Suncor Energy’s Base Plant, the first commercial operation to develop the Athabasca oil sands, got a visit from a federal minister on June 23. Dominic LeBlanc opened a trip to Alberta in Fort McMurray, according to a readout from his office.
LeBlanc is President of the King’s Privy Council for Canada and the minister responsible for Canada-U.S. Trade, Intergovernmental Affairs, Internal Trade and One Canadian Economy. In the city he met senior Suncor executives, then trade and industry leaders at the Fort McMurray Chamber of Commerce.
At the plant
The readout describes Suncor as a Canadian company headquartered in Alberta. Up to 65% of its oil production is refined in Canada, and it is one of the country’s largest retailers of petroleum.
At the Base Plant, LeBlanc saw two new cogeneration units. The readout says they have significantly reduced the facility’s emissions while feeding power to the grid. He also talked with Suncor’s senior leadership about how Ottawa can work with Alberta’s energy sector to support continued growth.
He reaffirmed Canada’s commitment to the recently announced implementation agreement for the Canada-Alberta Memorandum of Understanding. The office says that agreement will open up Alberta’s natural resources and cement Canada’s place as a leader in clean and conventional energy.
LeBlanc also acknowledged the new West Coast Oil pipeline, which is meant to carry low-emission Alberta bitumen, widen access to Asian markets and bolster Canada’s independence and prosperity. He noted Alberta’s commitment to partner with Canada on lowering emissions through the Pathways Project, described in the readout as the largest carbon capture, utilization and storage project in the world.
At the Chamber
At the Chamber of Commerce, LeBlanc sat down for a fireside chat with its President, Dianna De Sousa. He spoke about the Canada-Alberta MOU and about the Major Projects Office, which he said is helping coordinate and streamline federal processes so major infrastructure projects get built.
He praised Alberta businesses that are pushing for freer movement of goods, services and labour across the country, a step toward a more unified domestic market. The review of the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement also came up, with LeBlanc stressing stronger Canada-U.S. trade ties and North American competitiveness.
“For more than a century, Alberta’s business leaders have built this country,” the readout says. In an uncertain world, it adds, the minister underscored that working together matters more than ever. Canada is “building big again,” and Albertans have a part in making the economy stronger for everyone.
