By Sheena Roszell

Energy Minister believes oil production cut will protect jobs

Dec 4, 2018 | 1:28 PM

Alberta’s Energy Minister Marg McCuaig-Boyd says a mandatory cut in oil production announced Sunday should protect jobs by improving cash flow for producers.
 
The Dunvegan-Central Peace Notley MLA  acknowledges it was not an easy decision to introduce a mandatory 325,000 barrel per day production cut, but it had to be done.  She says doing nothing would have meant job losses.
 
“Industry wasn’t aligned in this move, but we do know for companies like CNRL, Cenovus, Nexus, and MEG Energy were supportive of the action we took,” she said.  “This is about protecting our industry and the jobs that benefit all Albertans.”
 
The mandatory cuts officially start January 1. 
 
McCuaig-Boyd says it is “absolutely critical” the oil price issue be talked about at the First Ministers meeting this week.
 
Alberta Premier Rachel Notley and her Saskatchewan counterpart Scott Moe are pushing the Prime Minister to include such a discussion when the Premiers meet in Montreal this week.
 
“We believe that if we can work together, we can put this crisis behind us.  We no longer need to just hear words from Ottawa, we need to see some action and we need their full attention on this.”
 
 
– with files from Curtis Galbraith, Jeromy Corrigan