agree that investing in Canada’s oil and natural gas sector makes sense if you value climate leadership, social progress and transparency, because Canada is a global leader in Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) standards.

• More than half of Canadians (57 per cent) agree that a cap on Canadian oil and natural gas production is a cap on energy security.

• More than seven-in-ten Canadians (72 per cent) agree that Canada’s oil and gas sector is important to the country’s prosperity because the oil and natural gas industry generated $505 billion in government revenues between 2000 and 2019.

• Three-in-five Canadians (60 per cent) agree that Canada’s oil and natural gas sector is important to global emissions reductions because Canadian liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports to Asia could provide the annual net emissions equivalent reduction of removing every single car from Canadian roads.

Join Us Today

Canada’s abundant natural resources have afforded us incredible wealth and prosperity. By continuing to develop these resources responsibly, we can continue to provide resource security for Canadians and the world while benefitting our families here at home.

Global food, oil, natural gas, electricity, mineral, metal and wood demand are growing. As long as the world needs these resources, shouldn’t they come from the most sustainable producers?

Canada is the right choice for the world’s natural resource needs. Join us today to learn more!

If we don’t advance all sources of Canadian energy, we are not living up to our full potential.

The energy reality of the world today is we need an all-of-the-above approach to meet rising global energy demand.#CdnEcon #CdnPoli #Climate pic.twitter.com/z4mLhrmGVK

— Canada Action (@CanadaAction) March 23, 2023