Canada's oil and gas emissions/production cap on its job-creating, prosperity-generating oil and gas sector is receiving relentless criticism from leaders nationwide. The general consensus is that the cap could:
- Reduce Canadian oil and natural gas production for compliance
- Make Canadian energy less competitive and drive investment away
- Cede Canada's market share to less reliable producers abroad
- Block Indigenous communities from economic reconciliation opportunities
- Make life less affordable for Canadians by reducing our purchasing power
But don't take our word for it.
Below, various Canadian leaders and organizations share their thoughts on the oil and natural gas emissions cap and why it is an unnecessary policy for several important reasons.
- $1 Trillion & 151,000 Jobs: Potential Economic Cost of Canada's Oil & Gas Emissions Cap
- 20 Must-Read Articles About Canada's Oil & Gas Production Cap
- Former Federal Finance Minister Says Now Isn't the Time for the Oil & Gas Cap
32 Quotes on Canada's Oil & Gas Emissions Cap
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Look around the world. No other major oil and gas producer is doing what we're doing - the United States, Norway, Gulf states. We are the only major oil and gas producers in the world to do this.
Steven Guilbeault - Canada's Minister of Environment and Climate Change [24]
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These new federal policies will have serious economic impacts on Canadians and limit our... Canadian energy products from providing heat and electricity to the world.
Scott Moe - Premier of Saskatchewan [13]
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Every barrel of oil that won't be produced due to Ottawa's emissions cap is one more barrel Venezuela, Iran or Russia will be happy to sell. Capping oil and gas emissions will... cost us dearly in jobs and tax revenue.
Montreal Economic Institute [1]
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The cap is a wedge issue... It is a complex way to levy a higher price on a single sector, while still allowing Quebec to lag behind others.
Trevor Tombe – Professor of Economics, Research Fellow, The School of Public Policy, University of Calgary [2]
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I estimate that a 10 percent hit to productivity in the oil and gas extraction sector shrinks Canada's economy by approximately 1.2 percent. That's equivalent to roughly $35 billion per year, or nearly $900 per person per year.
Much of the decline is in Alberta and Saskatchewan, of course. But I estimate over 40 percent of the economic costs are borne by other provinces — and nearly one-quarter by Ontario alone. In fact, every single province is negatively affected. A 10 percent productivity hit to oil and gas, for example, lowers Ontario's overall productivity by over 0.6 percent and shrinks the Atlantic provinces by roughly 0.5 percent.
Trevor Tombe – Professor of Economics, Research Fellow, The School of Public Policy, University of Calgary [3]
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Each time Ottawa forces the Canadian energy sector to contract, it is foreign producers who win. Ottawa does not have the means to affect global demand, so reducing local supply will only end up exporting jobs and tax revenues.
Gabriel Giguère – Public Policy Analyst, Montreal Economic Institute [4]
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Ottawa’s new energy production cap means fewer jobs, higher costs for essentials and less income for groceries, transportation and the basic cost of living.
Danielle Smith - Premier of Alberta [18]
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A cap on emissions does not achieve the outcomes the federal government is looking for. The emissions cap, as currently structured, will create more uncertainty and stifle investments... and risks moving investments to other jurisdictions – ultimately leaving Canada further behind.
Deborah Yedlin – President & CEO, Calgary Chamber of Commerce [6]
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It's disheartening. Disheartening because what these projects mean to Indigenous People in Canada. For far too long we've been left out of the equation, we've been left out of every bit of consultation and accommodation. And now that we've been finally have a seat at the table, we are being shoved aside again, which is not good for Canada.
We just started our projects in Canada, the equity ownership, it all sounds all well and good and promising. But it still hits the Indigenous People of Canada hard, because there are nations that have signed on that are expecting economic prosperity while at the same time maintaining high... standards. So we need to have further discussions for what this means to the Indigenous People of Canada.
Karen Ogen – CEO, First Nations LNG Alliance [9]
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Pursuing a sector-specific emissions policy would come at a high cost... creating undue harm to the economy and the purchasing power of Canadians.
