There can be no doubt that economic policy plays a very significant role in the economy. I don't think anyone disputes that. If you, for example, choose to dump 20 billion in unearned dollars into the economy in the form of benefits checks, that is going to have an impact. Even the banks have pointed to that.
And if you choose to impose a large carbon tax on producers, shippers stores and consumers, that's going to have a major impact on the economy as well. (if it doesn't why the hell are we even doing it).
The gov't also plays a large roll in attracting business to the country by way of taxation and regulation. Or helps drive it away (like, to pick something at random, suggesting there's 'no business case' for one of the hottest commodities in europe right now).
If you mean 'controls' in the sense of they have ABSOLUTE control then no, that would be silly. But they exercise a great deal of control and influence over it.
Last week’s visit to Canada by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz did little to help ease his country’s energy crisis. Germany desperately needs Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) now, not hydrogen that won’t be available in smallish quantities until years from now.
The visit also opened more wounds with Alberta, as the prime minister scoffed there is no “business case” for LNG exports to Germany — a comment that surprised many participants at the Canadian Energy Executive Association Forum held in Banff last Thursday.
If anyone can judge whether LNG will be profitable or not, it’s an oil and gas industry willing to invest billions of dollars in it. The real reason Canada still does not have LNG exports today is not the “business case” but the “political case”: federal regulations focused on GHG emissions to the exclusion of Canada’s interest in contributing to the world’s energy and security needs.
The 'political case' not the 'business case' against LNG is costing Canada billions in GDP
apple.news
LNG is a big business that can generate billions of dollars of GDP for a country. Each ton of exported LNG is worth, according to this week’s spot prices, US$830 when sold to Japan and US$1,800 when sold to the European Union. For Australia, LNG exports add up to over AU$50 billion, almost 2.5 per cent of the country’s GDP.
So, what have we achieved in Canada? A big fat zero. We do have one plant being built by LNG Canada in Kitimat, B.C. with capacity to export 14 million tons a year starting in 2025. But that’s a far cry from the many LNG proposals that have fallen by the wayside in the past 15 years. Natural Resources Canada reports that 13 west coast and five east coast proposals have been made over the years totalling 216 million tons.
Not all proposals would have gone ahead but some certainly would have if not for the federal and Quebec governments discouragement of resource development.
The main argument against further oil and gas development is that it would increase Canada’s GHG emissions. Maybe so. But would it increase global emissions?