Economist Robyn Allan says Enbridge and Kinder Morgan pipelines will harm Canadian economy

    1 of 1 2 of 1

      Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver have tried to characterize critics of the proposed Enbridge pipeline as financial illiterates.

      But that doesn't square with an economic analysis by Robyn Allan, a former ICBC CEO and former senior economist of the B.C. Central Credit Union.

      Allan noted in her paper that oil-industry studies fail to identify the impact of building pipelines on the Canadian dollar and overstate the growth of royalties to government treasuries.

      Building new pipelines will result in higher Canadian oil prices of anywhere from $2 to $13 per barrel, according to various studies, because tar-sands producers are currently limited to selling to U.S. refineries. (For more on this, see economist Jeff Rubin's new book, The End of Growth, which goes on sale tomorrow [May 8].)

      In a recent speech at a breakfast event hosted by Liberal MP Joyce Murray, Allan said that when oil prices go up, this has a negative impact on the Canadian economy, leading to job losses.

      She noted that Canada is a major importer of oil, particularly in Quebec and the Atlantic provinces. And these are some of the reasons why Allan believes that the development of the Northern Gateway pipeline to Kitimat and increasing capacity of a Kinder Morgan pipeline from the Alberta tar sands to the Lower Mainland are not good news for Canadian consumers.

      "The benefit to western Canadian oil producers from higher prices is not enough to outweigh the cost to the rest of us," Allan said.

      She added that "more balanced analysis" by the Bank of Canada, the World Bank, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, and the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce demonstrates that rising oil prices are a threat to Canadian economic growth.

      "The net impact of a rise in oil prices once all the feedback mechanisms take place—when they're taken into account—results in a loss of jobs, a permanent decline in gross domestic product—or growth—and upward pressure on inflation, exchange rates, and interest rates," she said.

      In effect, Allan argued that it's a "false dichotomy" to suggest that the pipeline proposals are a question of either supporting economic growth or promoting the environment and First Nations' rights. That's because in her view, the economics do not stand up to serious scrutiny.


      Robyn Allan starts speaking near the four-minute mark of the video.

      In a separate 11-page paper released yesterday, Allan has also reported that the Northern Gateway Pipeline's proposed capacities (there's also a pipeline carrying condensate eastward) are "well in excess of those being considered under the mandatory environmental assessment process".

      "As a result, the actual risk this project poses to BC's environment—both inland and marine—is not adequately being addressed under the current review," she wrote. "The tanker traffic triggered from the design capacity, based on Enbridge's figures, would likely see upwards of 340 oil tankers a year transiting the Douglas Channel."

      The company has stated that its proposal will only require approximately 220 tankers to pass through this ecologically sensitive area each year.

      Follow Charlie Smith on Twitter at twitter.com/csmithstraight.

      Comments

      8 Comments

      miguel

      May 8, 2012 at 9:14am

      How many consecutive deficits has Alberta had...in an oil boom.
      Tar Sands oil needs excessive refining, so gets bottom dollar on the international market.
      Miguel

      glen p robbins

      May 8, 2012 at 2:33pm

      Most British Columbians don't care what economists think - they don't understand it - and don't believe them at the best of times. Bank economists are the most annoying - why trust them? The majority of people living in British Columbia simply don't like the idea of Alberta Tar Sands oil coming through their province and down their coastline to sell to the Chinese and Americans, or alternatively, don't know why we would take on the risk and the effort. What Robyn Allen says won't make any tangible difference - though admittedly she is smart enough to be on the popular side of the debate. But honestly folks - CKNW reported this 6 weeks ago and its been recycled a half dozen times. Ms. Allen should simply admit she is going to run for the federal Liberals and be done with it.

      Ticked Off

      May 9, 2012 at 9:58am

      I don't give a flying fig what anyone thinks of economists, political spin, who is going to be running for what. This should NEVER come to our shores of BC ever ever ever ever. Do you hear us? Don't put this catastrophe that WILL happen on the doorstep and destroy one of the few remaining spots on the planet with this garbage. Get out !!

      violet9ish

      May 9, 2012 at 11:30am

      Northern Gateway will reject First Nations governance, stomp on land rights, pollute our water, poison our marine life, starve our wild life, sell off our jobs, tarnish our reputation, hurt our tourism industry.... AND take all the money for themselves.

      thank you Robyn Allan for proving it well beyond any reasonable doubt.

      glen p robbins

      May 9, 2012 at 3:40pm

      If one's possess any type of reasonable doubt on the issue - they ought to not think so much and let their conscience guide them - rather than the bevy of talking heads that the country's cow people have come to rely on.

      gragor

      Mar 9, 2014 at 1:26pm

      Robyn Allan popped up in my headlights yesterday by narrating this video about tanker traffic. She's making a splash(which will be good for book sales) but she is making great points. Yesterday I was wondering where she came from. With the posting of this article I now know a bit about her background. Credit Union - Yea . ICBC - not so much.

      Here's the link to the latest video in the counter barrage offsetting the Enbridge spin.

      http://vimeo.com/81247491