Canada : February 18, 2009

Alberta’s oil sands will once again come under the global microscope as newly elected President Barack Obama visits Canada. In fact, this issue will be on top of the agenda when both Mr. Harper and Mr. Obama meet to discuss such topics as global climate change and the steps that can be taken to improve upon this matter. Advisors for Mr. Obama have expressed concerns about the high carbon footprint of oil sands production, while Mr. Harper has admitted Canada needs to do a better job environmentally about its own energy production.

Canadian environmental groups are ratcheting up their attacks on the Alberta oil sands, asking President Obama to reject special treatment or waivers for this type of oil production. Shortly after the US election, the Canadian government launched into an effort to convince the US that oil sands development was essential to both US and Canadian energy security and should not be derailed to further any climate change agenda. Both Albertan and federal government officials are working hard to minimize the carbon emission impact of oil sands production by investing in such technologies known as carbon capture and storage. Alberta has already spent $2 billion on this technology and has requested support from the federal government for tax incentives that encourage investment in carbon capture technology.