Canada’s skilled labour shortage is reaching a crisis point. A report last year from the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters (CME) should concern all Canadians, not just policymakers.

The oil and gas industry has played a crucial part in Alberta’s political structure for decades. Alberta contains about 97 percent of all oil stores in Canada, which ranks third globally for oil and gas exports.

Canada’s chemical industry sold a record $72.7 billion of product last year amid recovery from COVID-19 and strong consumer demand, according to the Chemistry Industry Association of Canada (CIAC).