Support for Northern Gateway Project

Albertans Support Northern Gateway

In June 2016, communities along Northern Gateway’s route expressed their support for Northern Gateway’s extension request by sending letters to the National Energy Board including:

• 20 out of 20 Alberta communities along pipeline route
• 17 out of 18 First Nations and Métis communities
• Unanimous support from the Alberta Chamber of Commerce

Putting Albertans Back to Work

• With the current downturn in our economy, Alberta is losing our highly skilled work force.  Northern Gateway will keep these people here to maintain and grow Alberta’s skilled labour base.

Total construction employment opportunities in Alberta*

*note: employment opportunities includes temporary, part time and full time jobs taken from Volume 6C of the Regulatory Application 

What kind of skilled Alberta tradespeople/opportunities will be created by Northern Gateway?

Long-term Jobs in Alberta

• Northern Gateway will provide 380 long term operational jobs in Alberta
• Northern Gateway is committed to hiring local residents for all direct operational jobs.

Timeline of Key Events

• June 2014:  Northern Gateway receives certificates from National Energy Board
• October 2015: Certificates is challenged in Federal Court of Appeal
• June 30, 2016: Federal Court of Appeal finds that the Joint Review Panel recommendation was acceptable and defensible on the facts and the law.  However, it concludes that the Federal Government’s consultation with First Nations and Métis peoples was insufficient and therefore incomplete.  In a two-thirds majority decision, the Federal Court of Appeal overturned Northern Gateway’s approval certificates and puts the matter back to the Federal Government.

The Federal Government now has three choices:

1. Deny the application (effectively cancel the project)
2. Conduct new consultations with the First Nations and Métis communities along the pipeline route and re-determine whether to approve the project.
3. Refer the matter back to the National Energy Board.

The Federal Government has not indicated how it will proceed but it is expected to make a decision in late 2016.

Why is Northern Gateway an Emergent Issue Now?

• Prior to June 30, 2016 Northern Gateway had its approvals and was on a path to construction.
• Now that the approvals have been overturned, it is important for supportive communities to step up their efforts and advocate that:
  • the Government of Alberta work with local supportive communities and publicly support this critical infrastructure project for Albertans
  • the Federal Government complete the necessary consultation with First Nations and Metis Peoples, as well as engaging with local communities on the importance of this project and ultimately approve the project
• This advocacy work needs to happen prior to the Federal Cabinet making a decision.  It is anticipated that the federal government will be rendering a decision with respect to the Northern Gateway project within the coming months.  It therefore becomes an emergent issue for the province, all of AUMA’s members, along with our residents to ensure that our support for the project is immediately heard.

Why Northern Gateway is Critical to All Albertans

• One of Alberta’s most valuable resources is crude oil, but 99% of all our oil exports go to the United States, now one of our biggest competitors, who purchases our crude oil at deeply discounted prices. 
• Northern Gateway will provide significant access to other international markets and allow Albertans to get a better price for our crude oil.
• Getting a better price for our crude oil means more royalties collected by the Government of Alberta which can be invested in Alberta schools, universities, hospitals and infrastructure. 
• With the serious decline in Alberta’s economy due to low oil prices, there is growing momentum for increased international market access for our natural resources.
• Northern Gateway will provide significant access to new markets in the Pacific Rim to secure fair market prices for Alberta’s oil. 

Alberta Investment

• The recent dramatic drop in oil prices coupled with the lack of pipeline infrastructure is not only affecting future production, but also jeopardizing existing Canadian oil production.
• The significant decrease in oil prices has negatively impacted levels of investment and employment.
• Northern Gateway will provide a badly needed multi-billion dollar private infrastructure investment in Alberta’s future including spending $1.5 billion in Alberta communities.