By Heather Wright, from www.theobserver.ca The Observer
There are jobs that can be created: Bradley
SARNIA-LAMBTON – Local politicians say the premier is being short-sighted when he runs down the Alberta oil sands.
Dalton McGuinty was on the defensive recently after the Alberta premier suggested he should be more supportive of oil sand development since Ontario stands to benefit from it.
But McGuinty wouldn’t give his support saying Canada’s high “petro dollar” was hurting Ontario.
“That has knocked the wind out of Ontario exporters and manufacturing in particular,” Mr. McGuinty told reporters in Toronto. “So if I had my preferences as to whether we had a rapidly growing oil and gas sector in the west or a lower dollar, I’ll tell you where I stand: with the lower dollar.”
McGuinty later clarified his remarks saying he would like to see all of Canada to do well, but didn’t apologize.
That has left Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley “puzzled.”
Bradley says Sarnia Lambton Economic Partnership has been making connections in Alberta’s oil patch for the past 18 months trying to link secondary manufacturers with oil sands producers who are desperate for help.
“There are jobs that can be created,” says Bradley. “They need the skills that are available here in Sarnia-Lambton…They’re 100,000 people short of skilled labour…they’re even going to Ireland to get it.”
Bradley says Ontario could be cashing in. And studies show there is money to be made. A Canadian Energy Research Institute study shows Ontario could create 65,000 jobs and $63 billion in economic spin offs from the oil sands in 25 years.
“If Canada wants to be a true energy superpower, that’s what (Prime Minister Stephen) Harper has talked about – it has to have this type of cooperation between provinces,” says Bradley.”
Sarnia-Lambton MPP Bob Bailey agrees. He says more benefits could be realized if Ontario partnered with the private sector to build a new upgrader in Sarnia to refine oil sands crude.
“The material could be sent through an existing pipeline corridor to Sarnia to be refined. The economic benefits could be enormous,” said Bailey. “But Dalton McGuinty is too short-sighted to see that potential.”
Bradley says the premier may not want to link Ontario to the oil sands, preferring to stay the “green” course.
“Some days I feel like the fossil fuel/chemical industry is the Rodney Dangerfield of the energy industry because of the way it is treated by the provincial government,” he says, referring to the comedian who quipped he didn’t get respect. “We can’t change the dollar. The oil sands are still going to be developed. Why wouldn’t you take advantage of it?”
Observer Article ID# 3495192
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