To call the federal government’s presence at the World Petroleum Congress in Calgary this week an ‘opportunity cost’ would be a moot point in understatement. .An embarrassment is more like it. .Words such as ‘disingenuous’ and ‘dishonest’ wouldn’t even begin to describe the debacle that unfolded on the world stage in front of 5,000 delegates from 100 countries who must surely be shaking their heads in disbelief at the spectacle that exposed bare the fissures in Canada’s confusing confederation — not to mention environmental and industrial policy..If I were a delegate from Saudi Arabia or Russia, I’d be asking myself: “WTH is wrong with these people?”.Then I’d go home smug in the knowledge Canadians are plebes when it comes to ensuring global energy security..It started on Sunday when Energy and Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson lectured Alberta’s leaders — Premier Smith and Environment Minister Schulz specifically — on the supposedly imperative need to keep the planet’s third-largest oil reserve in the ground..It was bad enough he broke an unwritten rule about airing the country’s dirty constitutional laundry in front of an international audience. .A rightly infuriated Smith responded angrily to the assertion that Canada’s energy policy needs to be more aligned with the EU and the G7 — fat cats that consume 50% of the world’s primary energy to enrich themselves despite a centuries-long legacy of colonialism and racism against the vast majority of countries that don’t even have access to clean water..And that’s exactly what the UN’s climate policies are: naked, bare colonialism of the worst kind. .In an overlooked press statement from Dr. Omar Farouk Ibrahim, the Secretary General of the African Petroleum Producers’ Organization, he laid bare the lie that is what he “euphemistically” called ‘energy transition..“Africa, as most of you know has over 900 million of its 1.4 billion people living without access to any form of modern energy for cooking or domestic heating. These people use wood, sticks, cow dung and other unhealthy sources of energy to cook and heat their homes, causing millions of deaths from respiratory illnesses especially among children and the aged,” he began..“It is these realities that informed the position of Africa on the ‘energy transition’. While climate activists have tried to encourage all countries, irrespective of their level of their socio-economic development to aggressively pursue ‘net-zero’ by proposing to provide financial support in the form of climate funds, the history of these countries' redemption of previous commitments has left Africa doubtful if this time, things are going to be different.”.In other words, put that in your pipe and smoke it, Steven Guilbeault, who couldn’t be bothered to make even a token appearance..Because if he did, he would have seen that Canada truly is a leader in responsible and ethically produced oil. The kind that improves lives outside the Laurentian Beltline..It’s a message he doesn’t want to hear as he jet sets around the globe to climate conferences attended by the likes of Bill Gates, Leonardo Di Caprio and the Chinese Communist Party..And that doesn’t even begin to account for Wilkinson, who took it upon himself to jet off to Ottawa to dole out $3 billion for Romania to buy CANDU reactors..It came as Alberta Environment Minister Rebecca Schulz was announcing feasibility studies to introduce small nuclear reactors in Alberta’s oil sands. She was at a loss for words. I don’t blame her..It would be tempting to describe Ottawa’s climate policies — especially as they relate to Alberta — as “ideologically driven.”.In fact, they’re “idiotologically driven.” Penny wise, pound foolish. Tomfoolery. Banal. Any dumbed down cliche will suffice. .Meanwhile, the Alberta government is doing the heavy lifting. Economically, environmentally and ethically. Alberta oil DESERVES to be the last barrel because it truly is the BEST barrel. It is clearly on display in Calgary, for ALL the world to see..Whether Messrs Wilkinson and Guilbeault and even Prime Minister Trudeau — who would have also done well to at least show his face — like it or not. Because they’ve made it abundantly clear that they just don’t get it. .And never will.
