"Ethical Oil" framework adopted by new Environment Minister

I'm thrilled to read how Peter Kent, the new federal Environment Minister, has adopted the Ethical Oil framework. In a nutshell, it's this: the production of Canadian oilsands oil is:

1. More environmentally responsible;

2. More peaceful;

3. More fair to workers; and

4. More respectful of human rights.

than oil from OPEC countries.

And that's the choice, really. Because crude oil doesn't come from nice countries like Switzerland or Monaco. It comes from the world's bastards. So if you're not in favour of oilsands oil, by default you're in favour of OPEC oil.

And, sorry, Norway isn't an alternative. They're not even in the top ten list of countries ranked by oil reserves. They're running out -- their production is falling by 10% a year. That's why their company, Statoil, has invested billions in Canada's oilsands.

So it's us vs. the Saudis. And Iranians. And Venezuelans. And Nigerians. And Sudanese.

It's not surprising that Canada's environment minister believe in ethical oil over OPEC oil. The only surprise is that people are surprised.

Here's a big item in today's Globe and Mail (with a side-bar on my testimony to the House of Commons). And here's a delightful little tantrum by the Bloc Quebecois and NDP in response.

They apparently prefer OPEC oil over there. Which is good -- because Eastern Canada actually does import its oil from OPEC. Shame on them.

P.S. Tomorrow night my talk with John Stossel airs on Fox Business News. It's not about the oilsands, but about the Gulf of Mexico. The arguments, though, are the same.