Oil Sands Question and Response (OSQAR) Blog

Partnering with Aboriginal businesses: Looking beyond the oil sands

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Having oil sands production and downstream operations under the same company roof can be good for more than the bottom line.

How to curb Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions

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Formed in late 2014, Canada’s Ecofiscal Commission has been looking at applying ecofiscal thinking – policies which encourage beneficial economic activities and reduce those we don’t want – to some of our country’s most pressing challenges. On April 7, the Commission, which is made up of top economists and guided by senior political, business and environmental leaders, released its first report, The Way Forward: A Practical Approach to Reducing Canada’s Greenhouse Gas Emissions. The report explores two main themes: the importance of implementing carbon pricing and the considerations needed for policy design.

A vote to divest: Now what?

Discussions about energy use are a lot like nutrition conversations. Both are often about changing our habits. And if they aren’t working for us, we usually change routines in order to achieve a better outcome.

Doing more with less

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With the energy industry still working through the impacts of fallen oil prices, the theme of the World Heavy Oil Congress could not be more appropriate: doing more with less. Suncor’s Mark Little, executive vice president, Upstream filled the role of honorary chair for this year’s congress. Through his opening remarks and by participating in a panel, Mark discussed topics such as the current economic climate, importance of technology and innovation, and maximizing market access.

Prior to the congress, Mark sat down and shared his thoughts on long-term industry competitiveness and the contributions the energy industry makes to the Canadian economy.

 

 

Rebuilding trust, one click at a time

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Sharing information online has never been easier. Every day, organizations reach out in cyberspace and invite unseen audiences to “learn more”, “view this or that” or “join the conversation.”

Part of the energy dialogue

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Suncor’s president and CEO Steve Williams recently spoke at the inaugural Positive Energy Conference in Ottawa.  Co-hosted by the Ivey Business School and the University of Ottawa, the event was attended by over 100 senior leaders from the energy industry, government, academia, aboriginal communities, NGOs and the non-profit sector.

Suncor’s involvement with the conference is just one more example of how we’re participating in conversations and collaborative initiatives that contribute to our shared energy future.

Blind spots: looking beyond shoulder checks

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It seems every facet of Canada’s energy discussion is in constant motion. Development aspirations rise and fall with commodity prices. Ideas for producing energy cheaper, quicker and cleaner abound. And a steady stream of news articles, tweets and blog posts document it all. 

Monitoring the pipelines

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Pipelines. You know they exist, but you might not know how they are being monitored, by whom and how often. British Columbia Forum on Tankers and Pipelines shares this easy to follow infographic explaining how pipelines are monitored and what triggers are in place if a leak or problem is detected.

Energy’s war of words

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“Words are, of course, the most powerful drug used by mankind,” wrote English poet Rudyard Kipling almost a century ago. A look at today’s polarized energy discussion suggests Kipling’s insight to be true.

Canada’s Top Energy Innovators 2015

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What does innovation in the energy sector look like? Hint: it’s not all taking place in a lab. From companies collaborating to advance environmental performance to reusing components found in tailings ponds to detecting hydrocarbon “noise” in the air, innovation comes in many different shapes and sizes. Celebrating innovation happening across the country, Alberta Oil magazine has compiled Canada’s Top Energy Innovators 2015. While only time will tell if these innovations, 26 to be exact, will all lead to great things, they’re sure to at least inspire the industry to further explore new opportunities.