Canada imported 736,000 barrels of foreign oil a day last year, 16 per cent more than in 2014
It has been a crude awakening for Canadians looking for more domestic energy to fuel their everyday lives.
5. Two-in-three Canadians back the Energy East Pipeline Project
This news comes directly on the heels of a recent National Energy Board report that shows our country is increasingly dependent on foreign oil imports.
4. In 2015, Canada’s oil imports surged 16 percent to 736,000 barrels of oil a day
At last year’s average oil price, this is $35 million leaving our economy – each day – to pay for oil coming from the United States, Saudi Arabia or Nigeria. (National Energy Board Market Snapshot – Record high crude oil imports from the U.S. push Canadian oil imports to a three year high)
3. Eastern refineries are swamped with foreign oil
Our imports of U.S. crude oil jumped to 450,000 barrels a day in 2015 – compared to less than 100,000 barrels in 2010. And Saudi Arabia now fills over 10 per cent of our oil import needs. 10 per cent!
This means our country is dependent on a Middle Eastern country that has no oversight on the environmental impact of its oil production instead of relying on our own reserves in Canada – home to some of the most stringent environmental laws in the world. This simply doesn’t make sense.
So why are we in this position? Because our country currently doesn’t have an infrastructure that can safely transport crude oil from Western Canada to refineries in Montreal, Quebec City and Saint John.
2. Canadians want to choose where we get the oil we need
Oil is an essential part of our daily lives, not only for transportation, but also as a key component in thousands of articles we rely on, from smart phones and tablets to clothing, eyeglasses, lipstick, ski helmets, crayons, roofing and even heart valves – yes, heart valves.
There is an important choice before us all. That choice is about where we get the oil we need and how we choose to transport it. Energy East makes sense and this is why 59 per cent of Canadians believe the pipeline will eventually be built, according to the same Angus Reid poll. 59 per cent.
1. We support the continuing Energy East dialogue
The poll also shows some differences in support by region. Nine in 10 people in Alberta support Energy East while only one-in-two Quebecers back the project.
People in Quebec increasingly see the benefits of a project like Energy East but they want to ensure the project is done in a way that preserves the environment. We couldn’t agree more.
This is why we will continue our discussion – with local residents, First Nation communities and elected officials – to develop the Energy East Pipeline in the safest way possible, building on our 60-year experience, hundreds of field studies, and the invaluable feedback we received on the ground.
Please have your say on this important Canadian infrastructure project by contacting us here.
Related stories:
How are we listening to Quebec?
Energy East – a project for all Canadians
Support for Energy East is growing across Canada
You can also read this blog in French
