CALGARY, ALBERTA–(Marketwired – Oct. 9, 2015) – Only about one in five Albertans support doubling the price of carbon, a sign of growing public concern about the competitiveness of the Alberta economy, according to an Ipsos poll commissioned by the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers.
“People are increasingly worried about their jobs and the health of the Alberta economy, both today and in the future,” said CAPP president Tim McMillan. “Many Albertans are feeling the severe pain from low oil and natural gas prices that have caused one of the most dramatic economic downturns in a generation.”
The latest poll results, from a survey taken Sept. 17-22, are part of an issues-tracking series started in July. Over two months, public confidence in the economy has fallen.
The poll indicates only 43 per cent of Albertans believe the overall economy is in good condition, compared with 62 per cent when the series began in July. Only 63 per cent of Albertans today feel the economy in their local community is in good shape, down from 79 per cent in July.
“Rigs are down and that means more Albertans aren’t working,” McMillan said. CAPP estimates about 36,000 jobs, mostly in Alberta, have been lost in the oil and gas sector in 2015.
An overwhelming majority of Albertans (91 per cent) recognize the importance of the growth oil and gas industry to the future prosperity of the province. In addition, 92 per cent of Albertans believe the Alberta government has a responsibility to promote the industry.
“Now is the time for all Albertans, for industry and government to work together on a balanced approach to make our province a great place to build a business – and to create and protect jobs,” McMillan said.
“We will continue to work with the Alberta government to help build new markets and reach new customers for Alberta’s energy resources.”
A total of 500 telephone surveys by live interviewers were conducted with randomly selected Alberta residents on behalf of CAPP between September 17-22, September 3-8, August 21-25, August 7-12, and July 24-30 and 1,000 interviews were conducted July 10-20. With a sample of 500, results are considered accurate to within ±4.4 percentage points, 19 times out of 20, of what they would have been had the entire population of Albertans aged 18 years or older been polled, while a sample of 1,000 is considered accurate to within ±3.1 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.
The Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP) represents companies, large and small, that explore for, develop and produce natural gas and crude oil throughout Canada. CAPP’s member companies produce about 90 per cent of Canada’s natural gas and crude oil. CAPP’s associate members provide a wide range of services that support the upstream crude oil and natural gas industry. Together CAPP’s members and associate members are an important part of a national industry with revenues from oil and natural gas production of about $120 billion a year. CAPP’s mission, on behalf of the Canadian upstream oil and gas industry, is to advocate for and enable economic competitiveness and safe, environmentally and socially responsible performance.
Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers
Chelsie Klassen
403-267-1151
chelsie.klassen@capp.ca