Infrastructure spending or pipelines?
Posted Jan 21, 2016 11:37 am.
Last Updated Jan 21, 2016 3:50 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
What do you think would help get Alberta out of this economic rut; a $1 billion investment in infrastructure, or a new pipeline?
Reports say the federal government thinks the cash would help, so it’s in talks to fast track the bailout to oil-reliant provinces Alberta and Saskatchewan.
You may have thought an oil and gas driven city like Calgary would prefer a new pipeline to boost the economy.
But that’s not the case with some of the city’s downtown workers who spoke with 660 NEWS.
One, named Travis, works in the oil and gas sector and said a new pipeline will increase market access, but it’s a band-aid solution to address the province’s economic woes.
“It still doesn’t fix the overarching and long-term consequences of being oil-reliant as a province,” he said. “Infrastructure spending would be better in the long-term as we reassess our priorities in the province and renegotiate what our economy should look like in the future.”
Fabian Baptiste works for high-end retailer Harry Rosen, and said there is a noticeable difference downtown. He said the Core’s offices are clearing, and it’s slowing down business in the retail and entertainment sectors.
“I think the money is needed everywhere, not just in oil and gas per se. There are a lot of people suffering because of what’s going on right now,” Baptiste said.
Bryan B. worked in they city’s real estate market for years, and knows how a tanking economy hits his line of work. He believes it’s time to invest in crumbling roads, bridges and transit.
“None of our infrastructure has been touched for so, so many years, that it’s just falling apart. And with all the salt and everything in Calgary especially. You know we need the money back in, and it will also get people working,” he said.
When it comes to opinions on if a new pipeline will be built in Canada, most people told 660 NEWS, they didn’t see it happening anytime soon.
For the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers, it’s not an either or option.
CAPP spokesperson Chelsie Klassen said the energy companies invest billions into infrastructure, and pipelines are included in that category.
“Our infrastructure and the economic success of our industry in the province could be jeopardized without this critical infrastructure of pipelines in place,” she said. “We really think that it’s an opportunity not only for Alberta, but for Canada as a whole, that we bring these pipelines to fruition.”
She added, the group isn’t asking for a handout, just public policy support to build pipelines and access new markets.
