Federal government decision on the Trans Mountain expansion expected on Tuesday
With a decision on the Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion expected on Tuesday, small business owners in Alberta are making it clear to the federal government and to Canadians how important the oil and gas sector is to the economy.
On Monday, the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) released a new report called A Pipe Dream for Small Business? that highlights the perspective of Alberta’s entrepreneurs about the importance of Alberta’s oil and gas sector, their concerns about the impact of pipeline delays for their business, and what they see as a lack of understanding in the rest of Canada about the vital importance of national projects that get natural resources to market.
Richard Truscott
Vice President, BC and Alberta, for CFIB
“Business owners across Alberta have their fingers and toes crossed that the Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion project gets approved tomorrow,” said Richard Truscott, vice-president for Alberta and B.C. with the CFIB. “They know full well the oil and gas sector is still what primes the pump of our economy. They also know first-hand how the adverse effects from an ailing oil and gas industry and delays in resource development projects are magnified for entrepreneurs, since their very livelihoods depends on a robust economy.
“When more than three-quarters of Alberta’s entrepreneurs say the rest of Canada doesn’t understand the importance of national pipeline projects, it should be of grave concern to us all. It is critical for governments at all levels to work together to better educate Canadians on the importance of responsible resource development.”
The CFIB survey said:
- 91 per cent of business owners in Alberta agree the health of province’s oil and gas sector is important to their business (five per cent disagree, and four per cent don’t know or unsure);
- 80 per cent agree regulatory delays on major pipeline projects are hurting their business (nine per cent disagree, and 11 per cent don’t know or unsure);
- Only 15 per cent agree the rest of Canada understands the importance of national projects to get natural resources to market (75 per cent disagree, and 10 per cent don’t know or unsure).
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