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MERIDIAN SOURCE
Thursday, March 14, 2019
Chamber pitches Bill C-69 debate GEOFF LEE
WRITER
.................................. Bill C-69 could be debated in Lloydminster by some of Canada’s parliamentary Senators. That’s what the Lloydminster Chamber of Commerce is advocating on behalf of its members with respect to Bill-C-69 that aims to overhaul the review process for pipeline projects in Canada. Chamber president Dabir Naqvi spoke about the pitch following a presentation on a new energy vision for Alberta by the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers at the Travelodge last Thursday. “We’ve just sent a letter to the Senators asking them to have a discussion on that bill right here in Lloyd— that letter just went out yesterday,” said Naqvi. “We are supporting our energy industry with respect to getting these pipelines approved.” The Chamber’s message has the support of CAPP president Tim McMillan who outlined a four-point “vote for energy” platform for any political party to adapt in the next provincial election. “Our vision is that we can double investment in the next few years; that we can double the growth rate globally and overtake China and Iran
on the oil side and Iraq and Qatar on the gas side,” said McMillan. He says to do we need to have efficient market access, an investment policy that attracts dollars, a climate change policy that doesn’t impede investment and a more efficient regulatory system. “My intent is all parties would adopt it,” said McMillan. “Because of that we have been very clear on what would grow the Alberta economy and being clear and crisp on that, I think it gives all parties the ability to grasp on to those solutions.” McMillan sees Chambers of Commerce in the province particularly the Lloydminster Chamber as an ally in CAPP’s campaign to ensure Albertans vote for energy when they go to the polls. “No Chamber in the country knows the energy business better than the Lloydminster Chamber,” he said “So where we can partner, where we can work together and that’s on most things, we should.” When it comes to improving market access with new pipelines Naqvi says it’s important for local businesses to ensure our products have access to export markets than just the U.S. “We organized this
presentation and I think it was very important to hear Tim as to what CAPP is doing for our oil and gas producing companies,” said Naqvi. McMillan told the Chamber that Alberta is hurting from the current challenges facing the province’s oil and gas industry and says the local impact is very personal for him. McMillan grew up in the area, owned his own oil company and was a former Minister of Energy and Resources and Lloydminster MLA in one of his four cabinets positions with the Saskatchewan Party from 2010-2014. “This is my home and it’s very apparent things aren’t abstract and they’re real, the lack of activity affects every one of those that work in the oil and gas field and those that don’t,” he said. “As in a community like Lloydminster, we’re all in this together.” CAPP’s new Alberta Energy Platform, Oil and Natural Gas Priorities for a Prosperous Alberta, will be a blueprint for a similar energy policy recommendation for federal political parties to adapt in the 2019 fall election. “We have a role to inform and debate to inform Canadians they’re making their decision in the fall,” said McMillan.