Thursday, February 12, 2026
ADVT 
National

Put Oil 'Crisis' On First Ministers' Agenda: Alberta, Saskatchewan Premiers

The Canadian Press, 04 Dec, 2018 11:20 AM
  • Put Oil 'Crisis' On First Ministers' Agenda: Alberta, Saskatchewan Premiers
Alberta and Saskatchewan want issues facing the oilpatch to be on the agenda when premiers meet with the prime minister later this week.
 
 
Alberta Premier Rachel Notley and Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe have made the request in an open letter to Justin Trudeau.
 
 
They say the current agenda does not include any discussion of a crisis facing the energy industry.
 
 
Alberta's oil is currently fetching bargain basement prices thanks to a growing glut and lack of pipeline capacity to get oil to market.
 
 
The premiers say the problem is costing Canada $80 million a day and the meeting agenda should reflect that.
 
 
The premiers are scheduled to meet with Trudeau in Montreal on Friday.
 
 
"During your recent visit to Calgary, you called the economic impact of the oil price differential a 'crisis.' We agree," Notley and Moe wrote in a letter released Tuesday.
 
 
"A crisis of this magnitude must be reflected in any discussion on 'Economic Competitiveness.' We trust that the agenda for our upcoming First Ministers’ Meeting can be revised to better reflect the need for a substantive discussion on issues of critical importance to the Canadian economy."
 
 
While the rest of the world sells its oil at about $50 per barrel, Notley has said Alberta fetches only $10.
 
 
She has ordered a mandatory cut to oil production which amounts to 8.7 per cent of output to reduce the glut of oil forcing the steep discounts. The cuts are scheduled to end on Dec. 31, 2019.
 
 
Alberta is also planning on buying as many as 80 locomotives and 7,000 rail tankers — expected to cost hundreds of millions of dollars — to move the province's excess oil to markets and address the pipeline bottleneck.
 
 
The Trans Mountain expansion project, which would triple capacity to the B.C. coast, is now in legal limbo despite being approved two years ago as Ottawa revisits the impacts on First Nations and B.C.'s marine environment.

MORE National ARTICLES

Alberta Man Accused Of Threatening Call To Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale Found Not Guilty

Alberta Man Accused Of Threatening Call To Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale Found Not Guilty
CALGARY — A judge has found an Alberta man not guilty of making threats against Canada's public safety minister.

Alberta Man Accused Of Threatening Call To Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale Found Not Guilty

Missing Children Cases Can Have Happy Endings, Says Mom Who Reunited With Son

TORONTO — A mother who has reunited with her son 31 years after he was allegedly abducted says she's living proof that missing children cases can have happy endings.

Missing Children Cases Can Have Happy Endings, Says Mom Who Reunited With Son

Under Fire For Inciting Violence, Trump Refocuses Attacks On U.S. Media

WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump is again setting his sights on the mainstream media as he seeks to deflect withering criticism of his firebrand style of angry political rhetoric.

Under Fire For Inciting Violence, Trump Refocuses Attacks On U.S. Media

NDP MP Peter Julian Slams Justin Trudeau For Not Calling Byelection In Burnaby South

New Democrat MP Peter Julian says Trudeau's decision not to call the other byelections today is "petty and manipulative," and he accused the prime minister of playing around with elections.

NDP MP Peter Julian Slams Justin Trudeau For Not Calling Byelection In Burnaby South

Debate Over Recognizing Sex Work Divides Quebec Women'S Federation

MONTREAL — Quebec's most prominent women's group is being split by a debate over whether to acknowledge prostitution as a freely chosen career.

Debate Over Recognizing Sex Work Divides Quebec Women'S Federation

Jagmeet Singh Accuses Trudeau Of Disrespect For Voters After Pm Leaves 3 Ridings Vacant

Jagmeet Singh Accuses Trudeau Of Disrespect For Voters After Pm Leaves 3 Ridings Vacant
Singh says Trudeau is disrespecting some 300,000 people in the three ridings, leaving them without representation.

Jagmeet Singh Accuses Trudeau Of Disrespect For Voters After Pm Leaves 3 Ridings Vacant