Despite everything, let’s say no to pipelines!

The war in Ukraine shows how energy issues are also at the heart of global geopolitics.

A quarter of the oil imported into Europe comes from Russia.

285 million $ that Europe sends every day to Russia, 1000 billion $/year. Huge !

Gas dependence is worse, 45% of European imports are Russian. No wonder Europeans are vulnerable to the dictator.

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Oil or renewable energies

The climate crisis is already causing countries to review their dependence on fossil fuels. With the war in Ukraine, there is no doubt that Europe must diversify its energy supply.

Should it still bet on oil or accelerate the production of renewable energy?

This global reflection also affects Canada, which is the world’s 4th largest oil producer with the oil sands of Alberta.

Canada fractured

In the quest for energy diversification brought about by the war in Ukraine, many will want us to increase spending to exploit more oil or shale gas.

To the proposed new pipelines, we will have to say no. Quebec will have to stand up no matter what Alberta says. A pipeline takes 5-10 years to build anyway.

The situation in Quebec resembles that of Europe, our dependence on oil impoverishes us, because it is our first import product, with $8.5 billion a year in expenditure. Black gold represents 57% of our trade deficit. It is an economic disaster for Quebec.

To have a positive impact on the environment, to enrich ourselves and to be self-sufficient, let’s bet on renewable energies. Luckily, Hydro-Québec is the world’s 5th largest producer of hydroelectricity.

At a time when we pay $2 a liter of gasoline, freeing ourselves from oil is no longer just an environmental issue, but an economic one.

Choose the green future

Rather than favoring pipelines, Justin Trudeau will have to negotiate hydroelectricity transport corridors with Biden, particularly in the northeastern United States.

If Canada and Quebec can contribute to reducing dependence on Russian oil and gas, it is by accelerating investments favoring renewable energies and the electrification of transport that this must happen.