Letter to the Editor – July 29th

Canada no longer a ‘can-do’ country in energy

Re. “While Canada’s LNG dream fades, U.S. gears up,” Gary Lamphier, July 22

So much promise, so much missed opportunity. The column is a stark reminder of the costly consequences of British Columbia’s languishing liquefied natural gas (LNG) industry and Canada’s inability in general to get energy projects off the ground — projects that are critical to our economy.

The question is when will Canada smarten up? It’s not only the U.S. that’s become a strong competitor. Russia has signed big export deals, Africa is expanding production and Australia is on its way to becoming the world’s largest LNG exporter.

When it comes to mustering the inertia to move forward on LNG projects as well as new pipelines, Canada is stuck in quicksand. We’re a resource-based country that can’t seem to grasp that the global market for energy and other natural resources has become increasingly competitive. If we can’t find a way of improving the speed and efficiency of getting our resources to market, Canada loses its market access and all of the investment, opportunity and economic benefits that go along with it.

We are, after all, the country that built the oilsands, an energy marvel and triumph of technology, engineering and political will. Canada was a can-do country back then. It has the same opportunity now to lead, innovate, and show the world that it still has what it takes.

Darrel Reid, vice-president, policy and advocacy, Progressive Contractors Association of Canada, Edmonton