Political support growing to refine Alberta's oil, not export it

11/02/14
Author: 
Mychaylo Prystupa

In a growing shift that is likely to upset many environmentalists about the future of the tar sands, political groups are increasingly signalling their support for the sector if it means Alberta's oil can be refined into gasoline in Canada, rather than for raw bitumen export. This weekend, Unifor - the largest private-sector union in Canada - stated its opposition to export pipelines, such as the Enbridge Northern Gateway and Kinder Morgan expansion projects. But at the same time, it voiced its support for oil pipelines that would create refineries and thousands of energy jobs, including for B.C.