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Norway a poor comparison for Alberta

In regard to Mr. Guzik’s letter of July 31, allow me to tweak some inaccuracies: Norway’s population is 5.3 million versus 37 million in Canada. Norway’s land mass is a fraction of Canada’s at 385 sq kms versus Canada’s 9.9 million sq kms. Norway’s

In regard to Mr. Guzik’s letter of July 31, allow me to tweak some inaccuracies:

Norway’s population is 5.3 million versus 37 million in Canada. 

Norway’s land mass is a fraction of Canada’s at 385 sq km versus Canada’s 9.9 million sq km.

Norway’s electrical energy is 98% hydro-electric produced, largest and cheapest in the world.

Norway’s energy industry is largely government controlled as Stat-Oil, it pays no royalties, taxes or equalization payments like Alberta.

Norway extracts light marine ocean oil from its 12 or so platforms, pumps all of it to storage or tankers and other than filtration, does not require extensive processing before refining. In addition, it requires NO lengthy pipelines at all.

Alberta is a partner province in Confederation and pays royalties and taxes and equalization payments to Ottawa.

Alberta’s energy prosperity began with Turner Valley Oil and Gas in 1915, Leduc Imperial Esso conventional oil gusher in 1947, and in 1967 after 30 years of intensive test plants and a process pioneered by Dr Karl Clark, Great Canadian Oil Sands, 52 years ago last month, started producing 45,000 barrels daily of a semi-refined oil from its heavy bitumen. There are over 48 deposits of heavy oil on this planet. Alberta Oil is lighter than both Californian or Venezuelan oil but is rated as a heavy oil based on its carbon to hydrogen ratio.

Heavy oil from extraction to refining goes through six processes, is extremely labour intensive and must conform to the tightest environmental standards anywhere on earth. In fact, senators from the U.S. have twice visited Alberta to witness this giant operation, now producing over three million barrels of oil daily, but in the last 15 years has reduced its greenhouse gas emissions per barrel by 20 per cent.

Mr. Guzik, you misunderstood what the provincial war chest is all about. Vivian Krause, a tax researcher from B.C. unconnected to Alberta or its resources, noted that millions of dollars were flowing from the U.S. to Canada to certain charitable societies NOT for environmental reasons but to “shut down Alberta oil industry” that employs hundreds of thousands of workers in Alberta and across Canada in supply and services

No nation can sustain malevolent sources illegally attacking its industries and the new Alberta government decided to fight back at any sources affecting our energy industry. Note that no other source of oil was affected by these attacks, only Alberta oil. Thus the war room. It protects jobs.

Our largest energy industrial company is Canadian, employing over 9,500 in great paying jobs in Alberta and elsewhere across Canada.

More details available at www.capp.ca or visit our science centre for energy at www.oilsandsdiscovery.com in Fort McMurray.

Thank you for your interest. St. Albert has over 2,100 residents who worked in Canada’s energy industries over many years. (Stats-Can)

Bert MacKay, Edmonton
Life member, Alberta Petroleum History Society, Calgary

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