Following media reports that the federal government was considering a multibillion-dollar bailout of the oil and gas sector, a broad coalition of faith, labour and environmental groups, representing over 1.3 million Canadians, came together in an open letter to the prime minister calling on his government to change course. While there was no direct reference to a Big Oil bailout in a COVID-19 relief package that was passed by Parliament, Finance Minister Bill Morneau has clearly signalled that a bailout is still very much in the works. No one can deny the industry is facing difficult times with the collapse of the global price for oil. However, at a time when every corner of the Canadian economy is reeling from the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, many people I know are worried about being laid off, or how they are going to make next month’s rent or mortgage payment.

It's more than fair to ask: Should we let a group of billionaire oilpatch CEOs skip to the head of the line for government support? It is also undeniable that laid-off workers from the oilpatch need support right now. As do workers in many other sectors of the economy that are facing sudden and unprecedented disruption. However, it is becoming clearer and clearer that the most effective way to support workers and their families is not by giving their former employers government handouts, but by supporting workers directly. Well before COVID-19, the Trudeau government committed to a Just Transition Act based on the understanding that workers are in need of protection as the world moves away from fossil fuel extraction. The current crisis in the oilpatch is not caused by a lack of pipelines, or Canada’s environmental laws, as some would have you believe. The problem is much more serious — simply put, the oilsands are not economically viable in a world where OPEC is not artificially propping up the global price for oil. Since it was founded, the primary role of OPEC was to limit the global supply of oil, so member states could get the best possible price for their exports. But since 2014, they have pursued a new strategy: defending their market share.