For immediate release
January 20, 2012

Levant lauds oil sands and celebrates Fort McMurray

It was a whirlwind visit to Fort McMurray and Keyano College for political pundit, commentator, columnist and author Ezra Levant as he arrived in the community at midday from his home in Calgary and flew off to Toronto on the red eye at midnight.  It was a short visit, but one that was deeply personal for one of the staunchest and loudest advocates for oil sands and the community of Fort McMurray.

L-R: Ezra Levant with Dr. Kevin Nagel, President, Keyano College. Photo credit: Sean McLennan, Keyano Photographer.

The personal tone to the evening began right away, as Levant greeted over 200 guests as they streamed into Keyano Theatre for The Global Address.

“It’s great to be here in Fort McMurray,” he said. 

“I’ve been talking about you.  It’s great to stand here tonight in person to tell you what I’ve been saying.”

Making his ethical oil pitch, as outlined in his award-winning book of the same name, Levant laid out his rationale for why the world should choose Canada’s oil, largely produced by the oil sands, over that from the other top ten producing nations of the world, countries like Saudi Arabia, Iran, Venezuela and Nigeria.  For the host of SUN TV’s The Source, it’s a simple choice between what he describes as ethical oil or conflict oil. 

Using four criterion – environment, conflict, economic and social justice, and freedom from oppression – Levant is steadfast in his belief that oil produced in the Athabasca Oil Sands is the safe, secure, sustainable and ethical choice.

“You should be proud of the oil sands,” he said.

“I am. And so are people across the country who recognize the great work you are doing to develop this resource responsibly.”

Armed with statistics, salient facts, and multiple comparisons, Levant suggested that the negative press that the industry continues to receive is unreasonable.  As an example, he pointed out that just one coal plant in China expels in two months the same amount of CO2 emissions that all the oil sands companies produce in an entire year.

The day following the United States government’s decision regarding the Keystone pipeline, Levant was pretty clear on what denying the project means to Canada.

“The United States has abused us,” he said. 

“They have taken advantage of us in their decision on Keystone.  Obama has chosen unethical oil.”

Sponsored by the Shell Campus Ambassador program, The Global Address was attended by many Keyano College students intrigued with what this out-spoken purveyor of oil sands pride had to say.

“I found the talk informative and fun,” said Keyano College Business Administration student Shahrukh Arshad. 

“Ezra was very passionate.  I knew that the news portrayed us as bad and I thought it was true.  I don’t feel that way now.  I am proud to be a part of the oil sands.”

The rousing speech was followed by a dynamic question and answer session.  The Global Address speaker series continues on March 22 with Michael Kerr and his keynote presentation called Humour in the Workplace.

For more information, please contact:
Kiran Malik-Khan
Communications Specialist
Marketing & Communications
Keyano College
780-791-8971
kiran.malik-khan@keyano.ca