Two new cogeneration units now sit at the heart of Suncor Energy’s Base Plant, the site that was the first commercial plant to develop the Athabasca oil sands. On June 23, a federal cabinet minister came to look at them.
Dominic LeBlanc opened his Alberta visit in Fort McMurray. Over the day he sat down with Suncor’s senior executives and with trade and industry leaders at the Fort McMurray Chamber of Commerce.
The government’s readout says the units have cut the facility’s emissions by a significant margin while supplying electricity to the grid. LeBlanc toured them, then talked with company leaders about how government and Alberta’s energy sector can work together on continued growth.
Suncor, headquartered in Alberta, refines up to 65% of its oil production in Canada. It is also one of the country’s largest petroleum retailers.
What the minister said
LeBlanc’s remit is long: President of the King’s Privy Council for Canada, and minister for Canada-U.S. Trade, Intergovernmental Affairs, Internal Trade and One Canadian Economy. His message in Fort McMurray was about teamwork. The readout says he stressed that in an increasingly uncertain world, it is more important than ever for people to work together, and that Albertans have a role in building a stronger Canadian economy and a stronger Alberta economy “for all”.
He reaffirmed Ottawa’s commitment to the recently announced implementation agreement for the Canada-Alberta Memorandum of Understanding.
The minister also pointed to the new West Coast Oil pipeline, which is meant to move low-emission Alberta bitumen toward Asian markets. He mentioned Alberta’s support for the Pathways Project, billed as the largest carbon capture, utilization and storage project in the world.
Fireside chat
At the Chamber, LeBlanc took questions in a fireside chat with President Dianna De Sousa. They covered the Canada-Alberta MOU and the Major Projects Office, which helps coordinate and streamline federal processes so large infrastructure projects get built. LeBlanc applauded Alberta businesses that push for freer movement of goods, services and labour between provinces.
The talk turned as well to the review of the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement. He called for stronger Canada-U.S. trade ties and a more competitive North America.
