Oil industry says carbon pricing coming, pump revenues back into cleaner tech
OTTAWA — Canada’s petroleum industry lobby group told the federal government this summer that carbon tax revenues from oil and gas should be pumped back into the industry in order to “not only preserve, but enhance” the sector.
The pitch by the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers came in August as federal Environment Minister Catherine McKenna and her provincial counterparts were quietly discussing the pan-Canadian climate plan promised by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
“Any pricing mechanism implemented should contribute to a vibrant and competitive oil and gas sector while efficiently and effectively facilitating reductions in GHG emissions,” says the 17-page brief, obtained by Greenpeace Canada through a freedom of information request to the Saskatchewan government.
“CAPP recommends that any policy initiatives undertaken by the government should seek to not only preserve, but enhance the economic competitiveness of the upstream oil and gas sector ….”