Friday, June 2, 2023
No Result
View All Result
  • Media
Support Us
Macdonald-Laurier Institute
  • Home
  • About
    • Who We Are
    • Who Makes MLI Work
    • Tenth Anniversary
  • Experts
    • Experts Directory
    • In Memoriam
  • Issues
    • Domestic Policy Program
      • Agriculture and Agri-Food
      • Canada’s Political Tradition
      • Economic policy
      • Health Care
      • Innovation
      • Justice
      • Social issues
      • Telecoms
    • Energy Policy Program
      • Energy
      • Environment
    • Foreign Policy Program
      • Foreign Affairs
      • National Defence
      • National Security
    • Indigenous Affairs Program
  • Projects
    • The Great Energy Crisis
    • Centre for Advancing Canada’s Interests Abroad
    • Dragon at the Door
    • Canada and the Indo-Pacific Initiative
    • The Transatlantic Program
    • DisInfoWatch.org
    • An Intellectual Property Strategy for Canada
    • Competition Policy in Canada
    • Speak for Ourselves
    • Justice Report Card
    • COVID Misery Index
      • Provincial COVID Misery Index
      • Beyond Lockdown
      • COVID and after: A mandate for recovery
    • Indigenous Prosperity at a Crossroads
      • Aboriginal Canada and Natural Resources
    • Past Projects
      • The Eavesdropping Dragon: Huawei
      • Talkin’ in the Free World with Mariam Memarsadeghi
      • Munk Senior Fellows
      • A Mandate for Canada
      • Confederation Series
      • Fiscal Reform
      • The Canadian Century project
      • Fixing Canadian health care
      • Internal trade
      • From a mandate for change
      • Size of government in Canada
      • Straight Talk
      • Labour Market Report
      • Leading Economic Indicator
  • Events
    • Upcoming Events
    • Past Events
      • MLI Dinners
      • Great Canadian Debates
  • Latest News
  • Libraries
    • Inside Policy Magazine
      • Inside Policy Online
      • Inside Policy Back Issues
    • Papers
    • Commentary
    • Columns
    • Books
    • Video
    • Podcasts
  • Home
  • About
    • Who We Are
    • Who Makes MLI Work
    • Tenth Anniversary
  • Experts
    • Experts Directory
    • In Memoriam
  • Issues
    • Domestic Policy Program
      • Agriculture and Agri-Food
      • Canada’s Political Tradition
      • Economic policy
      • Health Care
      • Innovation
      • Justice
      • Social issues
      • Telecoms
    • Energy Policy Program
      • Energy
      • Environment
    • Foreign Policy Program
      • Foreign Affairs
      • National Defence
      • National Security
    • Indigenous Affairs Program
  • Projects
    • The Great Energy Crisis
    • Centre for Advancing Canada’s Interests Abroad
    • Dragon at the Door
    • Canada and the Indo-Pacific Initiative
    • The Transatlantic Program
    • DisInfoWatch.org
    • An Intellectual Property Strategy for Canada
    • Competition Policy in Canada
    • Speak for Ourselves
    • Justice Report Card
    • COVID Misery Index
      • Provincial COVID Misery Index
      • Beyond Lockdown
      • COVID and after: A mandate for recovery
    • Indigenous Prosperity at a Crossroads
      • Aboriginal Canada and Natural Resources
    • Past Projects
      • The Eavesdropping Dragon: Huawei
      • Talkin’ in the Free World with Mariam Memarsadeghi
      • Munk Senior Fellows
      • A Mandate for Canada
      • Confederation Series
      • Fiscal Reform
      • The Canadian Century project
      • Fixing Canadian health care
      • Internal trade
      • From a mandate for change
      • Size of government in Canada
      • Straight Talk
      • Labour Market Report
      • Leading Economic Indicator
  • Events
    • Upcoming Events
    • Past Events
      • MLI Dinners
      • Great Canadian Debates
  • Latest News
  • Libraries
    • Inside Policy Magazine
      • Inside Policy Online
      • Inside Policy Back Issues
    • Papers
    • Commentary
    • Columns
    • Books
    • Video
    • Podcasts
No Result
View All Result
Macdonald-Laurier Institute

Indigenous communities are key to solving the global energy crisis: Chris Sankey in the National Post

Governments need to start working with us to advance Canadian energy projects and secure Canada's place as part of the solution to the energy crisis.

