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Cover Story A Conversation with Deron Bilous Alberta’s Minister of Economic Development and Trade Alberta’s Ministry of Economic Development and Trade is a new department that will oversee the province’s plans for economic growth and diversification. The Hon. Deron Bilous, who heads up the new ministry, recently spoke with Catalyst about his vision for Alberta. Minister Bilous, can you tell us a bit about the new Ministry? Minister Bilous: The Ministry of Economic Development and Trade provides the leadership and tools business needs to grow and create good jobs for Albertans. It provides Alberta’s private-sector job creators with a one-stop shop for economic development and diversification. The Ministry has four divisions: • Economic Development and Small and Medium Sized Enterprise focuses on sustainable growth and promotes non-energy sectors to increase economic resilience in the economy. • Trade and Investment Attraction drives export market and investment attraction in both the energy sector and other industries. • Science and Innovation works to position Alberta on the cutting edge of research, innovation and commercialization. • Strategic Policy and Corporate Services provides policy, planning and evaluation support for the Ministry. 14 • Catalyst WINTER 2016
CIAC member-companies have been leaders in reducing their environmental footprint while producing safer and more environmentally friendly products. How do you see our industry helping to support Alberta’s sustainable energy future? MB: I want to start out by commending CIAC in its commitment to the environment. Through this, you are a model to other industry associations across Canada. On Nov. 22, 2015 our government announced Alberta’s Climate Leadership Plan. The plan will make Alberta one of the most environmentally responsible energy producers in the world. CIAC members will be an integral part of reaching the provinces climate goals laid out in the Climate Leadership Plan. You are already a leader in sustainable development. An example of how the chemistry industry currently helps is by taking off-gasses from oil sands facilities and using it as feedstock. This reduces emissions and uses what would otherwise be a waste product. Innovation and research is essential—continue innovating and finding even more efficient processes to manufacture chemicals. How will the Ministry encourage value-added developments and manufacturing in Alberta? MB: We are working with the energy industry, smalland medium-sized businesses and entrepreneurs to develop new opportunities and create good jobs. We are building the roads, bridges, schools and flood protection that have been neglected for too long. We are focusing on ways to diversify and add-value to our energy sector, as we seek ways to improve market access. This will help create long-term stability and good jobs in the sector. The Royalty Review Advisory Panel has been tasked with exploring diversification opportunities, including value-added processing. I’m looking forward to the ideas brought forward by the panel. Do you see your Ministry directly involved in energy upgrading strategies such as petrochemical investments and development? MB: I see our ministry as leading our economic development efforts and part of that is exploring upgrading and refining potential through the Royalty Review Advisory Panel, and part of that is examining efforts that have been made in the past to incent petrochemical development. We are also currently working in partnership with Alberta Energy to investigate possible program supports, as our government is supportive of petrochemical development. How can the chemistry industry help contribute to diversifying the province’s economy? MB: In Alberta, we would like to see new value chains introduced, and the value chains we have extended – new petrochemical processing facilities means new manufacturing and processing opportunities that would support many sectors. The chemistry industry is the fastest growing sector in North America with over $125 billion in investments expected between now and 2023 but we face some stiff competition from the U.S. How can the province help our industry win some of these investments? MB: We understand there are some competitiveness challenges. With the current changes in our economy, we are seeing a less tight labour market and an advantageous exchange rate helping improve our competitiveness. This in combination with abundant available feedstocks like ethane and propane are helping to level the competitiveness playing field. We are working to quantify the ongoing shift in competitiveness with our competing jurisdictions and developing business cases that allow us to strategically focus on key issues that might be barriers or opportunities. Some observers are saying that access to long-term supplies of feedstock (natural gas and natural gas liquids) in Alberta is restricted compared to other competitive jurisdictions. How can you and the Ministry of Energy help our industry secure a more predictable long-term supply of feedstock? MB: Alberta has enormous shale resources. The challenge may not be supply of petrochemical feedstock as much as building and maintaining new markets and processing facilities that will provide demand for continued deep gas and shale development. Our role is to work with industry to ensure Alberta can continue to compete on an international scale. Given our longstanding history working with your department’s officials, would it be fair to identify you as being the lead, or the champion, for adding manufacturing value to the output of the energy sector? MB: Absolutely. You are spot on – regard me as the ‘point’ in government for addressing diversification. The Premier put this Ministry together as the one stop for value add, for diversification, for competitiveness, for support and for opportunities to partner together. And we look forward to working with you and your members in the future to secure value add for Alberta. Catalyst WINTER 2016 • 15
Page 1 and 2: THE MAGAZINE OF CANADA’S CHEMISTR
Page 3: An online portal to help you networ
Page 6 and 7: President’s Message By Bob Master
Page 9 and 10: Edifications NEW GOVERNMENT, NEW DI
Page 11 and 12: Responsible Care ® By Luc Robitail
Page 13: Critical Perspectives WHO WILL FUND
Page 17 and 18: Feature Honouring Richard Paton Aft
Page 19 and 20: Profil KEVIN HENDERSON, METHANEX CO
Page 21 and 22: Solutions THE CHEMISTRY BEHIND SKII
Page 24: What’s in your cart? At Imperial,

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