Goldy Hyder – President & CEO, Business Council of Canada [16]
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At a time when Canada's economy is stalling, imposing an oil and gas emissions cap will only make Canadians poorer. Strong climate action requires a strong economy. This cap will leave us with neither.
Today's announcement ahead of the U.S. presidential election also sends the wrong signal to our most important trading partner that looks to Canada as a secure and reliable source of energy. A de facto cap on oil and gas production would restrict cross-border energy trade and harm our shared economic and security interests.
Goldy Hyder – President & CEO, Business Council of Canada [28]
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Treating oil and gas sectors emissions as if they're different than emissions produced by the cement industry, the steel industry, or any other industry, it seems to be a weak policy rationale to move forward on developing a complex system for one sector when you've already got a system in place that seems to be working reasonably well.
Michael Gullo – Vice President, Business Council of Canada [5]
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The emissions cap announced by the federal government today, replete with unrealistic timeframes and an additional regulatory structure creates greater uncertainty that will strand investment, not attract it.
Calgary Chamber of Commerce [6]
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This proposed cap will lower quality of life for all Albertans and for all Canadians, and put thousands of jobs and a stable energy supply at risk.
Brian Jean - Alberta Minister of Energy and Minerals [19]
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Believe it or not, I agree with federal Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault. Announcing his updated emissions cap regulations this week, he bragged that “no other major oil and gas producer is doing what we’re doing.” He is right.
But it’s not because countries like Norway and the United States aren’t as “visionary” as our federal government believes itself to be. No, other oil- and gas-producing countries aren’t implementing an emissions cap because they understand the incredible importance of the oil and gas sector to their economies and they’re too smart to shoot themselves in the foot.
Alex Pourbaix - Executive Chair, Cenovus Energy [22]
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By targeting Canadian producers, the federal government has no effect on global oil demand. Ultimately, every barrel of oil Ottawa keeps in the ground here will be replaced by a barrel of oil produced elsewhere in the world.
Krystle Wittevrongel, Director of Research, Montreal Economic Institute [30]
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Imposing an emissions cap on Canada's oil and gas producers... is unnecessary and unacceptable. A federal emissions cap also introduces further uncertainty, including likely constitutional challenges.
To ensure Canadian producers can continue to... produce the affordable and reliable energy that the world needs... our sector must compete for investment – this requires balance, pragmatism, and incentives instead of punitive measures like an emissions cap that further damage Canada's reputation as a place where projects are far too expensive, goalposts are uncertain, and... performance is not recognized.
Instead of promoting harmful measures that shift production to other jurisdictions – which will increase energy costs for Canadians – Canada should be focused on implementing incentives that are comparable to programs being offered elsewhere in the world. Government should be finalizing previously announced incentives... support[ing] multi-million dollar, multi-decade projects.
Explorers and Producers Association of Canada [7]
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"We strongly oppose an emissions cap... It is simply a punitive approach, not in line with other countries."
Tristan Goodman - President, Explorers and Producers Association of Canada [14]
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It will put thousands of Albertans out of work, and a cap on production is nothing short of the NEP (National Energy Program) all over again. It's the single-biggest existential threat (to the sector). An emissions cap is a cap on production. It's as simple as that.
Bob Geddes - President, Ensign Energy Services [14]
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A pathway to self-determination is being achieved through the ownership of oil and gas projects and involvement in the sector. This would result in a cap on Indigenous opportunity in the oil and gas sector.
John Desjarlais – Executive Director, Indigenous Resource Network [8]
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Despite the federal government's stated objective that the emission cap should not put a limit on Canadian oil and natural gas production, the unintended consequences of the draft framework... could result in significant curtailments – making this draft framework effectively a cap on production. At a time when the country's citizens are experiencing a substantial affordability crisis, coincident with record budget deficits, the federal government risks curtailing the energy Canadians rely on, along with jobs and government revenues the energy sector contributes to Canada.
An emissions cap on the upstream oil and natural gas industry is unnecessary... Canada is a major exporter of hydrocarbons to its western allies who value our commitment to energy security while operating under one of the most stringent... regulatory regimes in the world.
Lisa Baiton – President & CEO, Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers [10]
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Secure, reliable, affordable energy matters… this policy will devastate the Canadian economy, drive up costs for families and kill tens of thousands of jobs.
