The Canadian Circumstance & Background 

Why is it important for Canada to remain competitive?

A healthy, competitive energy sector creates jobs, builds vibrant communities, increases infrastructure, improves services, and maintains the quality of life we enjoy. The United States is Canada’s largest economic and trading partner. Like Canadians, Americans expect both economic growth and protection of the environment. Canada is well-positioned to continue to provide the U.S. with energy developed responsibly – both environmentally and socially. Balanced climate policy will help to maintain Canada’s competitive position, providing well-paid energy and technology jobs and a promising future.

Top Five Sources of Crude Oil and Petroleum Product Imports to the United States in 2008

Of the top five sources of oil to the U.S. Canada is the only country that currently has GHG regulation in place. In fact, the vast majority of Canadian production is subject to provincial GHG regulation.

Want to Know More?

World Energy Statistics (2008)

• Global demand for energy is expected to more than double by 2050 as economies in both developed and emerging countries continue to grow and the standard of living improves in the developing world. ²
• For Canadian and international oil and gas companies, access to conventional petroleum reserves is declining. ³
• According to the International Energy Agency, the world will need to invest $26.3 trillion in energy supplies up to 2030 to meet the growing energy demand ²
• Meeting increased energy demand will require an increasingly diverse energy supply base - continuing reliance on conventional petroleum resources, unconventional hydrocarbons (oil sands, shale gas, natural gas from coal, etc), alternatives (solar, wind, nuclear, hydro, etc) -- as well as improved energy efficiency across all sectors of the economy. ⁴
• Technological innovation and investment will play a critical role in meeting our energy needs and addressing climate. ²

Canadian Energy Statistics (2008)

• 1.35 million barrels per day of conventional oil production
• 1.3 million barrels per day of oil sands production
• 16.3 billion cubic feet per day of natural gas production
• $54 billion in capital spending
• Oil and gas industry currently supports 500,000 jobs across Canada
• Oil sands are forecasted to create 400,000 to 500,000 new jobs by 2050 (Canadian Energy Research Institute)
• Oil and gas industry current comprises about 25% of the Toronto Stock Exchange
• $26 billion in taxes and royalties paid to governments

Oil Sands GHG Statistics (2008)

• Oil sands industry contributes about 5% of Canada’s total GHG emissions
• Oil sands industry accounts for approximately 0.1% of global GHG emissions
• Oil sands GHG emissions equal about 1% and 1.6% of U.S. and Europe’s power generation emissions respectively
• On a well-to-wheel (lifecycle) basis ⁵ , the carbon intensity of oil sands-based fuels falls within the range of carbon intensities for other conventional crude-based fuels used in the United States. ⁶
• Today oil sands fuel is around 5-15% more GHG intensive that the average U.S. conventional fuel and a well-to-wheel (lifecycle) basis ³
• Oil sands GHG emissions have declined 39 per cent per barrel from 1990 to 2008
• Current Government of Alberta regulations require GHG emission reductions of 12% (from a year 2000 baseline average)

¹ International Energy Agency, September 15, 2009, ‘IEA proposes approaches to curb greenhouse gas emissions in the key sectors, industry and power.’ http://www.iea.org/press/pressdetail.asp?PRESS_REL_ID=288

²International Energy Agency, September 15, 2009, ‘IEA proposes approaches to curb greenhouse gas emissions in the key sectors, industry and power.’ http://www.iea.org/press/pressdetail.asp?PRESS_REL_ID=288

³ International Energy Agency, World Energy Outlook 2008. www.iea.org/press/pressdetail.asp?PRESS_REL_ID=275

⁴ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. www.ipcc.ch/pdf/presentations/poznan-COP-14/ralph-sims.pdf

⁵ A well-to-wheel CO₂e analysis calculates the total CO₂e emissions from the production and distribution of the feedstock and the fuel, and from the use of the fuel in the vehicle.
http://eipa.alberta.ca/home/lifecycle.aspx

⁶ Cambridge Energy Research Associates, Growth in Oil Sands – Finding the New Balance.
http://www.cera.com/aspx/cda/client/knowledgeArea/serviceDescription.aspx?KID=228