I have been looking at our fossil fuel industry, and feeling sick lately.
Every businessperson knows that, if you cannot either produce a much superior product or match the price point of your competitor, then you are out of business.
This is not caused by COVID-19. We have seen this market collapse for several years. With no anticipation of a significant increase in fossil fuel use, we must accept the oil sands are out of business.
A recovery employment program should be provided for employees of the oil sands, to be trained by our education systems without fees and with a stipend to transition into the sustainable energy and building fields.
The Canadian government should be gearing up to restart our economy in several ways:
-With loans to industries to build our sustainable future, including upgrading our housing stock, municipal and provincial buildings to ensure energy efficiency.
-With work in fields that provide sustainable energy sources and with upgrading of infrastructure, like bridges, roads, sewer systems, railways, communications (including government provided internet and phone services to under-serviced areas), and electrical systems.
Having lived through Sudbury's downsizing in the mining industry, I know that people and communities pay a big price for change, but clear signals cause the least damage in the short and long term.
Our country’s leadership must point the way forward, and we need to be strong and move forward, united, to embrace a better future.
Patricia Rogerson
Sudbury