What in Tar-nation? Cdn Energy-Enviro Security Gordon Laxer Parkland Institute Univ. of Alberta Climate Change Conference 2010 Aug 14, 2010.

What in Tar-nation? Cdn Energy-Enviro Security

• Gordon Laxer• Parkland Institute• Univ. of Alberta• Climate Change

Conference 2010• Aug 14, 2010

Andrew Nikiforuk #2

• “Due to their extreme energy intensity the tar sands have a higher carbon footprint than any other commercial oil product on the planet”

Emerging Energy Superpower? #3

• En route to first G-8 meeting, Stephen Harper proclaimed in London:

• Canada is the “emerging energy superpower our government intends to build"

Alberta’s northern boreal forest #4

National Geographic Mag Feb 2009 #5

Tar sands are Mordor - Maude Barlow [Lord of

Rings] #6

Tar sands’ eco-disaster #7

• Move 2 tons of earth for 1 barrel oil• Uses 4 barrels water for 1 barrel oil• carbon emissions 3 X higher than light oil• Killing native people, wildlife• Comprise ¼ of Alberta: size of England • Toxic lakes: 2nd largest dam in world• Many toxic emissions – [Environ Can]• Depleting Canada’s natural gas• Tar sands mainly for export to U.S.

Curse of Proximity to United States #8

“Poor Mexico, so far from God and so close to the United States” Porfirio Diaz

“Canada’s relationship with the United States is like that of "a mouse in bed with an elephant … no matter how friendly the beast … one is affected by every twitch & grunt."

Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau 1969

U.S. oil use at other countries’ levels #9

6

United States 19.42 million b/ day 2008

U.S use at Cdn level 18.8 m b/day

U.S. use at Australian level 11.95 m b/day

U.S. use at Swedish level 9.91 m b/day

U.S. use at U.S. oil output level

8.5 m b/day

U.S. use at British levelSource: BP Statistical Review of World Energy 2009 (2004 stats. Oil only). My calculations. U.S. use level from EIA 2009.

8.14 m /day

George W. Bush can count on a secure flow of oil & gas from its biggest energy supplier & trading partner – Canada

Prime Minister Stephen Harper

#10

Superpowers vs Satellites / colonies #11

• Superpowers can influence events by projecting economic, military, political & cultural power on world scale

• Satellites are formally independent countries, dominated through deep ideological allegiance, & econ. dependence on more powerful country

Canadian Energy Insecurity Freeze in Dark #12

Canada’s Oil Imports:2008 Canada imported 54% of its oil• No strategic petroleum reserves. [Only IEA Country]

• No plans for internat’l oil supply crisis• Not enough pipelines supply Canada with domestic oil

Instead:Exports to US:65% of Canada’s oil production59% Canada’s natural gas

Yr / importsYr / imports B/dayB/day OPECOPEC North SeaNorth Sea

20052005

950,000 b/day950,000 b/day41.3%41.3%Algeria 17.6%Algeria 17.6%

S Arabia 8.2%S Arabia 8.2%

Iraq 7.1%Iraq 7.1%

41.7%41.7%Norway 26.0%Norway 26.0%

UK 15.7%UK 15.7%

20062006

849,000 b/day849,000 b/day45.0%45.0%Algeria 20.7%Algeria 20.7%

Iraq 8.1%Iraq 8.1%

S Arabia 8.0%S Arabia 8.0%

37.0%37.0%Norway 21.7%Norway 21.7%

UK 15.3%UK 15.3%

2007 2007

857,123 b/day857,123 b/day49.6%49.6%Algeria 20.9%Algeria 20.9%

S Arabia 8.6%S Arabia 8.6%

Iraq 7.3%Iraq 7.3%

37.8%37.8%Norway 21.4%Norway 21.4%

UK 16.4%UK 16.4%

Canada’s oil imports by sourceCanada’s oil imports by source

International Energy Agency, “World Energy Outlook 2008”. #13International Energy Agency, “World Energy Outlook 2008”. #13

NAFTA’s Proportionality clause #14

• Proportionality clause prohibits Canada from lowering the share of its total exports in specific energy goods relative to its total supply in the most recent three-year period (NAFTA, article 605)

This means the U.S. has first access to majority of Canada’s energy

Mexico said No to Proportionality #15

• Mexico won exemption from proportionality clause

• Meant US not obligated to export nat. gas to Mexico

• Canada demand ‘Mexican exemption’ on proportionality

New Canadian Vision: Popular sovereignty, environ., internationalism #16

• Transition off fossil fuels entirely in 30 yrs

• Power Down. Industry & people to use much less energy, especially in Global North. Renewable energy

• Supply Canada-first energy plan. 25 years ‘proven’ oil / gas supplies for Cdns before export energy

• Cap tarsands production. Phase out tarsands

• Raise royalties to fund green industry / society