Things have been looking really bleak for southwest Saskatchewan’s oilpatch. If this were a medical drama, this would be where the doctor puts the paddles on the dying patient’s chest, yells, “Clear!” and shocks the patient.
We might have just seen a little blip on the heart monitor with this land sale.
Whew! Southwest Saskatchewan sees more interest in this land sale than in all of 2025 combined
And yes, it is that bad. Most oilfield services in that region have either shut down or are barely hanging on. I spent an hour yesterday talking to the owner of several businesses in that area.
Should anyone be surprised? The federal Liberal gov’t has been increasing the costs of doing business, particularly on oil and gas for many years now. There was a time when oil companies could be marginally profitable on $12/bbl. Now with the carbon tax, the byzantine regulations on emissions, having to replace perfectly good chemical pumps and pneumatic devices with expensive and inferior low emission devices, convert to instrument air, install combustors on well sites, and the incredible G&A costs tracking propane, diesel, gasoline, electricity, etc. Plus the pointless and targeted ESTMA, Modern Slavery Report, and other make-work reporting.
The public is more aware of the anti-fracking, anti-tailing ponds, anti-pipeline, and other actions by paid mobs who oppose productivity in any form. But is largely unaware of the other ways O&G has been under attack.
All these costs drive up the break-even prices for oil and gas companies. And at the same time provide the gov’t funds with which to subsidize “green” energy. Which then, in combination with forcing “green” energy production to be purchased regardless of whether or not it makes it to the grid, deceives people into thinking that “green” energy is cost competitive.
Not to worry. The ChiComs will snap up the land for pennies on the Loonie.
That’s what happened the last time a far-left government purposely devastated O&G in Alberta. Bankruptcies galore. And the western-sounding but now-Chinese companies approved by Ottawa IMMEDIATELY stopped paying landowners, taxes, and as many vendors as possible. And then went bankrupt, leaving taxpayers on the hook for all liabilities including massive additions to the Orphan Well Fund.
Criminality was their M.O. from Day 1.
This can’t be true. A certain tedious rambling rodent on this very blog assures me that Canada’s Economic Miracle Man, the Hunchback of Davos, is working tirelessly to fast-track energy projects and infrastructure.
A Killer Rodent.
He is likely at a Drag time Story reading
Now I keep thinking of a CBC drama with La Verenderaye turning to the lowly courier-de-bois and shouting, “Get the paddles!” Got it into my head and can’t get it out.