Budget to be indicator of feds commitment to carbon capture, says Copeland

Mayor Craig Copeland, right, joined by Michael Menzies on The Morning After. 

The Mayor of Cold Lake says there are reasons for locals to pay attention to Tuesday’s announce of the federal budget. Namely, whether there will be dollars and incentives for carbon capture projects, which would have huge impacts to the economy of the Lakeland.

Pathways Alliance in the past year has hosted information sessions about their intentions to build a major, up to $20 billion carbon capture pipeline, that would be stored at Imperial’s Cold Lake site.

“It’s going to be huge for our area. It’s just going to mean the future for the next 40 years,” said Copeland on The Morning After on Friday. 

“It’s really to see if the Prime Minister is going to walk the talk and bring a big chunk of some kind of a package to the table that makes these projects viable. It’ll be really important for our area because, of course, the Lakeland area is where all the carbon is going to come downhole, thousand metres below surface. We want to see these projects go, especially to make a carbon free barrel of oil.” 

As Axe the Tax rallies continue locally voicing growing frustration with the carbon tax levy and its increase on April 1, some pundits have said this could save face for the Prime Minister, as even the federal NDP are withdrawing their support of the tax.

Pathways says their goal is net-zero, in line with the federal targets by 2050. In Phase 1, slated from 2021-2030, Pathways says their goal is building carbon capture and storage (CCS) network in northeastern Alberta, capturing 10-12 million tonnes of CO2 a year, and storing it in the ground.

This would involve a 400 kilometre transportation line.

“This is going to be a very credible election issue,” Copeland said.

“They have to show the people that maybe aren’t supportive of the government that they’re coming. No one has any problem taking the oil patch’s money when it comes to royalties and corporate tax. What’s really missing in Alberta is we send a ton of money from the oil industry in corporate tax. Let’s see Ottawa swing back the pendulum and help the oil industry when it comes to providing a contribution for having a carbon free barrel of oil.” 

The federal budget will be tabled in Parliament on Tuesday at approximately 2:00PM local time.

“Our economic plan is about building more homes, faster, making life more affordable, and creating more good jobs,” said Chrystia Freeland, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, in a press release.

“This plan will unlock pathways to a good middle class life for the next generation—because Canada is stronger when everyone has an equal chance to succeed. Together, we are going to unlock and build a brighter, more prosperous future.”

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