Websites & Winners

Executive Director's Message

Alberta is blessed with abundant natural resources that are the envy of many jurisdictions in the world. Natural resources are a source of much wealth. But our resources are also a source of boom and bust cycles of the past, and potentially the future, if the province’s economy is tied to just this one sector.

Just One More Boom
Managing our natural advantages for long term gain is pivotal. Sometimes it seems our strategy may be reflected in the old popular bumper sticker after the bust in the 80’s...“Please God, let me have one more oil boom; I promise not to blow it all away this time”. One ex-pat Albertan describes the situation as follows: “Throughout my lifetime it seems Alberta has been an economy of circumstance. Do we now need to become an economy of intent?”

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(Formerly known as North West Upgrading Refinery)

The past few years generated much interest in the North West Upgrader project planned for the Sturgeon County area of Alberta’s Industrial Heartland. The project’s new name, the North West Redwater Partnership – Sturgeon Refinery, reflects changes and progress made to date. The name represents the project partnership between North West Upgrading and Canadian Natural Resources Limited. The tag line “Sturgeon Refinery” highlights the project going beyond upgrading bitumen and producing consumer ready motor fuels and products similar to a refinery complex.

A $5 billion capital investment and three years of construction on the Sturgeon Refinery near Redwater, Alberta should have phase one operational. This first phase alone of the Sturgeon Refinery adds 20% to the $25 billion value of total capital investments to date in Alberta’s Industrial Heartland. 

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Click to review the status of other projects announced or under construction

Government’s Ethane Extraction Program is the Catalyst

It has Alberta’s petrochemical industry buzzing. The Incremental Ethane Extraction Program (IEEP) is expected to provide stability to Alberta’s current petrochemical industry, opening doors to new investments and, at the same time, reducing environmental emissions. The recently announced Government of Alberta program is poised to have a major effect on the future economic fortunes of the entire province, and the proof is already in the making.

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Separated by over 3,000 kilometers but joined by a common goal, Canada’s two premier industrial centres have their sights aligned and focused on industrial excellence. The Sarnia/Lambton Refining and Petrochemical Complex is in the heart of Ontario’s manufacturing district at the site of Canada’s first crude oil discovery in 1857. While across the country, Alberta’s Industrial Heartland borders the Edmonton Capital Region and is situated south of the world’s third largest supply of oil reserves (the Alberta oil sands). Both regions are considered petrochemical powerhouses within Canada and internationally.

A recent Sarnia/Lambton and Heartland roundtable sparked a new era of petrochemical complex collaboration.

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The leadership race for Alberta’s new Premier officially began a few days ago. Nominations opened for the leader of the PC Party and several candidates have already declared their intent. The vote for Alberta’s new Premier takes place in September, setting a new direction and course for the province.

As the race for PC Party leader unfolds over several months, consider and inquire about candidates’ positions on value adding and Alberta’s natural resources.

• Are we content to let our natural resources leave the province in their lowest possible form, or should we strive to diversify the economy by taking our natural assets further up the value chain?
• Will Alberta’s future see a continuation or expansion of positive programs like BRIK and IEEP that have been so successful in attracting investment to the province?

A new leader brings new direction. Albertans deserve a direction valuing our natural resources and the incredible opportunity they offer our province and people.

 

PC leadership candidates include (click for websites):

• Doug Griffiths
• Doug Horner
• Gary Mar
• Ted Morton
• Rick Orman
• Alison Redford