Oil sands production in western Canada provides a substantial economic benefit in the eastern Canadian province of Quebec, according to a study commissioned by the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers.
The study by AppEco focused on a 12-month period during 2014-15. It said 371 Quebec companies earned $1.2 billion (Can.) in business contracts. More than $585 million went to companies on the Island of Montreal while $402 million went to companies on the north and south shores of Montreal.
The study said about 16,200 jobs “were created or maintained” by Canadian oil sands producers’ expenditures in Quebec, including more than 7,500 jobs on the Island of Montreal.
Revenues for the government of Quebec totaled $215 million.
CAPP said Quebec suppliers are also contributing “significant advances” in oil sands innovation and technology. It mentioned a case study of GHGSat, a Montreal-based aerospace company that helps the oil sands sector monitor and cut greenhouse gases emissions.
CAPP said the Canadian oil sands industry has invested more than $1.3 billion in the last 5 years to create and develop more than 900 technologies to accelerate the pace of improvement in environmental performance.
