Mason: Cancel Keystone to save Alberta jobs
August 31, 2011
Alberta’s NDP Opposition leader Brian Mason is calling for the cancellation of the Keystone XL pipeline project because it will kill potential Alberta jobs.
A consultant report to the U.S. Departments of Energy and State revealed today states increased upgrading and refining of Alberta bitumen in the province would shift investment and jobs to Alberta from the U.S. The PCs are killing Alberta jobs with their support for the line, Mason says.
“The PCs cannot be trusted to get a fair deal for the resources Albertans own,” says Mason. “Alberta’s government should be trying to get the most jobs for Albertans instead of bending over backwards for the oil industry.”
Increased Alberta upgrading would help delay the need for a new pipeline for decades, the report says. However, the report says bitumen upgrading has declined in Alberta in recent years. Industry perception of risk has been a factor in expanding upgrading.
“If we refuse to allow jobs to go down the pipe with Keystone XL, there will be a stronger incentive for industry to keep jobs here. This report backs that point. Alberta needs a government willing to show leadership and demand the best return for our resources – that’s NDP leadership,” Mason says.