Canadians may be forgiven for thinking that Canada’s energy supplies are secure when they hear Prime Minster Harper calling Canada an “energy superpower”. They are reminded regularly by the press that Canada is a (net) exporter of oil and gas and one of the US’s largest suppliers.
The truth is Canada is almost as dependent on foreign oil imports as the US. In 2006, Canada imported 51% of its oil supply. Eastern Canada, particularly Quebec and the maritime provinces are primarily supplied by foreign oil imported from the middle east.
Canadians ought to be aware that the price of NAFTA was a loss of Canadian sovereignty over our energy resources. Canada has been integrated into a ‘continental’, market based energy system that acts to serve US interests ahead of Canadians—more security for the US and more insecurity for Canadians.
Canadian energy policy is being set by US and Canadian energy industry groups through the shadowy “Security and Prospertity Partnership” process that few Canadians know anything about.
Canadians need an public energy policy made by Canadians that puts Canadians interests first.
Little-known facts
- Ontario imports almost half its oil from the world market, and Quebec imports over 90%
- Canada has no oil reserve and the National Energy Board has no emergency plan
- Canada’s energy cannot go to Canadians first in times of scarcity
Gordon Laxer from Alberta’s Parkland Institute gave a presentation in Toronto on 19 June 2007 on energy security in Canada and Ontario.
- Laxer’s presentation in Toronto on 19 June 2007 (PowerPoint file): Gordon_Laxer_Parkland_Institute_for_PCT.ppt
- Read Laxer’s op-ed in the Globe and Mail (28 May 2007): Easterners could freeze in the dark (on G&M web site) or printable version (PDF): Easterners could freeze in the dark
Comic
Read our latest comic Energy Security in Canada & Ontario
Written by Jeff Berg and illustrated by Claudia Dávila