Canada Should Prioritize Exporting Natural Resources

[Anonymous]

We can argue about the need to improve our environmental performance in the extraction of everything from coal to nickel to natural gas and oil. However, there is no arguing they are responsible in large part for Canada's standards of living.

OTTAWA -- Extracting and exporting oil and gas is tops in terms of national economic benefit, a University of Calgary economics professor says in a new report.



"The value-added content of Canadian energy exports is far larger than any other sector out there," said Trevor Tombes.



Tombes released a new report Tuesday that he hopes will dispel some "myths" about the energy sector.



One of those myths, he says, is that exporting natural resources is not as good as exporting a finished or processed product.



"This idea that hewing wood and drawing water is regressive economic activity is just obsolete," said Tombes.



His report points out that the average job in the oil field pays $100 an hour, compared to half that in auto manufacturing.

Tombes also figures that mining the oilsands and extracting conventional crude oil adds four times as much value as the manufacturing sector does to an exported product.



The report also mentions that diversifying Canada's energy export markets doesn't just mean shipping oil to Asia.



With half of Canada's oil exports going exclusively to Minnesota and Illinois, Tombes sees plenty of opportunity for market diversification Stateside.



"Building Keystone to the Gulf Coast is not doubling down on our United States energy partner," he said. "It's actually diversifying it within the United States."



The Keystone XL pipeline project would connect Alberta's oilsands to refineries in Texas, but the project is still awaiting the approval of U.S. President Barack Obama.



Tombes says only two per cent of Canada's energy exports go to Texas

http://www.edmontonsun.com/2014/03/18/canada-should-prioritize-exporting-natural-resources-report">http://www.edmontonsun.com/2014/03/18/c ... ces-report">http://www.edmontonsun.com/2014/03/18/canada-should-prioritize-exporting-natural-resources-report

[Anonymous]

OL,



This is the report you are talking about. When the study says the average job pays $100/hr vs. $50/hr in auto manufacturing they do not mean just the base hourly rate. It also takes into consideration extended medical, truck allowances, tax free living allowances, flights, RRSP matching/pensions and overtime, overtime, overtime!!

[Anonymous]

With average annual salaries of nearly $102,000, the mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction sector is the highest paying field to be in right now.



The manufacturing sector pays an average of $53,500.

http://www.workopolis.com/content/advice/article/how-much-money-are-we-earning-the-average-canadian-wages-right-now/">http://www.workopolis.com/content/advic ... right-now/">http://www.workopolis.com/content/advice/article/how-much-money-are-we-earning-the-average-canadian-wages-right-now/

[Anonymous]

The Canadian Auto Workers deal with GM Canada that expired in September 2012 had an average assembly-worker base pay of about $34 an hour.

[Anonymous]

The Canadian Auto Workers deal with GM Canada that expired in September 2012 had an average assembly-worker base pay of about $34 an hour.

Isn't the entry-level base rate at Honda in Alliston, Ontario lower than that?

[Frost]

I should have got that job on the oil rigs down on the coast back in the late 80s, and 90s like I considered.

[Anonymous]

I should have got that job on the oil rigs down on the coast back in the late 80s, and 90s like I considered.

You can work your way up to Driller, Toolpush, Consultant. You can also go the service hand route and become a cementing Supervisor, wirelining, directional driller or MWD tech and more. Not something I would want for my baby boy, but I admit the opportunities are there.