A recent anti-oilsands media campaign attempts to mislead the American public in four cities by targeting the Canadian tourism industry.
The ad campaign: “Rethink Alberta,” is paid for by a U.S.-based activist group and attempts to foster a negative view of the Canadian province among American tourists. The ads frame oilsands exploration in the region as destructive to local communities and the environment.
The truth is Canadian oil producers adhere to some of the most stringent environmental regulations in the world— and the LCFS illusion of “dirtier” Canadian oil is a fabrication of such groups. Now more than ever, the U.S.-Canadian strategic energy partnership must be preserved. Tumultuous times in other energy bearing regions of the world should only strengthen the bond between the two neighboring countries.
Rob Renner—Alberta’s environment minister— slammed the misleading ad campaign:
Canada provides the American public with one out of every six barrels of oil. As proponents of LCFS continue to focus on limiting the importation of Canadian oil, Americans still need the resource to maintain their modern lifestyles. More importantly— unity with our friends to the North is a major component of America’s strategic position in the world.
In fact, Alberta’s oil producers are more efficient than ever— and oil production in the province counts for a mere 5% of the country’s total greenhouse emissions. This is a far cry from the sentiment found in the misleading ad campaign targeting the province.
Americans need affordable energy—and restricting the flow of Canadian oil to America based on mythologies like LCFS end up inflating prices at the pump. In fact, LCFS proponents hurt the very people they claim to protect: everyday Americans.
