FACTS ABOUT CANADA’S RESOURCE ECONOMY
• The natural resources sector creates 1.82 million direct and indirect jobs in Canada.
• Canada exports more than $236 billion-dollars worth of natural resources, which is almost half of our total exports every year.
• Currently, Canada’s natural resources are selling at a discounted rate, resulting in a reduced investment in our social services
and economy.
• Canada can be a leader in the production of both renewable and non-renewable natural resources, while making a global impact
in advancing climate change mitigating technologies.
• By getting Canada’s resources to market, we can reduce the world’s reliance on less sustainable energy sources, such as coal.
SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR CANADA’S ECONOMY IN THE NEXT FEDERAL ELECTION.
We have an opportunity to be a leader in energy innovation and natural resource development. Canada can help meet the world’s growing demand for energy and address global climate change at the same time. With a concerted effort, we can realize a better future for Canada by investing in infrastructure to deliver our resources to the global marketplace. In our great country, we have the means to create a better tomorrow. We have an abundance of natural resources, which can give all levels of government the ability to invest in the services we desperately need, from health care to education. But right now, we’re struggling to compete on the global stage. We don’t have the infrastructure we need to export our resources abroad, let alone within our own homes. We have been forced to sell our natural resources at steep discount, resulting in a reduced investment in our social services and economy. No matter where live in our country, increasing our ability to sell our grain, energy, lumber and other natural resources abroad will give us more to invest in our communities and in protecting the environment.
Dear Canada,
Right now, our country is at a crossroads. We face significant infrastructure investment gaps across the country. In communities across Canada we require billions of dollars from all levels of governments to build desperately-needed transit, and affordable housing. We need to invest in our economy so we can provide services that we are proud of – education, healthcare, arts and culture, infrastructure, and recreation. Our ability to make these investments is limited by our country’s inability to move our resources to market. As a country, we lose millions of dollars a day selling our resources at a sharply discounted price, resulting in decreased investment in all the public services we cherish. Canada’s energy future relies on getting a fair price for our natural resources globally and building a concrete path towards a lower carbon economy domestically. As Canadians, we believe we can be a leader in energy innovation and in helping meet growing energy demand, while taking meaningful action to solve the global problem of climate change. There is enormous demand for responsibly-produced energy products, and Canada is a global leader in production of these products. By replacing coal with lower-carbon natural gas in developing economies, like China and India, Canada can have a more significant impact on reducing Greenhouse Gas emissions globally. Canada is missing an opportunity to grow our economy, invest in infrastructure and fight climate change all at the same time because of a lack of clarity on the path forward. We need to talk about the economy, energy transformation and the importance of getting oil and gas to markets at dinner tables across Canada. Whether we live in Western, Central or Eastern Canada, we all have a stake in our country’s economic success. This is a tough conversation, but one that needs to happen because we cannot shut down one main source of our country’s prosperity without impacting quality of life for all Canadians. Canada, we need action now. We need to take a stand for our economy by removing barriers to internal trade, increasing our market access for goods such as grain, oil and lumber, and using revenues to invest in our communities and protect our environment. We need to invest in natural resource development and innovative technology so future generations can have access to reliable and affordable energy that fuels their daily lives, and supports a healthy environment and a growing economy. To show your support for Canada, in the next federal election, vote for the economy and the holistic benefits of Canadian resources.
With hope,
Canadians for Natural Resources
