The Prime Minister鈥檚 Office says it has added a discussion on the oil and gas industry at Friday鈥檚 first ministers meeting, after criticism from Alberta Premier Rachel Notley and Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe.
The PMO said late Wednesday it will 鈥渋nclude a discussion on the oil and gas industry in Canada and the impact of struggling oil prices on Canada鈥檚 energy sector and energy workers.鈥�
An earlier copy of the meeting agenda given to 麻豆影视 by one of the provinces had made no mention of 鈥渙il鈥� or 鈥済as.鈥�
The agenda provides a detailed breakdown of what each minister intends to discuss with the premiers during the six hours of meetings scheduled for this Friday. The topics include competitiveness, 鈥渃lean energy initiatives鈥� and increased economic collaboration.
Earlier Wednesday, the PMO had told 麻豆影视 that the oil price differential and what Notley and Moe are calling a 鈥渃risis鈥� facing the industry 鈥渨ere always going to be on the agenda鈥� 鈥� even if they were not specifically mentioned in the agenda.
But the premiers had asked to see 鈥淓nergy Market Access and the Economic Impacts of the Price Differential鈥� added as a full agenda item.
Alberta has been struggling with the plummeting price of oil, which fell as low as US$14 a barrel in early November.
In response to the issue, Alberta has pledged to cut production by 8.7 per cent starting January. The province will also purchase rail cars to help Canadian crude reach other markets.
While the federal government hasn鈥檛 signed on to Alberta鈥檚 request that it help with the rail car purchase, Natural Resources Minister Amarjeet Sohi has asked the National Energy Board to evaluate whether Canada鈥檚 pipelines are being used to their full capacity.
He did not give a concrete deadline for the study.
In the meantime, the federal government can expect a tense meeting on Friday as premiers gather to air their grievances and chart a path forward. Multiple provinces are unhappy about the federally imposed carbon tax -- and Finance Minister Bill Morneau, Environment Minister Catherine McKenna, and Interprovincial Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc will all be at the table on Friday to face the music.
Canada鈥檚 Ambassador to the U.S. David MacNaughton is also scheduled to make an appearance.