Rebecca Schulz - Alberta Minister of Environment & Protected Areas [20]
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Given the sustained demand for fossil fuels, constraining oil and gas production and exports in Canada would merely shift production to other regions, potentially to countries with lower... human rights standards such as Iran, Russia and Venezuela.
Julio Mejia & Elmira Aliakbari - Analysts, Fraser Institute [23]
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An emissions cap, which will act as a cap on domestic production of natural gas, will harm Canadian families and businesses by raising prices on energy.
Francois Poirier - Chief Executive Officer, TC Energy [26]
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The oil and gas emission cap announced today is a discriminatory and divisive policy proposal - the epitome of bad public policy.
It will cap Canadian prosperity - billions of dollars and tens of thousands of jobs lost for no benefit, and the burden will be borne largely in one region and one sector....
We cannot create further division and polarization in Canada through policy. We need our governments to unite, not divide.
Adam Legge - President, Business Council of Alberta [27]
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The federal government's proposed emissions cap is the wrong policy. The new regulations couldn't arrive at a worse time.
Adam Sweet - Director, Western Canada, Clean Prosperity [25]
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We're concerned about the Government's decision to pursue an Oil and Gas Emissions Cap without adequately considering industry concerns. The proposed emissions cap will make Canada uncompetitive in the fight for the global capital that actually encourages investment... We shouldn't be the jurisdiction with the least attractive fiscal policies...
We need a strategy that balances our... plan with economic growth, and we'll only get that through collaboration between the government, provincial authorities, and industry...
If we truly want to... create jobs and support Indigenous economic reconciliation, our fiscal policies need to reflect the realities of the energy transition and the need for a robust economy.
Bryan N. Detchou - Senior Director, Natural Resources, Environment and Sustainability, Canadian Chamber of Commerce [11]
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It's not an emissions cap, it is a production cap. The government is piling on to make energy less affordable. It's a sad day for Canadians because people don't want to invest in our country when they read those rules or regulations. So it's self-fulfilling that energy costs go up.
We've had... what's called a piling on or a pancake of new regulations. And I start from a position that Canada has one of the best records...
Jeff Tonken - Chief Executive Officer, Birchcliff Energy [15]
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Canada's plan to institute a hard cap on greenhouse gas emissions from the oil and gas sector is deeply problematic.
First, given the limitations of technology, achieving greenhouse gas reductions from the oil and gas sector in Canada is likely to be achieved primarily by curtailing production of oil and gas in Canada, with all of the negative economic and social impacts such reduction has had in the past, when natural fluctuations in world markets for oil and gas led to reduced production, export, and sale of Canadian oil and gas. Inflicting such pain on Canada's economy voluntarily would seem to fall into the category of "shooting oneself in the foot."
...Capping Canada's greenhouse gas emissions of the oil and gas sector will have impacts that transcend just that sector, harming Canada's nascent and growing petrochemical and plastics manufacturing sectors, which are located across Canada in Alberta, Ontario, and Quebec.
Kenneth P. Green - Senior Fellow, Fraser Institute [12]
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When we are the only producing country in the world doing this [emissions cap], perhaps we should pause for a moment and ask "why is that?"
Eric Nuttall – Partner & Senior Portfolio Manager, Ninepoint Partners [17]
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The economic consequences of enacting this plan are very serious. It would make Canada the only country in the world which willingly and purposefully stifles its single largest revenue stream.
Dan McTeague – President, Canadians for Affordable Energy [21]
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Instead of sparking innovation, the emissions cap is a ‘stick’ approach that will end up penalizing production — and the economic benefits, jobs and productivity that come from it.
Tracey Bodnarchuk - Chief Executive Officer, Canada Powered by Women [29]
Does Canada Need the Oil & Gas Emissions Cap?
How does limiting Canadian oil and gas production through an emissions cap:
- Support Canada's economic prosperity?
- Support local and Indigenous jobs?
- Reduce global energy demand?
- Attract investment capital?
- Help our allies asking for our energy exports?
- Make life more affordable for Canadians?
- Make the world a better place?
