Drilling association launches campaign asking for ‘respect’ for Canada’s oil and gas workers

CALGARY – With one in six people utilized by the gas and oil industry unemployed, the country’s largest drilling association has launched an offer to get the attention of federal and provincial politicians.

Canadian Association of Oilwell Drilling Contractors president Mark Scholz said Wednesday that 100,000 people directly and indirectly employed by the gas and oil industry have finally lost their jobs.

He told reporters you may still find 500,000 people whose jobs are supported directly or indirectly through the oil and gas industry, and is calling on those workers C and supportive people across the country C to sign petitions the CAODC has launched that decision on politicians to support pipelines.

We aren’t requesting a government handout, but we’re asking for an honest discussion and we’re requesting respect for an industry which has done this much to make Canada the very best country in the world

The job loss estimates from the CAODC are up sharply from previous industry estimates of 40,000 positions, but Scholz said they are pulled directly from Statistics Canada.

Statistics Canada data show Alberta’s unemployment rate rose above the national average for the first time in 28 years in January, when it hit 7.4 percent in contrast to the national average of seven.2 percent.

Calgary’s unemployment rate climbed even higher, to 7.6 per cent, as the unemployment rate in and around the oilsands boomtown of Fort McMurray hit nine per cent in January.

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Distributing bumper stickers emblazoned using the words “Oil Respect,” the CAODC is planning a cross-country speaking tour calling on Canadians and politicians to support the making of new pipelines and asking Canadians to show their support for the industry.

The organization also launched a brand new website that has stories of people that have lost their jobs in oil and gas and therefore are now can not pay their bills.

“We aren’t asking for a government handout, but we are asking for a genuine discussion and we’re asking for respect for an industry that has done so much to create Canada the very best country on the planet,” Scholz said.

Scholz stopped short of stating that other industries C such as the automotive and manufacturing industries C have more support from the federal government, but mentioned that the oil and gas market is the biggest in Canada.

“Annual revenues in 2014 were $150 billion dollars however in 2015 revenues were reduced to $90 billion, which may be the same as losing the entire auto sector in the Canadian economy in just twelve months,” he said.

Financial Post

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