How Montrealer’s Survive The Winter #QualityEssentials

Disclaimer: This post was brought to you by the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers via sheblogs. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers.

It’s true; winters in Montreal are not only long, but also very cold. Most Montrealer’s at this point in the year start to dread the fall of each leaf from the tree lined roads. We know that at best we won’t see the first snowfall for at least three more weeks. Still, there have been times the snow has already come and the temperature is going below zero at night. 

When it does snow, it snows! As a kid, the snow used to be as high as me and needless to say I loved it! I would spend hours in my front yard building snowmen and playing make believe on the huge mountains. After all the fun outside, I would run into my toasty house and have my mom’s signature hot chocolate. 

Speaking of a nice warm house, it’s hard to imagine how people used to live in Montreal back in the day. The luxuries of modern day, like crude oil and natural gas were not available to the first settlers of the region. From keeping my family warm on cold winter nights to driving my daughter to preschool in our family car, oil and natural gas are an essential part of our quality of life in Montreal. I mean we wouldn’t even be able to consume healthy food like fruits and vegetables in Montreal without the transportation systems that ship the produce here! Plus we can’t forget, those winter vacations to the south that Montrealer’s love! 

If I had to look at one positive of winter in Montreal, it would be all the jobs it creates for our community with the help of oil-powered vehicles. After each snowfall, thousands of contractors employed by the city clean the snow from the street in their snowplows. They even remove the hard snow a couple of days later, so parking is not impossible! 

Not many people know that Canada is the 5th largest producer of crude oil in the world and contains the 3rd largest oil reserves with 97% in the Oil Sands. As a result, the Canadian oil and gas industry plays a key role in the Canadian economy and society. Every year the industry makes approximately $18 billion in payments to governments that go towards hospital, schools, roads, and social programs.  

Economically speaking, the industry makes up 20% of the value of Canada’s main stock exchange, the TSX, which is returned to investors and shareholders and also includes pensions. The industry employs more than 550,000 people across Canada (direct & indirect) and supplies direct business with companies across Canada. In 2013, over 2000 companies supplied goods and/or services to the Oil Sands to construct and operate their projects, mines and upgraders.

How important is having crude oil to your families’ quality of life? How would your life change if the oil and natural gas industry were no longer available? 

For more information about the Oil Sands industry visit oilsandstoday.ca. 

Disclaimer: This post was brought to you by the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers via sheblogs. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers.