Article content

The head of Athabasca Oil Corp. took steps to throttle back the company’s thermal oilsands production due to lousy prices.

After shutting in, CEO Rob Broen spoke out.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Varcoe: Growing list of producers call on Notley to curb oil output to fix price 'crisis' Back to video

Broen wants the Notley government to step up in the coming weeks and temporarily curb oil output in Alberta as part of a plan to recalibrate the dizzying discounts now hitting Canadian crude prices.

Athabasca Oil joins a small but growing chorus of producers — including Canadian Natural Resources Ltd., Cenovus Energy Inc. and Whitecap Resources Inc. — calling on the province to intervene.

They want to see the government mandate lower production levels over the short term to deal with a glutted pipeline system.

“This is the time when the government has tools to be able to ask producers to cut back. That would have an immediate impact on differentials,” Broen said in an interview.

“The premier needs to look at this through the eyes of Albertans. She needs to look at what’s best for the people of Alberta, and not any particular company or big industry.