The liberal socialists are again blaming Alberta Conservatives for our trapped energy and these people have short memories. Mr. Spiller tells us that the Conservatives “invited the world to come for our almost free oil.” We hear no objection from him about Trudeau’s absence of an energy policy and our “almost free oil?” Mr. Spiller goes on to say that the Conservatives “weren’t smart enough to ensure there was a proper way to get this increased oil production to world markets”? He makes no mention that the direct cause of the situation can be laid on the steps of our current Liberal government? Mr. Spiller needs an energy policy history lesson and it has nothing to do with either the Klein or Stelmach governments.
During the mid 1960s to1970s, instead of building the infrastructure to effectively move Western Canadian oil to eastern refineries to cover our national needs as well as world markets, Canada was importing much of its oil from OPEC nations like Saudi Arabia at world prices. (Sound familiar?). In 1975, Pierre Trudeau was the leader of a minority Liberal government and in order to retain NDP support to keep his job, he capitulated to socialist demands that Canada nationalize its oil industry. Thus the biggest scam ever perpetrated on Canadian taxpayers was put into motion.
With NDP blessings using taxpayers dollars, Trudeau purchased or confiscated oil companies, among them Atlantic Richfield, Pacific Petroleum, BP and Petrofina and Petro-Canada was born. Next, Trudeau established the National Energy Policy aimed at giving Petro-Canada the exclusive rights to 25 per cent of selective parcels of Canada’s oil producing regions, all the while importing foreign oil. All in all, taxpayers have paid for Petro-Canada at least three times. Finally, in 1990, common sense prevailed and Petro-Canada became a publicly traded corporation.
Instead of nationalizing the oil industry, the correct action should have been to build the infrastructure needed to ensure that Western Canadian oil moved both east and west. This would have ensured the raw materials for our refining industry within Canada without continued “blood oil” importation from countries like Saudi Arabia who have no regard for life itself. More importantly, Canada would have the infrastructure to provide oil shipments to the world making Canada an economic power today.
To conclude, Canada’s pipeline infrastructure should have been built 50 years ago and the absence of pipelines can be blamed on every national government we’ve ever had. Trudeau the younger could have done what his father failed to do, but instead has taken up the mantra of establishing part two of the National Energy Program by canceling two pipeline projects both east and west and nationalizing the Kinder Morgan pipeline, our one remaining opportunity to gain world markets with Western Canadian oil. Like his father, no one can convince me that the actions of these two should not be considered treasonous. Old Pierre would be proud!
If anyone questions the validity of the history lesson, call me.
L. Leugner
