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ConocoPhillips takes a new approach to public consultation

by Patrycja Romanowska

Maybe this is corporate Alberta’s attempt to move the discussion on energy away from the realm of publicity stunts and blistering Internet blogs. Maybe it is a matter of creating a forum for public discourse that the oil industry, at its peril, long tried to avoid. Or maybe ConocoPhillips Canada just likes Fort McMurray in the fall.

Whatever the reason, the company’s roving “conversation on energy” campaign is symptomatic of industry desire to improve relations with the public and, measured by any of those objectives, it appears to be a success.

“Our industry has lost touch with the public,” ConocoPhillips Canada president Kevin Meyers remarks. “Opinion polls rank us very low in credibility and show that the level of public trust in the industry to keep its commitments has fallen in each of the three last years.”

Only seven per cent of respondents in a 2006 Harris poll said they trust the oil industry to look after their welfare. Only one in four adults believed oil companies would improve their standard of living. Oil was rated as least likely of six industries, including chemicals and pharmaceuticals, to be perceived as ethical.

Most importantly, especially for tonight’s discussion in the bitumen belt capital, was a finding that the oil industry ranked as least likely to care about communities and the environment.

Not one of the few dozen people who brave the weather to attend the ConocoPhillips Canada event disagrees with Meyers about the energy sector’s failure to connect with the public. Most seem surprised to be partaking in an industry-initiated debate on issues they hold near and dear to their hearts.

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