EDMONTON, AB: Forecast drilling numbers from the Canadian Association of Oilwell Drilling Contractors (CAODC) show how dramatically the current economic downturn and NDP policies are impacting Alberta’s energy sector, the Wildrose Official Opposition said Wednesday.
The CAODC’s report notes that along with challenging circumstances such as the low price of oil and market access the, “cumulative regulatory and taxation changes have combined to create an investment climate that is resulting in uncertainty in Canadian markets.”
The forecast projects a loss of almost 30,000 blue-collar jobs.
“These are normal, ordinary Albertans who will now be out of work. The NDP government’s policies weren’t the original cause of our downturn, but they are making a bad situation even worse,” Wildrose Leader Brian Jean said. “It couldn’t be more obvious, NDP policies and the threat of a carbon tax, higher royalties, and refusal to back important pipeline projects are all making a bad situation worse.”
The CAODC’s forecast projects there will be a 58 per cent decrease in wells drilled from 2014 to 2016.
“Albertans are worried, investor confidence is sinking, and the government needs to acknowledge the negative impact their policies are having on the energy sector,” Wildrose Shadow Energy Minister Leela Aheer said. “What we need right now are policies that will get Albertans back to work, not continue on our current path of losing an average of 1,500 jobs per week.”
Wildrose will stand up for Alberta’s most important jobs sector, and recognize just how important it is to our economy.