Canada’s Oil SandsManaging our most valuable energy resource

Oil SandsOil Sands, aka tar sands, are a mixture of sand, clay, water and bitumen (oil that is too heavy or thick to flow on its own)

Tar sands in Alberta are larger than the state of Florida

Canada’s reserves equate to about 174 billion barrels of oil

Tar Sand Oil

The Controversy•The oil sands generate billions of dollars

each year and employ thousands of Canadians

•While there are massive economic gains to be made, there are also huge environmental, health and cultural impacts with oil sand mining in Alberta

Visualizing the Oil Sands

As you watch the clips, compare the different ways that the oil sands are described to the public

•Alberta Tar Sands

•Cenovus Energy

•Discuss Bias

Learning the basicsRead the CBC article “Alberta Oil Sands – Canada’s largest source of oil” and answer the questions in your notebook.

As you read, identify and record new key terms related to oil sand mining

Current Controversy The Northern Gateway Pipeline Debate

What is it?

What is the purpose?

Where will it be located?

What are the advantages and disadvantages?

Who are the stakeholders?

What are the different perspectives on the issue?

What is it?• Project overview and purpose

Where?

Quick Sneak PeeksTwo differing overviews of the pipeline project

Project overview from Enbridge sneak peek

Project overview from environmental group Living Oceans

Watch CBC News In Review “The Great Oil Pipeline Debate” March 2012.

Current Controversy The Northern Gateway Pipeline Debate

Mapping Activity* Use pages 38-39 in the Oxford School Atlas and page 356 in Making Connections to complete this task* Use your mapping rules guide and respect all of your mapping rules

1) Label the provinces of Alberta and British Columbia

2) Label the following communities at the appropriate locations:- Fort McMurray- Bruderheim- Morinville- Mayerthorpe- Whitecourt- Fox Creek- Fort St. James- Burns Lake

3) Use the image below to draw the pipeline from Bruderheim to Kitimat. Shade the pipeline red.

4) Label the Athabasca River and shade it blue

5) Shade Lake Athabasca blue

6) Shade the three oil sands locations brown

7) Give your map a title, border, legend, north arrow etc.

Preparing for Focus Groups

Role Play Simulation Overview

1) Expert Groups – Review your role card

2) Research, research, research! Complete your organizer and use the online sources

3) Debrief and Personal Response

Focus Group DebriefDiscuss these questions with your group:

On a scale of 1 (lowest) -10 (best), how well do you think your Focus Group was able to discuss and reach solutions about this topic?What techniques in the simulation were successful?What techniques do you think would improve the negotiating process?Did the simulation turn out as you had expected? What was challenging? What was surprising?If you could participate in the simulation again, outline 2 strategies that you would use and/or change?

Critical Thinking Personal Response

Now that you have completed the simulation, write a one-page personal response to the following question:

Imagine that you are the person responsible for making the final decision about the continued

development of the Northern Gateway Pipeline. Given the potential costs and benefits we have studied, judge whether or not you think the project should continue. Support your response with evidence from your notes, research and participation in the role-play simulation.

See the evaluation rubric on the next slide and submit your work on Moodle.