OTTAWA – Bruce Hyer the MP for Thunder Bay Superior North was up in the House of Commons on Wednesday during Question Period. Hyer was asking about a national energy strategy for Canada.
Here is the Exchange from Hansard:
Mr. Bruce Hyer (Thunder Bay—Superior North, GP): Mr. Speaker, eastern Canada imports 80% of its oil from places like Arabia and Venezuela, the world’s most expensive and risky oil, while we export twice as much as we import, as well as the jobs that go with it, as raw crude to the U.S.A. at a 20% to 30% discount.
Why do we buy high and sell low, and why are we the only member of the G20 with no national energy strategy?
Hon. Greg Rickford (Minister of Natural Resources and Minister for the Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario, CPC): Obviously, Mr. Speaker, there are solutions for that. They come in the form of pipelines.
A viable option and solution would be for Canada to find ways to diversify its markets around the world. We know there are demands in Europe and Asia. It sounds like I can count on the support of the member for Thunder Bay—Superior North for those kinds of projects moving forward.
The price of a barrel of Western Canadian Select (Canadian produced oil) closed at $US 32.14 on Tuesday.
