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October 21, 2002
NDP
Government Sending Mixed Messages to Oil and Gas Industry: Wall
Local MLA Brad Wall is congratulating the
provincial government on its recent announcement of a reduction in
oil and gas royalties. At the same time, Wall says he’s concerned
about mixed messages coming from the NDP government regarding the
oil and gas industry.
“Only a few days after this positive
announcement, prominent NDP MLA Pat Atkinson is questioning the
soundness of the new royalty structure sending an unclear signal to
oil and gas producers as to what the Saskatchewan NDP really think
of this industry.” Wall said. “And now the NDP is involved in
internal wrangling over their position on the Kyoto protocol again
involving MLA’s like Pat Atkinson and Eldon Lautermilch.”
Wall wondered how any government supposedly
committed to a strong and vital oil and gas sector could be so weak
on its position on the Kyoto Accord a fact that even Resources
Minister Eldon Lautermilch acknowledged in a recent media story.
Wall highlighted the serious impact Kyoto could
have on the Swift Current economy. This accord has the potential to
devastate the oil and gas sector and increase utility rates across
Canada.
He pointed to recent estimates of 450,000 lost
jobs, increased income taxes, electricity costs increasing from
between 25% to 100%, and gasoline reaching $1.10 per litre as a
result of Kyoto. This potential sacrifice of our economy would be
made even though Canada accounts for only 2% of global greenhouse
emissions and countries that generate 65% of those emissions are not
ratifying Kyoto.
“This issue is just too important to our
province especially to regions like the southwest that depend on a
vibrant oil and gas sector.”
“The Official Opposition Saskatchewan Party is
very much in favour of reducing greenhouse gases, we just don’t
believe that debilitating the economy of one of the worlds most
progressive economies here in Canada is the way to do it. Canada
would be the only nation in the western hemisphere that would be
signing.” Wall added. “None of our trading partners in NAFTA will
sign the protocol, nor will Australia, China or OPEC countries.
What will that do to our energy sector and our ability to compete?”
The Swift Current MLA noted that with the
provincial Liberal Party supporting Kyoto and the provincial
government MLA’s fighting over the NDP position on the Accord, it
may be up to the Official Opposition and the people of province to
send a clear message that Kyoto is not the way to attack the serious
challenge of greenhouse gas emissions and their impact on our world.
Wall has a petition asking the provincial
government to take a stronger stand on the Kyoto issue now available
at his office. |
