A video dropped on YouTube on Aug. 26, and it soon started going viral. On our own Pipeline Newswebpage, pipelinenews.ca, it was viewed around 1,700 times in the first two hours, which, for us, is pretty impressive.
It鈥檚 a message put out by a group calling itself Canadians for Canada鈥檚 Future, energy companies and service providers. Their message in this 2 minute 20 second video rang out almost word for word what Pipeline Newshas been saying on these editorial pages for years. It鈥檚 also a script that could have been taken from any number of speeches by Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe, former Premier Brad Wall, or Alberta Premier Jason Kenney.
So what did it say?
Here鈥檚 the transcript of the narration:
鈥淥ver the past decade, everyone from foreign-funded protestors to homegrown activists have attempted to landlock our resources.
鈥淲hile we鈥檝e been busy reducing GHG emissions, and maintaining the highest environmental and human rights standards for energy development in the world
鈥淲e鈥檙e working hard to keep this country running, and Canadians in jobs, even as our critics do everything in their power to keep our resources locked away.
鈥淭oday we say enough is enough.
鈥淔or too long, we鈥檝e been taken for granted, by all too many people who vigorously condemn what we do, while relishing in the fruits of our labour every day of their lives.
鈥淲e鈥檙e tired of our natural resources 小蓝视频 sold to American customers at bargain prices, and it sickens us to see our strong and free nation buying oil from countries that violate every value Canadians hold dear.
鈥淚t鈥檚 time for us to tell our story. A story we can all be proud of.
鈥淎 story that positively impacts millions of lives across our beautiful country.
鈥淭he truth: global energy needs are increasing every year. The world needs Canadian energy. It needs thee most responsibly sourced and safely delivered energy in the world.
鈥淚t drives our economy as much as it drives your car.
鈥淲e create jobs and build schools, playgrounds and hospitals. We support communities, charities and families. We fuel the arts, technology, renewables, and virtually every other industry.
鈥淲e are here to stay.
鈥淲e will continue to employee millions, feed families, fund infrastructure, pay doctors and teachers and fill restaurants, movie theatres and hotels.
鈥淐anada needs us. The world needs us. We are Canadian energy, and we are proud.鈥�
That鈥檚 it. 274 words that distill what we, as an industry have felt in our hearts, our souls, our very 小蓝视频, for the last decade as we鈥檝e been trampled up, denounced, derided, protested and belittled. We鈥檝e taken it on the chin, and in the gut. But this video, and the message it sends, gets it. It鈥檚 like a doubled over boxer, whose taken the beating of his life, standing up straight and saying 鈥淚s that all you got?鈥�
In other words, the plot to every Rocky movie ever, and we鈥檙e Rocky.
There鈥檚 another movie allusion, too. Perhaps one of the most moving dialogues in cinema was this line by Jack Nicholson in A Few Good Men, shortly after his character, Col. Nathan Jessop, says, 鈥淵ou can鈥檛 handle the truth!鈥�
In it, he says, 鈥淚 have neither the time, nor the inclination, to explain myself to a man, who rises and sleep under the blanket of the very freedom that I provide, and then questions the manner, in which I provide it. I'd rather you just say 'thank you' and go on your way. Otherwise I suggest you pick up a weapon, and stand a post. Either way, I don't give a damn, what you think you are entitled to!鈥�
The line in the video, 鈥淔or too long, we鈥檝e been taken for granted, by all too many people who vigorously condemn what we do, while relishing in the fruits of our labour every day of their lives,鈥� echoes this sentiment exactly.
They can鈥檛 handle the truth.
The truth, as the video not so subtly points out, is that their mochaccino-sipping, cellphone tweeting, gas-guzzling, natural-gas heated comfortable lifestyles would not exist without our blood, sweat, toil and tears to provide the fundamental elements, literally, for a 21st century lifestyle.
It鈥檚 no wonder Brad Wall and Jason Kenney both shared this video on social media within an hour of each other. It鈥檚 the message they鈥檝e been preaching for years, and that the rest of Canada needs to hear. Not only do they need to hear it, but they need to internalize it. Live and breath it. Understand that without our oil and gas, they鈥檇 be living in huts wearing wool or animal skins.
We are Canadian energy, and we are proud, indeed.
