Tag: oilsands

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Economic Ft Mac Politics

Oilsands Unemployment Rate Slightly Down, Still Higher Than the National and Provincial Average

oilsands, unemployment rate

The unemployment rate for the oilsands has dropped a little, but it is still higher than the national and provincial averages according to Statistics Canada. In May the rate for the area was 8.6%, and that has gone down to 8.0%. Many of the energy companies which operate in the oilsands believe that the unemployment rate is still high because of new taxes, a drop in oil prices, and uncertainty about the future. Increases in taxes were recently passed, and government officials defend these taxes as necessary. Oil companies are less likely to hire new employees or to expand projects when oil prices are low, and that is also the case right now. Some of the major companies in the area have delayed projects and laid off workers in order to cut costs but this could leave the area unprepared if oil prices jump up again and more production is needed.

The drop in the oilsands unemployment rate is a start, but it is not a solution yet because the area still has a higher percentage of unemployed people than the province or the entire nation. Joe Ceci, the finance minister for Alberta, has defended increasing taxes and says he does not believe that the new taxes are the reason that Wood Buffalo has such a high unemployment rate. In the last few years the region has seen less revenue and higher costs, and this is an equation that must be balanced. If less is coming in and more is going out there is less available to spend on the labor pool. It is simple math.

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Economic Ft Mac

Fort MacMurray Oilsands Dance Party Draws a Crowd

Oilsands, Fort MacMurray

The Fort MacMurray Oilsands Dance Party drew a crowd on Saturday night at the banquet hall of the Sawridge Inn & Conference Centre, and everyone who attended had a great time. 30 different residents, politicians, and business leaders in the local community each spent a single minute explaining why the oilsands are special to them. Canada Action was the organization behind the We Love the Oilsands dinner and dance event. The organization was started last year by Cody Battershill, and it has been designated as a non profit. The last year has been rough for many Fort MacMurray residents and businesses as the oil industry has suffered a downturn. According to Battershill “As Canadians, we should be so frustrated and fired up we’re not getting full value. We’re not here to promote companies, we’re here to promote jobs for Canadians.”

The Fort MacMurray event drew in a crowd of more than 800 people, and the Oilands Dance Party was intended to benefit the local community and show why Fort MacMurray is so important to so many people. The crowd applauded at several points during the speeches by the community members and politicians. Some were humorous, some were blunt, but they all made an impression on the crowd and drew attention to Fort MacMurray. Battershill believes that the local community is important and stated “Coast to coast, you will see millions of Canadians have jobs in the natural resource sector. Although we’re going through a lower oil price environment, we’re still selling our oil for even less because we don’t have access to global markets.”

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Pollution Emissions Rise in Oilsands

pollution, oilsands
pollution, oilsands

 

Pollution is a big problem around the globe, and a new report recently released shows that the air and water pollution levels in and near the oilsands close to Fort MacMurray have risen over the past two years. There are a number of stations which monitor the level of air quality and water pollution, and these stations are situated along the route between Fort MacMurray and Fort MacKay. The actual numbers range from 2 to 3, still below the 4 that causes serious concern, but it is still alarming that the levels have gone up so much. According to the report that was released

“ESRD will work with specific stakeholders whose activities result in air emissions … to inform the investigation and assist in identifying management actions that may be necessary to address point and non-point source emissions.” An updated report is expected to be released at the end of the year.

 

Much of the increase in pollution in Alberta has been seen near the oilands operations of some of the largest oil companies who operate in the area, including Shell, Suncor, CNRL, and Syncrude. The emissions that were detected by the monitoring stations involved sulfur dioxide and nitrogen, but so far none of the results have been higher than a 3. In Alberta the pollution level can not exceed a 4 because anything higher poses a risk to human health, and if these levels are reached then steps would be taken to immediately address them and this could include suspending operations in the area if necessary.