Stephen Legault
stephenlegault.bsky.social
Stephen Legault
@stephenlegault.bsky.social
Full-time Alberta energy transition activist with Environmental Defence Canada. Author of sixteen books. Nature enthusiast. Professional photographer. Writing and Photography instructor. Husband. Father. Friend.
The biggest threat to Canadian foreign oil and gas producers isn't the military action in Venezuela; it's the transition happening worldwide from petroleum to renewable energy. Canada and Alberta have their heads in the oil sands; ignoring this shift will spell disaster for our economies.
U.S. control of Venezuela’s oil reserves not a threat to Canadian producers, Carney says
Speaking at Paris summit on Ukraine, the Prime Minister reiterates that Ottawa welcomes removal of Maduro
www.theglobeandmail.com
January 7, 2026 at 5:07 PM
Reposted by Stephen Legault
I have been saying this for some time to students seeking career advice:

the energy sector is one of the most exciting places to work with a huge transformation taking place right now.

Electrification is a game changer and means a redesign of our energy system as we know it.
January 6, 2026 at 9:04 AM
Supply and demand still applies to global oil markets. There is more supply, and will be even more if Venezuela rejoins the export biz, and there is less demand, as China, South Korea, much of Europe and large parts of Africa embrace the energy transition. energynow.ca/2026/01/fore...
Forecasts predict lacklustre oil, higher Alberta gas prices in 2026 - Canadian Energy News, Top Headlines, Commentaries, Features & Events - EnergyNow
A pair of energy forecasts released Tuesday see lacklustre crude oil prices continuing this year amid a global supply glut and natural gas prices picking up steam as more Canadian shipments make their...
energynow.ca
January 6, 2026 at 7:30 PM
It's possible that the world will look at what has happened in Venezuela and conclude that the acceleration of the current energy transition is the only way to ensure a livable planet, national sovereignty, and a functioning socio-economic society.
January 6, 2026 at 4:02 PM
US oil giants have noted that had Trump consulted them about Venezuela, they would have warned him that the cost to reestablish that country's oil sector would be tens of billions, and take a decade. Imagine the gall of a CEO who expects to be consulted about an illegal military operation.
Opinion: Canadian energy producers face an oil glut that undermines the case for more pipelines
The threat of major new supply from Venezuela is not what’s behind the drops in oil sands stocks
www.theglobeandmail.com
January 6, 2026 at 4:00 PM
Oil tycoons hear the word "chaos" and think, How can I make money from this clearly illegal action? The next thing they think is, Can I use this international embarrassment to press my case to build another unnecessary pipeline? www.theglobeandmail.com/business/art...
Canada needs new pipeline urgently to counter Venezuelan oil surge, Strathcona chair says
Canadian tycoon Adam Waterous says approvals for major nation-building projects needs to be three months to remain competitive
www.theglobeandmail.com
January 6, 2026 at 3:54 PM
Pro-oil commentators are currently lining up to argue that the U.S. attack on Venezuela and the possible future production of tar sands look-alike heavy crude mean that Canada should diversify its exports...Does that make sense? Read EDC's entire statement: environmentaldefence.ca/2026/01/05/s...
Statement in Response to Recent Pro-Oil Arguments for New Bitumen Pipelines  - Environmental Defence
By Stephen Legault, Senior Manager, Alberta Energy Transition, Environmental Defence Canmore | Traditional territories of the Treaty 7 Nations – Pro-oil
environmentaldefence.ca
January 5, 2026 at 9:14 PM
The US relationship with Venezuela oil production started in the 1920's and by the 1970's Venezuela was a major supplier to the US. Alberta increasingly filled that void in the 1980s, and now 97% of our exports go to the USA. What happens now?
January 5, 2026 at 3:40 PM
According to one source (discoveryalert.com.au/canada-energ...) the success of the Canada-Alberta pipeline deal, with access to Asian markets, requires completion of the pipeline and Carbon Capture infrastructure by 2030. Four years from now. The last pipeline expansion took twelve years. Good luck.
Canada Alberta Pipeline Deal Secures $15 Billion Carbon Capture Investment
Canada Alberta pipeline deal adds 1M barrel capacity expansion with $15B carbon capture in groundbreaking energy framework.
discoveryalert.com.au
January 2, 2026 at 4:43 PM
But to do so, we'll need a much more dramatic effort to adapt to #climatedisruption and #disaster. Will 2026 be the year we breakthrough, or breakdown? www.cbc.ca/news/science...

