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Cut oil production to tackle price differential: Kenney

Nov 28, 2018 | 8:26 PM

EDMONTON – Alberta Opposition leader Jason Kenney says it’s time to take immediate action on the oil-price differential before it leads to further job cuts and losses to the province’s core industry.

Kenney says he will work with Premier Rachel Notley’s government to fast-track a new law that would order companies to cut production by 10 per cent.

He says it’s a drastic solution but one that is necessary.

“As a free market conservative, I have been reluctant to support a mandatory cut in production. But this crisis was created by a failure of governments, not businesses, to get global access for our energy,” Kenney said. “And now only governments can stop the current giveaway of Alberta oil which could result in huge job layoffs and billions of dollars in lost revenues.”

Alberta oil is now selling at sharply discounted prices due in part to bottlenecks in pipelines.

Alberta Energy Minister Marg McCuaig-Boyd says her department is open to all ideas.

But she says opinion is divided on whether legislated cuts to oil production are the answer.

Premier Rachel Notley has been searching for solutions to get more oil to market and her government is now in negotiations to buy rail cars for increased transport.

(The Canadian Press)