March 27, 2023
in Chris Sankey, Columns, Energy, In the Media, Indigenous Affairs Program, Latest News
Reading Time: 3 mins read
A A
The “Tesla of LNG Plants” is right here in Canada: Mike Priaro for Inside Policy

This article originally appeared in the National Post.

By Chris Sankey, March 27, 2023

There is no question that wind, hydrogen, solar and battery energy are being utilized to a greater extent than ever before — but that alone will not solve the global energy crisis. Indigenous communities are working to develop major oil and gas projects, giving Canada the opportunity to help First Nations prosper and supply our allies with the energy they need.

For years, Indigenous communities have longed for a chance to be a global energy player. If we are ever going to get out from under the thumb of the Indian Act, now is the time. So why do the governments of Canada and British Columbia continue pandering to activists, when not one agenda-driven, non-governmental organization has produced any long-term, sustainable jobs?

Billions in government funds are being spent with little result. There are no long-term, sustainable spin-off jobs from green energy projects, as many activists claim. There are only so many manufacturing jobs needed to sustain wind-turbine and solar-panel production. There will be some ongoing maintenance jobs for wind turbines, but few if any for solar.

To make matters worse, most of the manufacturing happens overseas, as it is nearly impossible for western countries to compete for manufacturing jobs due to low labour costs in places like China. Furthermore, China holds almost all of the rare earth metals required for solar panels. Green energy, it turns out, is no different than our fishing and logging industries — we simply don’t have a competitive advantage in labour costs.

Activists and journalists often claim that Canada’s oil and gas industry is subsidized, but many don’t understand the difference between a tax credit and a subsidy. Tax credits are deductions to help individuals or companies reduce their tax burdens. Subsidies are relief or support provided by government to help companies be competitive and reduce the cost of doing business.

Green energy technologies — such as solar, hydrogen and wind — often require subsides because they tend to cost more to produce than they make back in return, or are uneconomic compared to other technologies. The oil and gas industry, on the other hand, generally only benefits from the same tax credits available to other Canadian companies.

The only way major oil and gas projects will ever be build again in this country is with the support of the Indigenous communities that are affected by them. Because pipeline infrastructure runs through traditional Indigenous territories, all impacted communities must share in the revenues they produce.

All communities must share the risk in order for a project to succeed and forge ahead. The goals must be community driven and commitments must be made to both protecting the environment and growing the economy. Once Indigenous communities are aligned and working together, industry will come to the table and invest.

Billions in investments will be secured, and Canada will be in a stronger position. This opportunity will create sole-source revenues for the next seven generations and structure a system with banks and investment firms that allows for inter-generational wealth transfer and dividends.

The LNG Canada terminal and Coastal GasLink pipeline projects clearly demonstrate the vast number of jobs that can be created, that agreements can be reached to the mutual benefit of Indigenous communities and the energy industry and how money can be generated to invest in green projects and other innovations that have a positive impact on the environment. Indeed, the best way to reduce Canada’s emissions is through technological innovation.

Despite the push toward green energy, the fact remains that oil and gas will play an important role in our energy mix for decades to come. Ensuring that Canada is supplying those resources to the world will ensure that our Indigenous communities are able to benefit from them and that they are produced with high environmental standards.

Governments need to start working with us to advance Canadian energy projects and secure Canada’s place as part of the solution to the energy crisis. Make no mistake, there is no moving away from hydrocarbons and minerals.

