I have lived in Canada for just over 35 years, 25 as a citizen. For as long as I can recall, there has been an active discussion about the need for Canadian industry to add value to its resources, rather than simply extracting and exporting them. I have seen very little change in that direction, at least within the forest industry, which is what I am most familiar with.
The Alberta tar sands industry is the latest example of doing nothing in this regard. With support from the Harper Government, they argue that shipping dilbit (diluted bitumen) to China for refining is critical for Canada's economic future. We are asked to accept selling off Canadian companies, signing away control of our reserves of non-renewable natural resources, and putting one of the world's most pristine wilderness at risk.
Like many northern B.C. Canadians I drive a pickup truck that uses too much fuel. I will soon be dependent on pension funds that rely on a prosperous economy. I understand that we need hydrocarbon energy sources, and therefore that tar sands extraction may be necessary. But how can selling raw product to China be good for Canada? How does that generate sustainable wealth for Canadians, except for the few who can cash in on the sell-off?
Canada is not a self-sufficient producer of refined petroleum in spite of having huge reserves. I just don't understand how selling this resource can be in our best interest. The economist Robyn Allan indicated that prior to the market crash there were plans for refineries in Alberta. If it made sense to build refineries then, why doesn't it make sense now?
No matter how I turn and twist this issue, I come to the conclusion that the Northern Gateway project is exporting jobs that could be generated here in Canada by adding value to the product. If Prime Minister Harper truly wants to do what is good for all Canadians, and not just for a handful of investors, he would be supporting ways to refine the bitumen in Alberta. The Alberta tar sands represent an excellent opportunity to add substantial value to one of our natural resources before exporting it, and at the same time make Canada more or less self-sufficient with respect to petroleum energy. Surely that would be a better option. I have to concur with whoever said "refine it where you mine it."
Staffan Lindgren
Prince George
