“While it is always a privilege to promote Alberta’s remarkable energy sector, this year’s CERAWeek conference was different. The Russian invasion of Ukraine weighed heavily on everyone’s hearts and minds.

“The atmosphere was sombre but with a strong sense of urgency. Energy security matters. The energy that powers people’s homes and lives should not fund wars to destroy them.

“Throughout the week, I heard from leaders around the world who see Alberta as a key player in answering the global energy issues. This includes Alberta’s full support for the growing number of bans on Russian energy imports, which are helping fuel the aggression against the Ukrainian people. It is a moral obligation to boycott energy sources that bolster the economy of a nation that has initiated a senseless and tragic war.

“It also means pushing to have a balanced discussion on energy security. We’ve now run head-on into the fact that for the past several years, Canadian and American federal governments have put energy security on the backburner.

“It has never been more apparent that Alberta is the safe, secure and responsible energy producer and supplier that the world needs.

“In short, Alberta is the solution.

“We will continue to be a trusted ally and reliable energy supplier to the U.S., our closest partner, and to other international export markets.”

Quick facts

  • Minister Savage’s trip to Houston from March 6-10 included the opportunity to:
    • attend the Premier’s keynote speech
    • participate on a panel titled Pathways for Canadian Oil Sands in a Decarbonizing World with the CEOs of the Oil Sands Pathways to Net Zero initiative to speak about how Alberta can be the solution to North American energy security
    • participate on a panel titled Practical Lessons Learned in Measuring and Reducing Methane in Oil and Gas
    • participate in a roundtable titled U.S. Infrastructure: Meeting the Carbon Free Challenge with U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm
  • The trip included conversations and meetings with:
    • Jennifer Granholm, U.S. Secretary of Energy
    • Jonathan Wilkinson, Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources
    • Bruce Ralston, British Columbia’s Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources
    • Gretchen Watkins, president, Shell U.S.
    • Mike Sommers, president and CEO, American Petroleum Institute
    • Bijan Agarwal, president, ConocoPhillips Canada
    • Cynthia Hansen, executive vice-president and president, Gas Transmission and Midstream, Enbridge