Chris Sankey is a former elected councillor for Lax Kw’ Alaams Band, a business leader and a senior fellow at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute.

Source: National Post
Tags: Chris Sankeyenergy policyIndigenous PolicyNational Post
Previous Post

Video: A third way for drug addiction policy in Canada

Next Post

China and Russia take steps to deepen their alignment: Stephen Nagy in the Japan Times

Related Posts

Ukraine must be victorious, for all of our sakes: Balkan Devlen for Inside Policy
Columns

Ukraine’s right to self-defence is self-evident: Chris Alexander in the Globe and Mail

June 2, 2023
Trudeau, Ford to blame for Stellantis shakedown: Aaron Wudrick in the National Post
Columns

Trudeau, Ford to blame for Stellantis shakedown: Aaron Wudrick in the National Post

June 2, 2023
Canada’s inadequate defence research funding is more than just a security risk: Richard Shimooka in the Hub
Columns

Canada’s inadequate defence research funding is more than just a security risk: Richard Shimooka in the Hub

June 1, 2023
Next Post
China and Russia take steps to deepen their alignment: Stephen Nagy in the Japan Times

China and Russia take steps to deepen their alignment: Stephen Nagy in the Japan Times

Newsletter Signup

Follow us on

Macdonald-Laurier Institute

323 Chapel Street, Suite #300
Ottawa, Ontario, K1N 7Z2 Canada

613.482.8327

info@macdonaldlaurier.ca
MLI directory

Support Us

Support the Macdonald-Laurier Institute to help ensure that Canada is one of the best governed countries in the world. Click below to learn more or become a sponsor.

Support Us

  • Inside Policy Magazine
  • Annual Reports
  • Jobs
  • Privacy Policy

© 2021 Macdonald-Laurier Institute. All Rights reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • About
    • Who We Are
    • Who Makes MLI Work
    • Tenth Anniversary
  • Experts
    • Experts Directory
    • In Memoriam
  • Issues
    • Domestic Policy Program
      • Agriculture and Agri-Food
      • Canada’s Political Tradition
      • Economic policy
      • Health Care
      • Innovation
      • Justice
      • Social issues
      • Telecoms
    • Energy Policy Program
      • Energy
      • Environment
    • Foreign Policy Program
      • Foreign Affairs
      • National Defence
      • National Security
    • Indigenous Affairs Program
  • Projects
    • The Great Energy Crisis
    • Centre for Advancing Canada’s Interests Abroad
    • Dragon at the Door
    • Canada and the Indo-Pacific Initiative
    • The Transatlantic Program
    • DisInfoWatch.org
    • An Intellectual Property Strategy for Canada
    • Competition Policy in Canada
    • Speak for Ourselves
    • Justice Report Card
    • COVID Misery Index
      • Provincial COVID Misery Index
      • Beyond Lockdown
      • COVID and after: A mandate for recovery
    • Indigenous Prosperity at a Crossroads
      • Aboriginal Canada and Natural Resources
    • Past Projects
      • The Eavesdropping Dragon: Huawei
      • Talkin’ in the Free World with Mariam Memarsadeghi
      • Munk Senior Fellows
      • A Mandate for Canada
      • Confederation Series
      • Fiscal Reform
      • The Canadian Century project
      • Fixing Canadian health care
      • Internal trade
      • From a mandate for change
      • Size of government in Canada
      • Straight Talk
      • Labour Market Report
      • Leading Economic Indicator
  • Events
    • Upcoming Events
    • Past Events
      • MLI Dinners
      • Great Canadian Debates
  • Latest News
  • Libraries
    • Inside Policy Magazine
      • Inside Policy Online
      • Inside Policy Back Issues
    • Papers
    • Commentary
    • Columns
    • Books
    • Video
    • Podcasts

© 2021 Macdonald-Laurier Institute. All Rights reserved.

This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies.

Privacy Preference Center

Consent Management

Necessary

Advertising

Analytics

Other