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Calgary Herald
30-05-2025
- Business
- Calgary Herald
Alberta's goal of $25B from tourism 'very doable' by 2035
Alberta's lofty tourism goals are aiming to chart a path for continued success in the sector. Article content The province's long-term tourism strategy aims to grow Alberta's annual visitor economy from around $10 billion to $25 billion by 2035. Article content Over the period of January to September last year, the province saw tourism revenues climb by 10 per cent over 2023 — from $10.5 billion to $11.5 billion. Article content Article content At a Friday event hosted by the Calgary Chamber of Commerce, Tourism and Sport Minister Andrew Boitchenko and Minister of Jobs, Economy, Trade and Immigration Joseph Schow discussed tourism's future in Alberta. Article content Article content 'It brings business to local communities, and I think that's a big part our (Alberta's) diversification,' said Boitchenko during a fireside chat with Schow hosted by Chamber president and CEO Deborah Yedlin in the Fairmont Palliser's Crystal Ballroom. Article content According to the provincial government, growth in Alberta's tourism sector outpaced every other province, advancing at a rate more than three times the national average for the first three quarters of 2024. Article content 'We need to understand that in the world, tourism is the fastest growing industry — outgrowing other industries by three times or so,' said Boitchenko, who was granted the tourism and sport portfolio two weeks ago. Article content Article content Boitchenko also expressed enthusiasm for rail projects in the province, having been born in Ukraine and seeing how convenient Europe's rail system is. He immigrated to Canada as a teenager. Article content Boitchenko did not provide any update on possible funding for refurbishment at Calgary's Olympic Oval, a new field house or improvements at the aging McMahon Stadium, which is set to host the Grey Cup next year. Article content However, he did note the importance of partnerships with the private sector and other orders of government for larger projects. Article content A 'big part' of what Boitchenko aims to do is advocate for the federal government to help with constructing and maintaining facilities.
Calgary Herald
23-05-2025
- Business
- Calgary Herald
Varcoe: Ottawa's new resources minister promises clean slate, but oilpatch looks for 'concrete actions' on new projects
In a world of political messaging, Prime Minister Mark Carney wants to build, baby, build. Article content Article content Ultimately, it will be concrete action — not just words — that will determine how the relationship between Tim Hodgson and the Canadian oil and gas sector unfolds in the coming months. Article content In his first major speech since taking over the portfolio, Hodgson sent a clear signal Friday to a Calgary business audience that he wants to reset the often-testy interaction between Ottawa and the country's largest export industry. Article content Article content Article content More significantly, he plainly backed the idea that Canadian oil and gas can grow the economy and be a tool for global stability, supplying other countries with energy. 'I want to be very clear. In the new economy we are building — Canada will no longer be defined by delay. We will be defined by delivery,' Hodgson told the Calgary Chamber of Commerce audience — twice, in case anyone missed it the first time. Article content 'Energy is Canada's superpower. It gives us an opportunity to build the strongest economy in the G7.' Article content It was a stark contrast to the general indifference, or active hostility, that seeped out of the pores of the Trudeau government, which had little desire to see Canada significantly boost oil and gas output or build export infrastructure. Article content Article content 'He really extended an olive branch to the energy sector,' said Sonya Savage, a former Alberta energy and environment minister in the UCP government. Article content The previous Trudeau government did get the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project finished, with federal government money required to buy and build it. But other pipeline projects, such as Northern Gateway, Energy East and Keystone XL, floundered. Article content Contentious Liberal government policies such as the Impact Assessment Act and the incoming oilpatch emissions cap also fractured the relationship and broke any trust.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Canada's new energy minister vows to speed up permitting, reset industry relations
By Amanda Stephenson CALGARY, Alberta (Reuters) -Canada's new Natural Resources Minister Tim Hodgson vowed to speed up the permitting process for major projects on Friday, in a speech welcomed by oil and gas executives eager to see Ottawa reset its regulatory approach to energy development It was Hodgson's first speech in Canada's corporate oil capital of Calgary, Alberta, since being sworn in as part of Prime Minister Mark Carney's new cabinet. The oil and gas sector had a tense relationship with former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government, which it viewed as prioritizing climate action over economic development, but Carney has pledged to help diversify energy export markets amid a trade dispute with Canada's No. 1 customer, the United States. "In the new economy we are building, Canada will no longer be defined by delay, we will be defined by delivery," Hodgson said at an event hosted by the Calgary Chamber of Commerce. A former Goldman Sachs banker who was elected in a Toronto riding, Hodgson pledged to be a voice for western Canada and help the country's energy sector improve relations with Ottawa. He said he will work to identify and fast-track projects of national interest aimed at helping the country become a conventional and clean energy superpower. Canada is the world's fourth-largest oil producer. "No more five-year reviews. Decisions will come in two years for all projects to make that happen," Hodgson said. Hodgson said responsibly produced Canadian oil could displace oil produced in authoritarian regimes, but the country needed infrastructure to get its energy to ports for export to markets beyond the U.S. In recent years, major Canadian oil pipelines have faced years of regulatory delay and legal challenges, leading to cancellations for some projects and spiraling costs for others, like the Trans Mountain expansion. The CEOs of many of Canada's biggest oil and gas companies said they were encouraged by Hodgson's background in finance as well as the pro-development tone of his remarks. "The renewed sense of collaboration is welcomed and genuinely appreciated," said John Whelan, president of Imperial Oil, after the speech. Hodgson also said the federal government, the province of Alberta, and industry leaders must work together to build a proposed oil sands carbon capture and storage project. Six of Canada's largest oil sands companies have proposed building a C$16 billion carbon capture network to reduce emissions from the sector, but negotiations with both levels of government have stalled. Kendall Dilling, president of the Pathways Alliance consortium behind the proposed project, said on Friday he is optimistic that under Canada's new government, the project will proceed. "I do think the time is now," Dilling said. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Ottawa Citizen