Capping oil local oil and gas production emissions is unnecessary, unaffordable, and unattainable. Other producers will benefit, while Canadian and Indigenous families suffer from lost jobs and economic opportunities.
Let's return to a balanced conversation so that Canada can continue to be the reliable energy supplier the world needs. Our proven track record shows that we don't have to choose between supporting traditional or renewable forms of energy—we can do both for a more energy-secure and more prosperous Canada.
With growing global demand for years to come, a cap on Canada's responsible oil and natural gas supply just doesn't make any sense, whichever way you put it.
SOURCES:
1 - https://twitter.com/iedm_montreal/status/1732801712790851894?s=12&t=Act9QPUigWotLffoxqV2cA
2 - https://twitter.com/trevortombe/status/1732795750302830876?s=12&t=Act9QPUigWotLffoxqV2cA
3 - https://thehub.ca/2023-12-14/trevor-tombe-careful-an-oil-and-gas-emissions-cap-wont-just-hurt-alberta/
4 - https://www.iedm.org/capping-the-energy-sectors-emissions-would-deprive-canada-of-over-6-0-billion-a-year/
5 - https://thebusinesscouncil.ca/publication/missions-cap-weakens-canadas-climate-policy-system/
6 - https://calgarychamber.com/release-calgary-chamber-disappointed-by-emissions-cap
7 - https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/explorers-and-producers-association-of-canada-opposes-emissions-cap-on-responsible-canadian-oil-and-gas-producers-803459882.html
8 - https://www.canadianenergycentre.ca/business-leaders-blast-ottawas-unnecessary-and-unacceptable-oil-and-gas-emissions-cap/
9 - https://twitter.com/ESF_Canada/status/1733062193258934285
10 - https://www.capp.ca/news-releases/statement-from-the-canadian-association-of-petroleum-producers-capp-on-the-federal-government-emissions-cap-framework/
11 - https://chamber.ca/news/statement-regarding-the-federal-governments-announcement-of-the-oil-and-gas-cap-framework/
12 - https://www.fraserinstitute.org/sites/default/files/canadas-ghg-cap-imposed-on-oil-and-gas-industry-is-all-pain-with-no-gain.pdf
13 - https://twitter.com/PremierScottMoe?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor
14 - https://calgaryherald.com/opinion/columnists/varcoe-oilpatch-ottawa-new-cap-trade-emissions-plan
15 - https://calgary.ctvnews.ca/cap-on-greenhouse-gas-emissions-singles-out-alberta-premier-smith-says-1.6677660
16 - https://thebusinesscouncil.ca/publication/rethinking-an-oil-and-gas-cap/
17 - https://twitter.com/ericnuttall/status/1733171022176596452
18,19,20 - X, @ABDanielleSmith
21 - https://www.westernstandard.news/opinion/mcteague-ottawas-intentional-destruction-of-western-wealth/58643
22 - https://edmontonjournal.com/opinion/columnists/opinion-canadas-emissions-cap-shortsighted-and-punitive
23 - https://calgarysun.com/opinion/columnists/mejia-and-aliakbari-trudeaus-emissions-cap-will-impose-massive-costs-with-virtually-no-benefit
24 – https://calgaryherald.com/opinion/columnists/varcoe-legal-scrap-ottawa-emissions-cap
25 – https://cleanprosperity.ca/oil-and-gas-emissions-cap-is-the-wrong-policy-at-the-wrong-time/
26 - https://www.biv.com/news/resources-agriculture/oil-and-gas-sector-premier-smith-slam-federal-emissions-cap-9757637
27 - https://www.linkedin.com/posts/business-council-of-alberta_please-see-the-statement-below-from-bca-president-activity-7259266696396328960-LSPY?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_android
28 - https://www.thebusinesscouncil.ca/publication/emissions-cap-will-make-canadians-poorer-and-harm-energy-ties-with-the-u-s/
29 - https://calgaryherald.com/opinion/columnists/opinion-a-cap-on-emissions-a-cap-on-our-future-women-have-a-better-way
30 - https://www.iedm.org/emissions-cap-many-jobs-lost-for-very-few-gains-finds-mei/