Keynote Address - Oil and Gas

CIM Bulletin, 1973

LET ME FIRST OF ALL thank you for sending this invitation to me to participate in this Annual Meeting of The Mining Society of Nova Scotia. As an engineer, although I don't get an opportunity to practice very much engineering these days, I am, of course, always pleased to be able to meet with my fellow engineers to exchange views, but I must admit that today I feel a little bit out of place in the midst of all the experts that are here today. Let me make one thing clear - I'm a generalist! Your program states that I am to make a keynote address. I have always thought that a keynote speech is one that says something that has not been said before - announces some new program or policy, or says something startling. I am sure you will understand when I tell you that keynote addresses are made by politicians and that civil servants speaking publicly are usually expected to give an account of what is, or what is likely, to happen as a result of policies that have been announced in keynote speeches by politicians. I am reminded of a statement by a distinguished parliamentarian who said, "However exalted a civil servant may be, he is not above the elected officials." So today I will confine myself to giving you an overview with particular emphasis on the development side of oil and gas.

Keywords: Canada, Dalhousie University, Eastern Canada, North Sea, Nova Scotian, Oil and Gas, Development, Developments, Government, Governments, North, Nova Scotia, Oil, Oils, Production