Late last week, Song Yiwu, vice-president of the China National Petroleum Corporation, condemned the Canadian government for its lack of support for the proposed Gateway pipeline, intended to move oil produced from the tar sands to the west coast. Mr. Yiwu should accept the fact that even if the project proceeded, it is unlikely that much of the oil it carried would ever leave the North American continent, for the simple reason that the United States considers the tar sands to be central to its energy and economic security. This view will have been reinforced by the draft report from the U.S. National Petroleum Council, projecting that globally, for at least the next 25 years, conventional supplies of crude oil will not keep pace with demand (Report on Business, 16 July).

Submitted to Globe and Mail 17 July 2007 - unpublished.