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The transporting and processing of tar sands crudes will have insignificant economic benefits for Quebec, according to Economics of Transporting and Processing Tar Sands Crudes in Quebec, a report published today by The Goodman Group, Greenpeace and Equiterre.
According to the report, the overall contribution of the crude oil sector is 0.50% (or less) of the total Quebec economy and 0.30% (or less) of total Quebec jobs. Even if all proposed tar-sands-related projects in Quebec were approved, their economic contribution relative to operating activities would remain negligible. They would not increase our share in the economy, or the number of jobs in the province.
Every million dollars invested in pipeline construction and refinery upgrade projects creates approximately 8 person-years of employment in Quebec. By way of comparison, the same amount invested in renewable energy would create 15 jobs.
The growth in tar sands production related to TransCanada's Energy East project would increase our greenhouse gas emissions by 32 million tonnes a year, and yet there has been no consultation on this project.
Photo: Greenpeace/Jiri Rezac
