In a speech at the”Gaining Ground Summit” in Calgary earlier this week, Robert Kennedy Jr. indirectly slams the heavy oil industry as well as the governments that subsidize them.
While speaking specifically about the fossil fuel industry and the environmental and financial costs associated with burning coal to produce energy, Mr. Kennedy referred to coal as the worst source of energy, “except for the oil sands”. He then went on a rant about the costs to the taxpayer associated with the oil, coal and nuclear industries.
“You show me a polluter, I’ll show you a subsidy. I’ll show you a fat cat using political clout to escape the discipline of the free-market,” he said.
Well Mr. Kennedy, show me an industry and I will show you a subsidy.
* Automotive industry.
* Agriculture and food production.
* Airline industry.
* Travel industry.
* Film industry.
* Manufacturing.
* Tourism.
* Trucking and Transport.
I think it’s safe to say that most, if not all industries receive subsidies or other benefits from multiple levels of government. These subsidies encourage the growth and prosperity of every industry leading to stable jobs and economic growth.
Why then should the heavy oil industry be excluded? Are oil and gas jobs not as valuable as jobs in the aforementioned industries? Oil companies expend a staggering amount of money researching better ways to produce energy, energy that as consumers we use every day. Without that energy (and the oil subsidies) our North American lifestyle would be significantly different.
There are many valid criticisms of the energy sands and the heavy oil industry. Subsidization is not one of them.
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