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“Tone at the top matters, a helping hand matters,” Porter said. “We can’t take 10 or 12 years to do some of these projects. It just doesn’t work.”

Porter added he also believes the energy industry has not done a good job of communicating its own importance to the Canadian economy, and has work to do when it comes to Indigenous consultation. However, he said he remains bullish on the long-term outlook for Alberta and Canada, adding “capital will come back.”

“Line 3’s going to get built, rail cars are having an impact, hopefully Keystone gets done, and I believe — I have no reason to think it won’t happen — that Trans Mountain will get done,” Porter said. “They’ll probably all take longer than anybody in this room wants, but I believe they’ll get done.”

While Porter said the energy industry is and will remain a vitally important industry for Alberta and Canada, he said both the federal and provincial governments need to do a better job of preparing for the economy of the future. He suggested significant investments in post-secondary education and skills training are going to be necessary for Canada and Alberta to stay on top of the technological revolution that is already underway globally.

“If you look at the last 30 years, Alberta hasn’t done a great job of diversifying its economy. And there were lots of opportunities to do so,” he said. “I think Alberta needs an industrial policy . . . to make sure they invest in those clusters and industries and attract the best talent in the world.”