This post was brought to you by the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers via sheblogs. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers.
I’m a strong believer in the oil and gas industry not only for the petroleum products I use everyday but also for making my community sustainable. Living in the East Kootenay region of British Columbia, I am reminded often how beautiful this area is and the advantages to living in an area with easy access to mountains, lakes and back roads! Without this industry, our community wouldn’t exist as it does today because of the jobs they provide to many families who work out of town so they can live in a small community like ours. We don’t realize how the industry truly is an essential part of our quality of life within the community.
How the Oil and Gas Industry Supports My Way of Living
It is a fact that not many Canadians know the industry even exists. That’s why I’m so passionate about sharing some facts with you to open your eyes to what’s out there and how many of the things we do each and every day are possible because of the industry.
The oil and natural gas industry employs more than 550,000 people across Canada. That is a huge number and the population of some countries. Speaking from my own experience, these jobs help keep communities sustainable and provide families with an income they wouldn’t be able to find at home.
Canada is the 5th largest producer of crude oil in the world and contains the 3rd largest oil reserves with 97% in the Oil Sands.
Did you know in 2013 over 2,000 companies supplied goods and/or services to the Oil Sands to construct and operate their projects, mines and upgraders? It really is about people helping people and using local resources to keep our country sustainable.
The gas and petroleum industry makes up 20% of the value of Canada’s main stock exchange, the TSX. This is returned to investors and shareholders, as well as pensions.
Where would any of us be without this support from an industry not many of us even know about. One of the facts that surprised me was that the oil and gas industry makes payments to our government that average $18 billion/year and goes towards hospitals, schools, roads, and social programs. If that doesn’t make you want to find out more about the industry, I don’t know what will.
Next time you fill up your car with gas, put makeup on, head out on an adventure, use your computer or even bring your plastic bags full of groceries in the house think about where those products came from. The oil and gas industry impacts our lives in many ways that we don’t even realize. Thinking about their commitment to Canada and supporting our economy, schools and hospitals was a big eye opener for me and I thought I was educated about the industry. Before you judge or come to conclusions, arm yourself with the facts. I promise you that you’ll be pleasantly surprised!
For more information about the Oil Sands industry visit
This post was brought to you by the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers via sheblogs. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers.
