ACR conference addresses global insecurity and opportunities for resources sector to strengthen Alberta and Canada

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In an increasingly unpredictable and insecure world, there is an opportunity for the resources sector to seize the moment and help build a more resilient Alberta and Canada. 

As the global order that’s underpinned economic stability for decades is tested by political upheaval, protectionist trade policies and the decline of multilateral organizations, the Alberta Chamber of Resources (ACR) also sees generational opportunities for economic development.   

Canada is at a critical, yet promising, point to secure our future economic and social prosperity, said ACR President Brian Humphreys.   

“It’s critical in terms of how the aggressive tariff war initiated by the United States has undermined access to our most important trading partner,” he said. “It’s also promising in terms of how the shock from this new economic reality and rising geopolitical uncertainty have prompted Canada to find ways to make us more resilient to global instability.”  

The opportunity has been brought into sharper focus by the unprecedented disruptions to the global energy supply chain with the war in the Middle East that sent oil prices higher and customers looking for more secure sources of supply.  

Humphreys cited the resulting Build Canada Now initiative championed by Canadian policymakers presents an important multi-dimensional opportunity to further develop Canada’s abundant, diverse and responsibly produced resources; secure expanded export markets worldwide; and live-up to the kind of economic growth our country is uniquely capable of to support improved public programs and services 

Leveraging Build Canada Now, which seeks to simplify regulations and attract investment among its goals, will be a key area of discussion at the Alberta Chamber of Resources annual conference on April 10 in Banff.  

The conference also celebrates the 90th anniversary of the Chamber, which represents the broad resource sector as well as companies in transportation, logistics, engineering and others who support and sector in Alberta. It will bring together policy experts and industry leaders to address capitalizing on the new opportunities with the theme Canada’s Resource Moment: Achieving Success in the Build Canada Era.  

Rather than ask what governments can do to enable sector development, the focus will be on what the sector needs to do to better understand policymakers and support them in their work. This includes:  

  • A session led by pollster Nik Nanos, an Executive Fellow at the School of Public Policy, exploring public support for expanding Canada’s resource industries and markets. He will detail the key conditions the public expects the sector to address in its pursuit of expansion.   
  •  A panel led by Sonya Savage, former Alberta Minister of Energy and Minister of Environment & Protected Areas, and Randy Pettipas of Global Public Affairs discussing government decision-making constraints and priorities. They will address how resource industry sensitivity to these dynamics can help advance the Build Canada Now agenda.  
  •  A panel with five resource sector and business association executives discussing how better coordination and collaboration could enhance the effectiveness of sector advocacy and engagement with the public and policymakers. 

A keynote session led by Dr. Robert (RJ) Johnston, Director of Energy and Natural Resources Policy at the School of Public Policy, will explain the urgent need for Canada to expand and diversify markets for our resources in response to geo-political developments.  

The session will highlight the opportunities for companies across the resources sector – including energy, forestry, mining and agriculture – as well as where the world markets for each industry are now and will be in the future. 

The conference will also address how growing and more diverse export markets support the wider Canadian economy from manufacturing and power generation to building a larger and reliable domestic supply chain.

“Development of our natural resources and their markets worldwide is in Canada’s national interest and we are well positioned to capture new markets with customers looking for more low-risk supply,” said Johnston.  

Instability in world trade and the disruptions in global energy supply chains present generational challenges for Canada but our abundant and diverse resources mean we can not only meet those challenges but flourish.