Canada’s oilsands sector is planning a substantial increase in production in the years ahead. The existing pipeline network is near capacity, so companies have proposed significant new pipeline and rail projects to accommodate the projected growth in oilsands production.
New transportation infrastructure — most notably pipelines, but also rail — makes it possible for oilsands production to grow. Conversely, companies are unlikely to build new oilsands facilities unless they feel confident that they can get their product to desirable markets.
From the Pembina Institute’s perspective, the federal government and the Government of Alberta are not adequately managing the environmental impacts of today’s oilsands production. Our concerns apply both to the cumulative impacts on the local environment (air, land, water and wildlife) and to the greenhouse gas pollution associated with oilsands production.
Until we have strong enough policies in place to ensure that the cumulative impacts of current and future oilsands production remain below science-based limits, approving transportation infrastructure that enables expanded oilsands production is the wrong choice.
While any transportation initiatives should be required to adhere to the highest safety and environmental standards, no method of transporting crude oil will ever be completely safe. The best way to manage that risk — both for affected communities and for the world’s climate — is to reduce the amount of oil we use.