POLL: Most Canadians Support Assistance for Oil and Gas Sector Amid Coronavirus Emergency

POLL: Most Canadians Support Assistance for Oil and Gas Sector Amid Coronavirus Emergency

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poll - canadians support oil and gas sector bailout by federal government

Amid the COVID-19 outbreak and OPEC+ price war, there’s no sector in Canada being hit harder than oil and gas.

Thankfully the federal government has promised to provide aid to the beleaguered industry during this challenging time. And, great news is that people from coast-to-coast are in support of this assistance.

At a time where healthy anxiety and economic trauma are affecting the lives of millions of Canadians, it seems that the lines of preferred policy between various regions of our country are disappearing.

According to a poll conducted by Abacus Data, 82% of Canadians either “support” or “can accept” the idea of Ottawa doing more to help those impacted by the drop in oil prices.

Here’s the official statistics from Abacus Data:

Abacus Data - Poll - Most Canadians Support Government Aid for Oil and Gas Sector Amid Coronavirus

  • 43% strongly support or support
    • 16% strongly support
    • 27% support
  • 39% can accept
  • 18% oppose or strongly oppose
    • 13% oppose
    • 5% strongly oppose

Other findings include:

> Support for government assistance to Canada’s oil and gas sector is much higher in Alberta, but there’s a clear majority acceptance in all provinces of the country

> Even in Quebec, 25% of people either “strongly support” or “support” government assistance to the oil and gas sector, while 45% “can accept” it

> A majority of Canadians believe the federal government should focus on “maintaining household incomes and government revenues until [oil] prices rise,” – at 63%

> Only 37% of Canadians believe the federal government should focus on “diversifying economies in those provinces”

See Details of the Full Abacus Data Poll Here.

Morneau Says Aid for Oil and Gas Industry On its Way

Finance Minister Bill Morneau said himself on Wednesday, “The energy sector is in a particularly challenging situation,” going on to explain that Ottawa is in “hourly” contact with the industry to think of how they can provide aid.

"I don't have the final answer on the exact hour that that will be delivered, but I'm not talking about weeks. I'm talking about hours, potentially days, that we can ensure that there's credit facilities for especially the small- and medium-size firms in that sector,” said the Finance Minister.

Morneau’s remarks come at a time where Western Canadian Select (WCS), Canada’s main heavy crude oil blend which is sold almost exclusively (~96%) to the United States, is selling for about $5 a barrel (as of March 27th, 2020).

Mexican Maya has similar characteristics to WCS and is selling for over $20.

Canada hasn't been able to build new pipelines in recent years to its oil to the coast for export to other countries, a main reason why the oil price discount exists.

wcs heavy oil vs. mexican maya - price - March 27th, 2020

Today, a barrel of Canadian heavy oil now costs less than your favourite fast-food-chain deluxe burger.

Morneau also had mentioned that Canada’s emergency coronavirus legislation won’t “discriminate” between sectors, adding that Canadians across the country need to be able to afford basic necessities like food.

Our federal government clearly knows just how important the oil and gas sector is to the well-being of our country.

Oil and Gas Industry’s Contribution to Canada

Canada's Oil and Gas Industry Supports 530,000 workers and families across the country

> Over $200 billion in government revenues have been generated by the oil and gas industry from 2007-2017 (NRC)

> About $132 billion was added to Canada’s gross domestic product (GDP) by the oil and gas, extractive, service and pipeline sector in 2018 - roughly 6.8% of the national GDP (ARC Financial)

> Including natural gas distribution, petroleum and coal product manufacturing, plastics and rubbers, and petroleum product wholesalers brings that up to $163.2 billion of Canada’s GDP in 2018 (ARC Financial)

> Mineral fuels (including oil) accounted for 22% of Canada’s total exports in 2019. Exports represent nearly a quarter of Canada's GDP annually (World's Top Exports)

> More than $600 billion in payments to the federal government from 1961 to 2017 from Alberta, largely due to the prosperity of the oil and gas sector (Government of Alberta)

> About 530,000 direct and indirect jobs are supported across Canada by the oil and gas sector, or 530,000 potential families (CAPP)

What Would Happen if Canada’s Oil and Gas Industry Shut Down?

Canada OnG Taxes and Royalties Paid - Numbers Temp-10

> More than $163 billion of Canada’s GDP would be wiped away (2018, including all the related oil and gas sectors above). No industry would be able to replace this massive economic glut

> Hundreds of thousands of Canadians would lose their jobs across the country. The toll on families would be absolutely devastating

> Market share would be accounted for by other oil producers like Saudi Arabia, Angola, Nigeria and Iraq, of whom do not have the same high environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards that Canada does

> Government revenues would be severely handicapped, creating a huge glut in funds available for schools, hospitals, roads, and to pay people that make these public facilities and infrastructure possible

> Economists have said that the Canadian dollar is very much a “petrol” dollar. Shutting down Canada’s oil and gas industry would likely take its toll on our currency

Support Canadian Families & Economic Prosperity

Given the social and economic benefits created by this sector, it’s a no brainer for our federal government and Canadians across the country to support our oil and gas industry.

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