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Premier Notley’s methanol plant agreement great news for workers and Alberta’s economy – AFL

$2-billion private sector investment will create jobs and add value to Alberta’s energy resources

Edmonton – The Alberta Federation of Labour applauds Premier Rachel Notley’s Made-in-Alberta energy strategy and the resulting Nauticol methanol plant just south of Grande Prairie.

“This is exactly the kind of diversification Alberta’s economy needs and we are very pleased this plant is moving forward,” said Gil McGowan, President of the Alberta Federation of Labour. “3,000 direct and indirect jobs, including 1,000 direct construction jobs and over 200 direct permanent jobs will be great for Alberta workers.”

McGowan acted as co-chair of the provincial government’s Energy Diversification Advisory Committee (EDAC) which worked with industry, labour and community stakeholders to develop a blueprint for diversification in the oil and gas sector, focusing on spurring development in areas like upgrading, refining and petrochemicals.

“The Grande Prairie methanol project is exactly the kind of project that the EDAC blueprint called for,” said McGowan. “What the EDAC report showed was that value-added development in the downstream of the oil and gas sector can be our next oil sands, in terms of investment and job creation.”

“The Notley government has embraced the blueprint and is making the decades-old dream of doing more to add value to our own resources a reality. Their Made-In-Alberta strategy is a win-win-win scenario for industry, government and working Albertans. For industry it provides new opportunities for investment and profit. For government it provides new opportunities for revenue. And for workers it provides much needed jobs. This is exactly what our government should be doing as the upstream of the oil and gas sector continues to struggle with low prices, stagnant demand and on-going challenges with market access.”

Media Contact:

Ramona Franson, Director of Communications

rfranson@afl.org