Harper’s role in the debate over Canada’s oil sands

The comment from Canadian Environment Minister Peter Kent in recent media, describing oil extraction from oil sands as "ethical" has re-ignited the arguments between corporate protectionism and environmental sustainability.

Kent has been described as a fossil sales man, while a scientific report last month said governments and regulators were lagging world standards in their ability to oversee the oil sands and monitor their environmental impact.

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper said on Friday (7th January) that not only are the oil sands a source of economic growth and employment for Canadians, but that the US should value Canada's oil supply over other sources because of the country's democratic track record.

He said: "It is critical to develop that resource in a way that's responsible and environmental and the reality for the United States, which is the largest buyer of our oil ... is that Canada is a very ethical society and very secure source of energy for the US compared to other energy sources,"

The Energy Policy Research Foundation, Inc. (EPRINC) states in a primer on the Canadian oil sands, however, that oil sands production methods contribute higher volumes of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions than the production of conventional crude oil. The primer explains that this is because of the relatively high energy use and/or irreversibly damaging removal of the land surface involved.

Opinions expressed regarding the oil sands are varied, as are views of the imminence of a peaking of global oil reserves. Many energy institutions have been accused of under stating oil reserves to raise profits, or of over stating reserves so as to reduce panic buying.

Industry experts and media have relayed mixed data on the reserves held in the Canadian oil sands. Activists have long seen this discrepancy as a sign of propaganda supporting large oil corporations, and Harper's comments and appointment of Kent as Environment Minister, have provided further concern. Canada's bitumen miners include BP, which polluted the Gulf of Mexico and Exxon Mobil, which has funded attacks on climate science.

Canada is presented as having the second largest oil reserves around, thanks to the oil sands reserves in Alberta. The high cost of heavy oil sands production, involving extraction in harsh environments, has been given as a reason for previously leaving oil sands unexploited. The apparent change in perceived profit margin has further raised activists' and scientists' suspicions.

Ottawa responded to reports that regulation standards on oil sands ventures were lagging by announcing plans to better monitor projects and their effects on the environment.

Author: Marianna Keen | Climate Action

Image: World Economic Forum | Flickr