Friday, December 10th 2010

Canada’s Addition to Oil

Is Canada becoming addicted to oil? The oil sands provide Canada with a relatively

secure source of energy, income, and employment. Canadian oil reserves are the second largest

on the planet. As far as extraction methods go, the ones used in the Alberta oil sands are among

the most carbon intensive; there is increasing concern that the extraction methods are causing

unprecedented ecological harm. Oil companies need to cut down on the amount of oil that is

being produced from the oil sands because it is having a negative impact on the environment,

wild life, and on the people of Alberta. Some Albertans are angry about the oil sands and their

impact on the environment. The extraction and refining process dump large amount of pollutants

into the surrounding ecosystems. Finally the oil sands have increased Canada’s contribution to

global pollution.

Canada became the top source of US oil imports in 2000 at 16.4%[CITATION Hughes \l

1033 ]. Some Albertans are not happy about the oil sands impact on the environment and the

government’s lack of response to the problem. Albertans elected a new environmental minister

expecting changes; however the progress has been slow. Due to the negative impact on the

environment Alberta brands Canada with a bad reputation[ CITATION CrudeAwakening \l 1033 ].

The government should be implementing new standards towards how much pollution the oil

companies produce, and where the waste is disposed of. Some Albertans want to fly Canadians

to the oil sands to see the extent of the problem. Many new projects have been delayed however

other producers in the area are moving forward with building new projects.
 Secondly, the extraction process of the oil is dumping waste into Albertan lakes, which

harms the natural ecosystems in the area. When compared to the average crude oil extraction

process, greenhouse gas emissions from the Alberta oil sands are approximately five to 15 per

cent higher[ CITATION Terry \l 1033 ]. Lake Chipewyan is an area near an oil sand waste

repository; the fish are growing moss and sores while rotting from the pollutants in the lake. The

fish from the lake cannot be sold by fisherman. The oil sands are also impacting the Athabasca

Delta; the region is a breeding ground for hundreds of species of birds, the area is being

destroyed to clear the land for oil production.

Finally, Canada is one of the top polluting countries in the world. In Fort Chipewyan

cancer related deaths are on the rise, and are 30% more common than in southern Alberta

[ CITATION CrudeAwakening \l 1033 ]. First Nations people living near the oil sands report high

occurrences of fish and other wildlife displaying tumors and deformities; they are convinced that

the industry is responsible for the increased cancer rates. Mining and extraction of the oil is

causing destruction of Canada’s boreal forests and vast amounts of pollution. Tailings ponds are

huge dams meant to store waste water accumulated from the process of oil sands extraction. The

ponds cover a total of about 170 square kilometers[ CITATION Airdrie \l 1033 ]. The ponds are

supposed to restore the water back to its non-toxic conditions, however only a small portion of

the water is recycled while the rest sits in the ponds. Attempts at restoring the land after mining

does not return it to its original state, ecosystems are forever disturbed. The oil sands are

described as the most destructive projects on earth.

In conclusion, if the oil sands are allowed to continue, there will be negative

consequences on the environment, wildlife, and people. The oil will not last forever; Albertans

will be left with an ugly landscape. Pollution released into the environment and air will enhance
the global warming felt all around the world. Oil companies need to cut down on the amount of

oil that is being produced from the oil sands to protect the environment, wildlife, and the people

of Alberta.

Figure 1 Terry, Ashley

Works Cited

Airdrie, Kathleen. Suite 101. 14 August 2010. 1 December 2010 <http://www.suite101.com/content/oil-

sands-tailings-ponds-toxins-increase-a274239>.

Hughes, David. Energy Bulletin. 10 September 2010. 2 December 2010

<http://www.energybulletin.net/stories/2010-09-10/pelosis-probe-oil-sands-americas-
addiction-oil>.

MacIntyre, Darrow. CBC. 13 December 2007. 2 December 2010

<http://www.cbclearning.ca/CBCEDS/shopping/product.aspx?
CatalogName=CBCEDSBase&CategoryName=environment_other_environment_titles&Product_I
D=Y8Q-07-16&Variant_ID=Y8Q-07-16-010101>.

Terry, Ashley. Global News. 30 August 2010. 30 November 2010

<http://www.globalnews.ca/Pros+cons+Alberta+sands/1948001/story.html>.