N. Murray Edwards, Vice Chairman of Canadian Natural Resources Ltd., highlighted the difficulty his company and others are having in bringing their massive projects online. He noted that the cost to construct a 100,000 b/d of oilsands production facility has skyrocketed from $3 billion at the beginning of the decade to upwards of $9 billion due to labour and material shortages. In sharing the platform with Premier Stelmach, he signalled an understanding that oilsands producers, while generally not in favour of the new royalty regime, were respectful of the Premier’s mandate to set his own agenda.

Paul Michael Wihbey, President of the Washington-based energy consulting firm GWEST, which served as a consultant to the Alberta Enterprise Group for the purpose of co-ordinating the trade mission’s policy and business agendas, put the events of the day into geopolitical context. Canadian oilsands operators and politicians would be wise to more fully contemplate the political climate in Washington and not take the American market for granted. He directed attention to threats of increased oilsands production from other producers like Venezuela (assuming a liberalized post-Chavez political environment), the Persian Gulf and Brazil, as well as the political threats from environmental groups and politicians succumbing to anti-oil ideology.

Premier Ed Stelmach wrapped up the formal program in the U.S. Senate by outlining his policy approach of “greening Alberta’s growth” by focusing on reducing greenhouse gas emissions from oilsands development. He expressed confidence in the ability of energy and infrastructure companies operating in Alberta to meet the projected output growth estimates while at the same time acknowledging the difficulties mentioned by Mr. Edwards.

In addition to his meetings with key Congressional leaders on energy and agricultural issues, the Premier also had a private meeting with Vice President Cheney, the Bush administration’s energy policy frontman. Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman, who could perhaps have engaged the Premier on more substantive policy issues, was accompanying President Bush to the Middle East. So the meeting with Vice President Cheney, the highest ranking member of the government in the country at the time of the Premier’s trip, was in fact an official recognition of Alberta’s importance to the United States.

Bipartisan Support for Alberta

After the presentations in the Senate, the delegates moved to the Capitol building for private meetings with four members of the House of Representatives, namely Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas), James Oberstar (D-Minnesota), Henry Brown (R-South Carolina) and Tim Mahoney (D-Florida).

Wrapping up the formal presentation, Premier Stelmach recognized the dedication and sacrifice of the Canadian military serving on the front lines in Afghanistan. The Alberta Enterprise Group sponsored the trip for nearly 300 members of the Canadian military and their families to the Edmonton Oilers versus Washington Capitals hockey game the following day. The pre-game activities featured a rendition of both national anthems and color guard presentation by members of Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry – another historic first.

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