Canada’s oil producers have launched a coordinated lobby campaign ahead of this October’s federal election.
Three of Canada’s biggest oil producing companies took out a full-page newspaper advertisement to put pressure on politicians to support the struggling oil and gas industry ahead of the fall election.
The ad consists of a letter to Canadians from senior executives of Canadian Natural Resources Ltd, the country’s biggest oil and gas producer, Cenovus Energy Inc (TSX:CVE) and MEG Energy Corp (TSX:MEG) pleading for support and pointing to a 30% reduction in emission intensity during the past 20 years.
The ad and lobby effort come as opposition from environmental and indigenous groups have stalled new pipeline projects that are needed to move Canadian crude oil to refineries. Congested pipelines have forced the main oil-producing province of Alberta to curtail production to support prices.
"We are asking you to join us in urging Canada’s leaders of all political stripes to help our country thrive by supporting an innovative energy industry," the letter, which appeared in several Canadian newspapers late last week, read. It said that limiting Canada’s oil industry could result in greater use of more highly polluting fuels from other countries.
The letter did not go into specifics, but the oil industry opposes laws imposed by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberals that ban oil tankers in northern British Columbia and alter the regulatory process for resource projects.
Polls show the Liberals and Conservatives in a close race ahead of the October vote.
Canadians’ views on the oil industry vary widely by region, ranging from staunch support in Alberta and Saskatchewan to robust opposition in Quebec.
