The Rt. Hon. Mark Carney, PC, MP
Prime Minister of Canada
Dear Prime Minister Carney,
Six months have passed since the first Build Canada Now letter was sent to you and the leaders of Canada’s other political parties outlining an action plan to unlock Canada’s world-class oil and natural gas resources to strengthen Canada’s economic sovereignty, resilience and prosperity. After the election, we followed up with a second letter expressing our support for our shared vision of Canada becoming an energy superpower, one that harnesses both conventional and clean energy resources. Since then, we have seen progress but it is insufficient to stimulate the investment and growth required to make this vision a reality.
Thank you for leading the positive change in tone from the Federal Government in terms of the importance of economic development, including expanded investments in conventional energy. The launch of the new Major Projects Office, Indigenous Advisory Council, the initial list of projects of national significance, and the announcement that it will begin work in support of Pathways Plus are critical steps in the right direction. We appreciate the progress the Federal Government has made in these areas.
However, Canada still lacks the clear, competitive and durable fiscal and regulatory policies required to achieve the so-called “Grand Bargain.” That bargain being significant emissions reductions, expanded market access and material upstream production growth. Achieving these three inter-related outcomes goes beyond progressing select major projects but rather includes a multitude of other projects and related investments. Consequently, we reiterate our call to work together to make the policy changes required for this to happen.
Our call to action is urgent, with persistent indicators that the Canadian economy is moving in the wrong direction. The need to improve productivity and create jobs requires swift and decisive action. Canada is blessed with an enviable abundance of oil and natural gas resources and has the expertise to develop them in a manner consistent with environmental responsibility, social values, and working with Indigenous groups for the benefit of Canada and Canadians. As leaders of this sector, we have consistently advocated for the changes required to unwind the past decade of increasing policy complexity and uncertainty that led to delayed investments, lost opportunities and a competitive disadvantage on the global energy stage.
Given your background, you understand that the private sector and public markets require clarity and certainty to make the long-term investments necessary to realizing this sector’s potential, in turn creating thousands of high-paying jobs and significantly strengthening Canada’s economy.
Making the changes expressed in the earlier Build Canada Now letters are necessary to send clear signals that Canada is open for business. To reiterate, we believe that your government must focus on the following:
- Significantly simplify regulations. The Federal Impact Assessment Act and West Coast tanker ban are impeding development and need to be overhauled and repealed, respectively. Existing processes are complex, unpredictable, subjective, and excessively long. Processes need to be clarified and simplified, and decisions must withstand judicial review.
- Shorten timelines for project approvals. The Federal Government needs to dramatically reduce regulatory timelines to approve all projects within months, not years, of application. This is required to restore investor confidence and once again attract capital to Canada. Clarity on provincial versus federal jurisdiction related to project approvals is also required and needs to be respected.
- Commit to grow production, not limit it. The Federal Government’s unlegislated cap on emissions must be eliminated to allow the sector to grow and achieve its potential for the benefit of Canada and Canadians. The “production cap” creates uncertainty, is redundant, will result in production cuts, and stifles investment.
- Fiscal framework that attracts investment. The Federal carbon levy on large emitters is not globally cost competitive and should be repealed allowing provinces to set regulations. The Federal Government can lead cooperation across jurisdictions, protecting domestic and international competitiveness. Industry needs clear, competitive, and durable fiscal frameworks, including associated with carbon and overall taxation, to secure capital and incentivize investment.
- Incent Indigenous investment opportunities. The Federal Government needs to provide Indigenous loan guarantees at scale so industry can create ownership opportunities to increase prosperity and ensure Indigenous communities benefit from resource development.
As you have clearly stated, our country needs to move from “uncertainty to prosperity.” There needs to be tangible change to make this happen, and without clear and urgent action we risk missing a generational opportunity to capture the potential before Canada now.
As Parliament resumes for the Fall sitting, the energy industry remains committed to working with you, your cabinet, and the provinces on an urgent basis to achieve the energy sector’s potential for the good of Canada. Together, Canada can become the global energy superpower we all envision. We look forward to your response.
Sincerely,
Original signatories
Brandon Anderson
President and Chief Executive Officer
NorthRiver Midstream
Terry Anderson
President and Chief Executive Officer
ARC Resources Ltd.
Doug Bartole
President and Chief Executive Officer
InPlay Oil Corp.
Michael Binnion
President and Chief Executive Officer
Questerre Energy Corporation
Robert Broen
President and Chief Executive Officer
Athabasca Oil Corporation
Scott Burrows
President and Chief Executive Officer
Pembina Pipeline Corp.
David J. Burton
President and Chief Executive Officer
Lycos Energy Inc.
Chris Carlsen
President and Chief Executive Officer
Birchcliff Energy Ltd.
Paul Colborne
President and Chief Executive Officer
Surge Energy Inc.
Greg Ebel
President and Chief Executive Officer
Enbridge Inc.
N. Murray Edwards
Executive Chairman
Canadian Natural Resources Limited
Grant Fagerheim
President and Chief Executive Officer
Whitecap Resources Inc.
Darlene Gates
President and Chief Executive Officer
MEG Energy Corp.
Bryan Gould
Founder and Chief Executive Officer
Aspenleaf Energy Ltd.
Paul Hawksworth
President and Chief Executive Officer
Inter Pipeline Ltd.
Philip B. Hodge
President and Chief Executive Officer
Pine Cliff Energy Ltd.
Tyson Huska
President and Chief Executive Officer
Longshore Resources Ltd.
Rich Kruger
President and Chief Executive Officer
Suncor Energy Inc.
Mike Lawford
President and Chief Executive Officer
NuVista Energy Ltd.
