Whitecourt-led resolution to support Canadian oil and gas producers reaches federal desk, big supporters behind it

Since 1901, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) has been a national advocate for municipal governments. More than ninety percent of Canadians are represented through FCM’s advocacy, making sure the needs of municipalities are reflected in the policies and programs created at the federal level. Each year, actionable ideas, called resolutions, are brought forward from municipal councils, and are put to the vote by members; some pass, some don’t.

Recently, a resolution from Whitecourt jumped the line. Rather than be voted on, FCM’s Board of Directors felt compelled to support it. The resolution titled “Federal Support for Canadian Consumption of Canadian Oil and Gas Resources as Canada Transitions towards Carbon Neutrality by 2050” aims to encourage the federal government to consume Canadian oil and gas while ensuring that all imported oil and gas products meet the same standards that Canadian oil and gas producers adhere to.

Councillor Paul Chauvet was the one who brought up the idea for the resolution at a Whitecourt Town Council meeting shortly after the last municipal election, which passed unanimously. He said the way FCM handled it spoke volumes. “The fact that they accepted it at the board level, with a small change, on the basis that we are still working towards net zero, is amazing. It didn’t even go to the floor to be voted on by the membership. They stamped it at the board level and sent it off. That’s huge. I hope somebody in Ottawa will listen and say yes, let’s do this.”

In a letter dated January 20, 2023, the president of FCM, Taneen Rudyk (Town of Vegreville Councillor), stated that FCM “continues to encourage the federal government to put local communities in oil and gas producing regions at the very heart of energy and climate policies.” The letter, and attached resolution, was then signed and sent to the Minister of Natural Resources, The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson.

Chauvet said he was ecstatic. “We produce a fantastic product. It doesn’t matter if it’s oil, gas, forestry, or agriculture, and we have laws that protect people. So, why aren’t we tooting our own horn and supplying the world? That doesn’t make sense to me. We are an export country. We only have 38 million people. We can’t consume everything we make,” he explained.

Chauvet said he had been mulling it over since 2008, as he started learning about the standards set in Canada versus the ones in other countries. He started talking about it with his colleagues when he was first elected to the Whitecourt council in 2013. A previous motion he made several years ago to send a resolution didn’t manifest, but Chauvet conceded that it needed more time to ferment.

“We are globe-setting when it comes to environmental standards. We are doing fantastic work with our environment and social conscience because we have women’s rights, human rights, labour laws, and environmental laws. Any oil and gas consumed in Canada should at least meet the same regulatory requirements that Canadian producers have to adhere to, and it’s not just about the environment. We also make a great product,” said Chauvet.

He said that allowing out-of-country businesses to sell products in Canada without adhering to the same regulatory standards is nonsensical at the highest level. “If we use Canada as the benchmark and say, this is what we do, and you’re a country that wants to import your oil to us, then we should be asking, how are you on child labour laws or human rights? Oh, not good? Well, then, here’s your 100 percent tariff. Their oil should be $1500 bucks a barrel when we start putting everything on a level playing field and looking at what we do to produce a barrel and what they do. Oil that doesn’t adhere to our standards should be costly. Ours would be cheap in comparison.”

After some fine-tuning of the resolution, it was ready for backers. Chauvet said he helped get on the phone, calling municipalities. It didn’t take long for support to start trickling in, with communities like Lloydminster, Drayton Valley, Wood Buffalo, Vegreville, Fort St. John, Kitimat, Petrolia (ON), and Estevan, among others, joining the movement.

Mayor Tom Pickard called the resolution non-political. “I think this concept resonated with Canadians of all political stripes and reflects well on us as a community. This is a statement of Canadians saying let’s think about where we are buying from. I don’t think Canadians would be upset with oil from countries that have the same standards as ours. Our producers are held to a standard that no one else in the world is held to.”

He credited Council and Administration for following the steps necessary to get the resolution moving. “Our Council worked with the Administration to create a resolution that made sense for the area we live in, the communities we represent, and the men and women in this area that work in the oil field. I’m very proud of the town and our Council for going ahead with this.”

He said the resolution made sense from coast to coast and wasn’t overly surprised that FCM’s board approved it. “This is a resolution that makes sense for Canadians, that we use our own oil first or we use oil that is produced in the same manner, to the same environmental and ethical standards that we hold our own companies to. This reminds our federal leaders that we produce ethical oil and that we would like all the oil we consume to be held to that same standard.”

The Whitecourt District Chamber of Commerce recently joined the conversation, providing a letter of support shared at the February 27 Council meeting. President Louise Meier said allowing things to continue as they are is a glaring double standard. “We meet the standard, and everybody else should meet the standard to be imported. Why do we need to diminish our standards by allowing something that doesn’t meet them to be sold here?”

She said when the resolution was shared with the Chamber’s board of directors, they fully supported it. Meier said continued advocacy needs to happen. “Does the populace of Whitecourt and area, do those industries that are impacted by this, do they need to stand up and write those same letters of support? I can only think that the more voices behind something like this, the stronger that tide will get. If you have a personal opinion on this and support it, by all means, put pen to paper. It’s not difficult to say you’re behind this.”

Meier said the dollars from industries like oil and gas are largely responsible for positive impacts countrywide. “Those dollars support our facilities. Those dollars support our programs and our recreation areas. If we looked at the dollars donated to the different causes and clubs and see how much of that comes from the oil and gas industry, I would bet you that it would be staggering. Those dollars have built not just our province or community but our country in many ways.”

Councillor Chauvet echoed the need for further advocacy and said it comes down to asking questions and putting weight behind the movement. He added that it doesn’t stop at oil and gas. “What else should we be proud of and pushing as suppliers for the world? With our standards and the quality of products? People need to start asking questions about this. To fully read Whitecourt’s resolution, visit https://data.fcm.ca/home/fcm-resolutions.html and search “Whitecourt.”