23-05-2025
- Business
- Ottawa Citizen
'Bold action': Federal Energy Minister Tim Hodgson vows to fast-track infrastructure projects
Canada's energy sector will be defined by delivery, not by delays. Article content Article content That was the central message from Tim Hodgson, the Liberal government's new energy and natural resources minister, during his first public appearance in Calgary. Article content Just a few days after being sworn in as a key member of Prime Minister Mark Carney's cabinet, Hodgson delivered an energetic speech Friday to a packed room full of industry representatives at the Fairmont Palliser. Article content Article content Hodgson's 25-minute address at the event hosted by the Calgary Chamber of Commerce touted the continued relevance of Canada's conventional oil and gas sector, while also pledging the newly elected federal government's commitment to build the country into a clean energy superpower. Article content Article content 'It's a time for bold action, clear decisions and a renewed spirit for building,' he told the crowd. 'No more asking, 'why build?' The real question is, 'how do we get it done?' Article content 'That means breaking apart barriers and cutting through red tape. It also means doing things responsibly the first time, meeting our duty to consult so Indigenous peoples are true partners — and protecting our environment so we don't have to clean up mistakes later.' Article content He said the Liberals intend to fast-track energy infrastructure in the national interest by creating a major federal projects office that will cut down review times from five years to two years. Article content Article content Hodgson repeatedly referenced making Canadian energy a 'tool' for global stability and transformation, adding the government wants to get more product to market while lessening its trade reliance on the United States. Article content While Canada did not ask for a trade war with the U.S., Hodgson argued it's a war that Canada will win. Article content 'It's high time we trade more with people who share our values, not just our borders,' he said. Article content 'That means being able to sell our products to the world. It means expanding our markets, modernizing our infrastructure and creating the conditions to compete and win.' Article content He also talked about the need to cut Canada's greenhouse emissions by investing in methane reduction and carbon capture and storage — he referenced the importance of the Pathways Alliance project in northern Alberta — as well as other forms of energy, including nuclear, thermal, hydrogen and renewables.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Canada's new energy minister vows to speed up permitting, reset industry relations
By Amanda Stephenson CALGARY, Alberta (Reuters) -Canada's new Natural Resources Minister Tim Hodgson vowed to speed up the permitting process for major projects on Friday, in a speech welcomed by oil and gas executives eager to see Ottawa reset its regulatory approach to energy development It was Hodgson's first speech in Canada's corporate oil capital of Calgary, Alberta, since being sworn in as part of Prime Minister Mark Carney's new cabinet. The oil and gas sector had a tense relationship with former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government, which it viewed as prioritizing climate action over economic development, but Carney has pledged to help diversify energy export markets amid a trade dispute with Canada's No. 1 customer, the United States. "In the new economy we are building, Canada will no longer be defined by delay, we will be defined by delivery," Hodgson said at an event hosted by the Calgary Chamber of Commerce. A former Goldman Sachs banker who was elected in a Toronto riding, Hodgson pledged to be a voice for western Canada and help the country's energy sector improve relations with Ottawa. He said he will work to identify and fast-track projects of national interest aimed at helping the country become a conventional and clean energy superpower. Canada is the world's fourth-largest oil producer. "No more five-year reviews. Decisions will come in two years for all projects to make that happen," Hodgson said. Hodgson said responsibly produced Canadian oil could displace oil produced in authoritarian regimes, but the country needed infrastructure to get its energy to ports for export to markets beyond the U.S. In recent years, major Canadian oil pipelines have faced years of regulatory delay and legal challenges, leading to cancellations for some projects and spiraling costs for others, like the Trans Mountain expansion. The CEOs of many of Canada's biggest oil and gas companies said they were encouraged by Hodgson's background in finance as well as the pro-development tone of his remarks. "The renewed sense of collaboration is welcomed and genuinely appreciated," said John Whelan, president of Imperial Oil, after the speech. Hodgson also said the federal government, the province of Alberta, and industry leaders must work together to build a proposed oil sands carbon capture and storage project. Six of Canada's largest oil sands companies have proposed building a C$16 billion carbon capture network to reduce emissions from the sector, but negotiations with both levels of government have stalled. Kendall Dilling, president of the Pathways Alliance consortium behind the proposed project, said on Friday he is optimistic that under Canada's new government, the project will proceed. "I do think the time is now," Dilling said. Sign in to access your portfolio
