When the Canadian Energy Centre (CEC) was created in 2019 by the government of Alberta, it was an organization ostensibly designed to counter misinformation on the province’s energy sector. Unofficially dubbed the “War Room,” the CEC was expected to be pugnacious and swift in countering perceived attacks against Alberta’s oil and gas sector.
Despite the hyped fanfare of its creation and a generous $30 million annual budget, the CEC never became the respected, fierce, and effective defender of Alberta’s energy sector it was supposed to be, and in some cases was mired in controversy. Premier Danielle Smith finally, mercifully put the organization to rest this week.
Smith’s decision to announce the closure of the CEC just as the Global Energy Show kicked off in Calgary was no coincidence. She wanted to signal to representatives of energy companies and energy-producing nations in attendance that the Alberta government is taking a more controlled and nuanced approach to communications in defence of Alberta’s prime industries.
The functions of the CEC are now to be moved into the government and integrated into the Ministry of Intergovernmental Relations department. Not only is Danielle Smith Alberta’s premier, but she has assumed the role of the province’s intergovernmental relations minister. It’s not unheard of for premiers to take on extra-ministerial roles, but it is unusual. Smith has chosen to put the task of advocating for Alberta’s energy industry directly under her purview.
At the time of the CEC’s creation, it was formed as a private entity at arm’s length from the government. That move made the organization immune from access to information requests and public disclosure of its finances. The built-in lack of transparency was likely a contributing factor to the poor performance of the CEC, as it was never held to account and had little motivation to function efficiently. As a stand-alone organization, the CEC would also be terribly vulnerable to lawsuits or fines if C-59 is passed and actions are initiated through it.
In bringing the function of the CEC into the provincial government, if the federal government wants to sanction positive communications about the oil and gas sector, it will have to directly do battle with the Alberta government. Premier Smith would relish such a battle, as defending Alberta’s interests against Ottawa is always a popular stance, and the provincial government has plenty of resources to defend itself against any actions invoked through C-59 in both the courtrooms of Canada and the court of public opinion.
Hopefully, there is a plan and intention to continue with what the mandate of the CEC was supposed to be, and the dissolution of the organization wasn’t just to avoid potential liability with C-59.
Canada’s oil and gas industry is under constant attack from activists. With proposed ever-increasing regulatory barriers hindering conventional energy development, somebody must act in defence of the industry.
Canada’s oil and gas industry is one of the cleanest and most ethical energy producers on earth. Great strides have been made in emission reduction, reclamation of lands, and partnerships with indigenous bands. The industry employs hundreds of thousands of Canadians, pays billions in taxes, and contributes over $70 billion per year to Canada’s GDP.
The benefits of Canada’s conventional energy sector must be positively communicated to Canadians, and the right of self-defence for the industry must be vigorously protected.
The CEC failed in its role as an industry defender as it had morphed into little more than an entity churning out lacklustre press releases and ineffective advertising campaigns. It was time to fold up the organization.
The need for a defender for Canada’s oil and gas sector is as acute as ever. Here’s hoping that the reorganization will provide an effective public voice for an industry that desperately needs one. Not just for Alberta, but for all of Canada.