Byron Lutes
President
Mancal Energy Inc.
Brendan McCracken
President and Chief Executive Officer
Ovintiv Canada ULC
Nicholas McKenna
President
ConocoPhillips Canada
Jon McKenzie
President and Chief Executive Officer
Cenovus Energy Inc.
Curtis Philippon
President and Chief Executive Officer
Gibson Energy
Darcy Pierce
President
Chevron Canada Resources
François Poirier
President and Chief Executive Officer
TC Energy Corp.
Susan Riddell Rose
President and Chief Executive Officer
Rubellite Energy Corp.
Mike Rose
President and Chief Executive Officer
Tourmaline Oil Corp.
Brian Schmidt
President and Chief Executive Officer
Tamarack Valley Energy Ltd.
Don Simmons
President and Chief Executive Officer
Hemisphere Energy Corporation
David Spyker
President and Chief Executive Officer
Freehold Royalties Ltd.
Adam Waterous
Executive Chairman, Board of Directors
Strathcona Resources Ltd.
John R. Whelan
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
Imperial Oil Ltd.
Bevin Wirzba
President and Chief Executive Officer
South Bow Corp.
Richard Wyman
President
Chance Oil and Gas Limited
Vern Yu
President and Chief Executive Officer
AltaGas
Additional signatories
Kevin L. Adair
Chief Executive Officer and Director
Prairie Thunder Resources Ltd.
Chris Afseth
President
Pacesetter Directional Drilling LP
James Armstrong
President and Chief Executive Officer
Heritage Royalty
Keith Arsenault
President and Chief Executive Officer
Peaskie Minerals Inc.
Michael Belenkie
President and Chief Executive Officer
Advantage Energy Ltd.
Dean Bernhard
Chief Executive Officer
Canlin Energy Corporation
Allen Bey
Chief Executive Officer/span>
Lynx Energy
Murray Bickley
President and Chief Executive Officer
Sanjel Energy Services
Clay Bradley
Chief Executive Officer
Colter Energy LP
Barry Card
Chief Executive Officer
FLINT Corp.
Martin Castro
President
Tenaris Canada
Matt Dagert
President
Treeline Well Services LP
Dennis Day
President
General Well Servicing
Jason Denney
President and Chief Executive Officer
Teine Energy
Mick Dilger
Board Chairman
Ricochet Oil Corp
Blaine Erne
President and Chief Executive Officer
Grassland Energy Corp.
Jeremy Gizen
President
Connacher Oil and Gas Limited
Steve Glanville
President and Chief Executive Officer
STEP Energy Services
Allen Gransch
President and Chief Executive Officer
SECURE
Ken Gray
President and Chief Executive Officer
Petrus Resources
Eric T. Greager
President and Chief Executive Officer
Baytex Energy Ltd.
Gary Guidry
President and Chief Executive Officer
Gran Tierra Energy
Ron Gusek
Chief Executive Officer
Liberty Energy
Daniel K. Halyk
President and Chief Executive Officer
Total Energy Services Inc.
Dan Hermary
President and Chief Executive Officer
Durham Creek Energy Ltd
Matt Janisch
President and Chief Executive Officer
Islander Oil & Gas Inc.
Jason Jaskela
President and Chief Executive Officer
Headwater
Fotis Kalantzis
President and Chief Executive Officer
Spartan Delta Corp.
Jean-Paul Lachance
President and Chief Executive Officer
Peyto Exploration & Development Corp
Christopher Law
Managing Director
Western Basin Energy Corporation
Joel MacLeod
Executive Chairman
Highwood Asset Management Ltd.
Anthony Marino
President and Chief Executive Officer
Tenaz Energy Corp.
Ronald P. Mathison
Chairman
Calfrac Well Services
Bradley D. McFadden
President and Chief Executive Officer
Torxen Energy Ltd.
Mark K. McNeill
President and Chief Executive Officer
The Stream-Flo Group of Companies
Scott Melbourn
Chief Executive Officer
Source Energy Services
Kevin Neveu
President and Chief Executive Officer
Precision Drilling Corporation
Andrew Phillips
President and Chief Executive Officer
PrairieSky Royalty Ltd.
Scott Ratushny
Chief Executive Officer
Cardinal Energy Ltd.
Harley Rea
President and Chief Executive Officer
Corex Resources Ltd.
Darcy Reding
President and Chief Executive Officer
Cavvy Energy Ltd.
Jim Riddell
President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman
Paramount Resources Ltd.
Gordon M. Ritchie
Board Chair
Obsidian Energy Ltd.
Brad Rowbotham
President
Roll’n Oilfield Industries Ltd.
Scott Saxberg
President and Chief Executive Officer
Cache Island Corp
Lorenzo Simonelli
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Baker Hughes
Mark Smith
Chief Executive Officer
Spoke Resources Ltd.
Stephen D. Smith
Chief Executive Officer
Strike Group
Marty J. Staples
President and Chief Executive Officer
Topaz Energy Corp.
Steve Sutton
Co-President
Alberta Tubular Products
Ken Wagner
President and Chief Executive Officer
Fraction Energy
Rob Willson
President and Chief Executive Officer
Woodland Development Corp.
David Wilson
President and Chief Executive Officer
Kelt Exploration Ltd.
Ken Zinger
President and Chief Executive Officer
CES Energy Solutions Corp
Industry associations
Lisa Baiton
Chief Executive Officer and Director
Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP)
Kendall Dilling
President
Pathways Alliance
Tristan Goodman
Chief Executive Officer and Director
The Explorers and Producers Association of Canada
Gurpreet Lail
President
Enserva
Mark A. Scholz
Chief Executive Officer and Director
Canadian Association of Energy Contractors
