Economy 

When most Canadians think of oil sands, they think of Alberta. After all, Alberta holds the lion’s share of Canada’s oil sands. Yet the benefits of this vast resource of buried bitumen extend well beyond Alberta’s borders – and well into the future.

Today, every dollar invested in the oil sands creates about $8 in economic activity, with much of that economic value generated outside Alberta – in Canada, the U.S., and around the world.

According to the Canadian Energy Research Institute (CERI) almost every community in Canada has been touched by oil sands development through the stimulating impact it has on job creation and economic growth.

In terms of jobs, the petroleum industry is a significant employer within Alberta, impacting the livelihoods of over 239,000 Albertans.

But a closer look reveals that oil sands development creates a number of jobs outside the province. The goods, materials, and services used to construct and operate in situ oil sands projects, mines, and upgraders come from across Canada. Many of the components – tires, trucks, gauges, valves, pumps, etc. – are produced in the industrial regions of Eastern Canada.

Oil Sands currently affects the jobs of 112,000 people across Canada and this is expected to grow to over 500,000 jobs over the next 25 years. Many of these will be created in provinces outside of Alberta. Ontario is one of the largest benefactors with seven per cent of the total jobs from oil sands. British Columbia receives the benefit of six per cent of total oil sands jobs and Quebec and Saskatchewan see about three per cent each. Oil sands growth will create new jobs in these and other regions across Canada over the next 25 years.

Ontario & Oil Sands

Businesses in Ontario play a vital role in the development of the oil sands. Many of the components needed for developing this vast resource are produced in the industrial regions of central Canada.