Daily Gleaner JUNE 19 DENNIS ATCHISON COMMENTARY On June 11 the new president of TransCanada’s proposed Energy East Pipeline claimed our economy “will benefit from the construction (of the pipeline)” and“1,400 direct jobs that will be created”.(The Daily Gleaner, June 11) In the same story is reference to a Deloitte forecast on possible jobs created during construction and post-construction, with the a ratio of about 10 construction jobs (short-term employment) to one job when the pipeline is up and running. So it really turns out the actual forecast of long term jobs is 140. Why the excitement about 140 jobs long term? This bears out with the American experience on pipelines and supposed wealth and job creation. Consider this from the U. S. Financial Times: The U.S. oil boom hasn’t translated into jobs. Statistics offered claim 35,000 jobs in the entire industry over a five year period were created. This story tells us that while oil production and distribution made lots of money (for oil companies), it did little to help the economy or to create jobs. To add to this, the United States is years ahead of New Brunswick in terms of production of oil and natural gas. The intense growth in domestic production in the United States is reported to have reduced the demand for Canadian oil 17 per cent since 2005, and demand for natural gas has dropped even more. In February of 2013 Frank McKenna is quoted saying,“ ...shale gas in the United States saved $107 billion and the industry boom has already created more than 1.7 million jobs.”(CBC Feb. 11, 2013) Makes no sense. How can the U. S. Bureau of Statistics measure 35,000 jobs created nation-wide during the past five years, and Mr. McKenna claim 1.7 million jobs for the same industry during the same period? One thing is clear. Pipelines do not generate wealth or long term economic well-being for the communities and provinces they pass through. Certainly 140 long term jobs is something, but not really worth all the attention and energy currently dedicated to such a small outcome. Is it possible the United States experience has much to teach us - consider it evidence-based policy - on what the proposed pipeline power of change to our collective well-being promises? The outcome will be guided by your response to two simple questions. What kind of province do you want to live in? Will you offer your energy to create that vision? Over the long term, who benefits? DENNIS ATCHISON produces a news-focused website called “The Dennis Report : Because everything is connected” (denni satchison), and The Dennis Report television show on CHCO TV, which features interviews that are in-depth, interesting and heartfelt. Also on You-tube (https: //youtube/user/ TheDennisReport)
Posted on: Fri, 20 Jun 2014 18:50:09 +0000
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