By Jessie Weisner

President of CAPP presents political solutions for oil and gas industry

Mar 6, 2019 | 4:22 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB — Roughly 415,000 Albertans are employed in the oil and gas industry.

Many have been raising the red flag about the struggling sector, hoping for some kind of improvement.

“Our oil and gas industry is again suffering as a result of some political, economic pressures that are in play,” says Medicine Hat City Councillor Darren Hirsch. “The oil differential hurts us, the fact that the commodity of gas is in a love funk right now is hurtful to us as well.”

Tim McMillan, president of the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP) believes the solution lies with the upcoming provincial election.

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“CAPP has brought out a platform for oil and gas,” says Mcmillan. “We’d like all political parties to adopt in advance to this election for a growth future for our province.”

McMillan spoke to the Medicine Hat and District Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday, outlining CAPP’s vision to make Alberta the most attractive jurisdiction for oil and natural gas investment in the world.

To achieve this, McMillan says action needs to be taken on regulatory competitiveness, fiscal and economic policies, climate policies, and market access.

“We all know too well what the lack of market access has caused this province and we want a new premier, a newly elected government to have a clear mandate to get the market access pieces working for Alberta.”

After speaking, McMillan took questions from the audience. One of them came from local councillor Hirsch, asking what local legislation could be passed to help the industry move forward.

“Realistically we could enact some policies and procedures and direction that is tangible for our oil and gas division,” says Hirsch.

He says there needs to be a rebound, considering the city owned natural gas and petroleum reserves aren’t what they used to be.

“What used to be a division that would annually contribute $40 million a year to Hatters to reduce their taxes is not there anymore” says Hirsch. “So it’s absolutely created financial struggles for us to balance.”

CAPP urges anyone concerned about the future of the energy sector to ask questions, meet the candidates and be informed of their policies.

“Until we get the foundation solid I think we shouldn’t rest,” says McMillan.

The provincial election has to be held before May 31, 2019.