Energy East Pipeline Debate

The Energy East pipeline is a

proposed oil pipeline in Canada. It
would deliver oil from Western to
Eastern Canada, from receipt
points in Alberta and
Saskatchewan to refineries and
port terminals in Quebec and New
Brunswick. A lot of the pipeline
already exists (about 70%) but
would need to be converted from
natural gas to oil.
Energy East Pipeline Debate

The $12B pipeline proposal would

be the longest in North America
when complete. This project
would create 2000 jobs in New
Brunswick, which has 11%
unemployment (2015).
Energy East Pipeline Debate

A recent tragedy in Lac Megantic,

Quebec has caused some
Canadians to see pipelines as a
safer mode of oil transportation
than train transportation. On July
6, 2013, a freight train carrying
crude oil derailed, resulting in a
fire and explosion. Dozens of
people were confirmed dead and
the town's centre was destroyed.
Energy East Pipeline Debate

Many Canadians oppose the

pipeline, especially in Quebec and
Ontario, however, and want the
impact of the project on
greenhouses gases examined.
Energy East Pipeline Debate

The Council of Canadians, a social

action organization, argues that
there are many risks to the
pipeline project such as pipeline
spills, a reckless expansion of the
tar sands, increased fracking,
violating Indigenous rights, and
climate change.
Investigate the corporate view on
the pipeline proposal.
Fracking
Moratorium
Both New Brunswick and Nova
Scotia have been struggling
economically in recent years. In
2015, New Brunswick tabled a
budget that projected a deficit of
$476.8 million. Likewise, Nova
Scotia is facing a bleak economic
forecast.
Fracking
Moratorium
The government tabled its 2015
budget, forecasting a $98-million
deficit. Both provinces were in the
news in early 2015 for placing a
fracking moratorium in place.
Fracking blasts pressurized water
and chemicals into underlying
rocks to release trapped natural
gas and oil. An enormous amount
of water is required. A number of
companies are currently exploring
for shale gas in both provinces and
use fracking in the process.
Fracking
Moratorium
Sheri Somerville, a natural gas
adviser with the Canadian
Association of Petroleum
Producers, said, “This could
certainly have a detrimental
impact on future investment and
industry progress for the
province.” she said. “It might result
in a missed opportunity.”
Investment in energy in the two
provinces could provide some
much needed employment.
Fracking
Moratorium
The Premier of New Brunswick has
stipulated, however, that the
moratorium will continue until five
conditions are met, including a
First Nations consultation process,
credible information about the
impacts of fracking on water,
health, and the environment, and
a wastewater disposal plan.
Examine both sides of this issue
Decline of the Fishing Industry

The fishing industry in

Newfoundland and Labrador has
been in decline for over 20 years.
In 2015, the industry is geared for
crab and shrimp. But while
shellfish are major contributors to
the fishery now, those stocks
appear in serious decline.
Decline of the Fishing Industry

This is not the first time decline in

fish stock has been an issue for
Newfoundland and Labrador. By
the early 1990s, after decades of
sustained intensive fishing from
Canadian and international fleets,
the northern cod stocks collapsed.
The spawning biomass of northern
cod had dropped by about 93 per
cent in only 30 years – from 1.6
million tonnes in 1962 to between
72,000 and 110,000 tonnes in
1992.
Decline of the Fishing Industry

The government of Canada shut

the cod industry down indefinitely
in July 1992. This is known as the
cod moratorium. As a result, it has
been more than two decades since
there has been any significant
hiring going on in fishing
communities.
Decline of the Fishing Industry

The overall result is that young

people have left our coastal
communities in droves for work
elsewhere. They have mostly left to
work in the booming oil fields of
Alberta. Newfoundland's population
has dwindled and many residents
are older and in need of health care
and services, which puts a strain on
the province's budget.
Learn about
Newfoundland's economic and cultu
ral struggle since the cod moratoriu
m
Decline of the Manufacturing Industry
• Automation, globalization, exchange rates, and low productivity have
contributed to the decline in manufacturing employment in Ontario.
The number of manufacturing jobs in Ontario has dropped from 1.1
million in 2004 to 745,000 in 2014.
Decline of the Manufacturing Industry
• As a result, Ontario has become a ‘have-not' province, replaced by
Western Canada as the economic engine of the country. This is not a
unique problem as it affects manufacturing around the world.
Automation means that factories today use more robots and fewer
workers. The rising Canadian dollar over the last few years and the
2008 recession that hit the U.S. hard also contributed to the decline.
Factories have also left wealthy countries to relocate to countries with
lower labour costs. Many manufacturing firms have gone out of
business.
Decline of the Manufacturing Industry
• This has caused a rise in unemployment in Ontario. To compound the
problem, displaced manufacturing workers have taken jobs in the
service industry, where wages and job security are much more
precarious. However, recently the American economy is improving
and the Canadian dollar has dropped meaning that new opportunities
for re-investment in Ontario are possible.
Decline of the Manufacturing Industry
The Mowat Centre, a public policy think tank, argues that the
government needs to make some major changes to bring back
manufacturing such as lower corporate income tax, diversify export
markets, ease traffic congestion, and train/educate workers.
This Globe and Mail article presents a comprehensive overview of the
decline in the manufacturing industry as well as a photo essay of
Ontario's cities who have been most affected.
Softwood Lumber Dispute
The Canada–United States softwood lumber dispute is ongoing
between the two nations. British Columbia, the major Canadian
exporter of softwood lumber to the USA, is most affected. Between
2004 and 2009, it reported losses of 9,494 direct and indirect jobs.
Softwood Lumber Dispute
The dispute is over the American claim that the Canadian lumber
industry is unfairly subsidized by federal and provincial governments, as
most timber in Canada is owned by the provincial governments. The
prices charged to harvest the timber are set by the government, rather
than through the free market as is done in the U.S. The United States
claims this is unfair and a duty tariff should be placed on Canadian
lumber coming into the U.S, bringing the price back up to market rates.
The softwood lumber industry is vital to Canada.
Softwood Lumber Dispute
It employs hundreds of thousands of Canadians, both directly and
indirectly. In 2006, an agreement was reached to end the dispute with
the U.S. dropping its duty tariff and Canada agreeing to impose a tax on
lumber being exported to America. The provincial governments were
encouraged to change their pricing systems. The Softwood Lumber
Agreement is set to expire in October 2015. The U.S. has made it clear
it does not want to renew the agreement.
Read about the
history of the dispute and concern over the agreement's expiration.