#climateaciton #climateresilience #abpoli #canpoli #enviromentaldefence
Climate disasters in 2025 threatened people's ability to respond and adapt, scientists say | CBC News
Climate change worsened by human behavior made 2025 one of the three hottest years on record, scientists said.
www.cbc.ca
January 2, 2026 at 3:52 PM
One thing is for certain; the world is struggling forward with an energy transition, regardless of what the robber barons in the oil industry or government's do to stop it: www.cbc.ca/news/science....

#climateaction #energytransition #environmentaldefence
ANALYSIS | COP30 failed to land a deal on the fossil fuel transition. Countries are moving forward anyway | CBC News
Countries failed to reach a deal on fossil fuels at the recent UN climate summit in Brazil. But the fact that it was put on the agenda shows global momentum is continuing to build.
www.cbc.ca
January 2, 2026 at 3:50 PM
Environment Minister Rebecca Schulz resigns, reports the CBC and Calgary Herald. Thank you for your service, Minister, through I would have preferred had you focused on protecting the environment rather than subbing in as Minister of Energy, promoting carbon intense energy at every turn.
December 31, 2025 at 8:05 PM
Something I'll be watching in 2026: if the promised British Columbia/Alberta legislated plan to restore nearly one gigawatt of transfer capacity on their 500 kV AC intertie. The numbers mean less than hoped for execution of a plan to kickstart the western leg of a national electricity system.
December 31, 2025 at 7:22 PM
To put things in perspective, 10.7 gigawatts - which Alberta cancelled when it placed a moratorium and restrictions on renewable energy - could power 7x the homes in the province. AB wiped more than $4 billion in annual revenue from its books (if the power had been sold on the wholesale market).
December 31, 2025 at 5:28 PM
"Alberta lost 10.7 gigawatts of clean energy capacity in the two years after the province slapped a moratorium on renewable energy, enough to meet 109% of its average power demand and 89% of its peak demand," reports The Energy Mix. So much for a free and prosperous society.
December 31, 2025 at 5:23 PM
I've been saving this for a cold hard day in December, and today was the day, and boy was it worth the wait. My favourite lines were the ones that created the deepest groans. Well done Mr. Leader, you've proven that tragedy is the best source of comedy. www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVfw...
𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗲𝗲 𝗮 𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝗿𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀?
YouTube video by Barry Cordingley
www.youtube.com
December 22, 2025 at 7:01 PM
It's essential to understand the scale of the carbon emissions addiction that Canada's oil and gas sector has, and what a "solution" like the carbon capture project proposed by Mantel Capture Inc. will make: at 60,000 tonnes (if it worked) it would reduce emissions by .03%. surl.li/gvxwdo
December 22, 2025 at 5:04 PM
How’s this for a cord change: I just went from listening to Neil Diamond to Allen Jackson. Nothing in between. A real live quantum leap.
December 22, 2025 at 4:07 AM
From today’s federal methane reduction regulations: the government says, the regulations are "expected to result in fewer premature deaths, reduce symptoms among asthmatics and prevent crop losses due to ozone damage." So some premature deaths are still acceptable…
December 16, 2025 at 2:26 PM
Reposted by Stephen Legault
People who care about climate change are “dreaming nostalgically about the past.” - Minister Hodgson

Gotcha. That explains a lot.
November 28, 2025 at 2:03 AM
I’m looking forward to today’s budget the way someone might anticipate a lengthy, painful and intrusive dental procedure. Not at all. Fully expecting PM Carney to throw climate under the (diesel) bus.
November 4, 2025 at 5:28 PM
Maybe Americans should have vited 2:1 agaisnt him. Dont tell me something like this wasnt obviously going to happen.https://www.politico.com/news/2025/10/30/trump-east-wing-ballroom-poll-00629724
Americans oppose Trump’s White House ballroom by 2-to-1 ratio, new poll finds
More than half of Americans said they oppose the $300 million construction project.
www.politico.com
October 30, 2025 at 11:39 PM
As we watch Hurricane Melissa churn towards Jamaica, Cuba and Haiti, we are witnessing the physical manifestation of our inability to prioritize survival over power, wealth, and crass over consumption.
October 28, 2025 at 2:33 PM
When Danielle Smith is happy with a meeting with the PM, I get very nervous.
September 12, 2025 at 5:11 PM