Ontario energy minister set to attend Sarnia energy summit

Ontario Energy Minister Todd Smith is scheduled to tour Imperial Oil’s Sarnia site Monday and attends an energy summit at Lambton College ahead of an industry conference in the city.

Sarnia Lambton Chamber of Commerce is hosting the minister and other MPPs at the event showcasing Sarnia-area energy companies.

Chamber chief executive Carrie McEachran said the summit is “piggybacking” on the Petrochem Canada conference Tuesday and Wednesday at Progressive Auto Sales Arena, also at the college.

The aim was to bring the minister to Sarnia “and see what’s happening in Sarnia-Lambton” and “hear from the industry people,” she said.

“One of our fundamental roles at the chamber is to advocate for our business community and keep Sarnia-Lambton at the forefront of government decision-makers.”

Sarnia and neighboring St. Clair Township are home to several refineries, chemical manufacturing sites and biochemical facilities.

“We’re thrilled that he has accepted our invite just to come to Sarnia-Lambton and see the really great things that are happening,” McEachran said.

As well as touring Imperial’s Sarnia site, there are plans for a roundtable discussion with “other key industry people to hear what’s happening here in Sarnia-Lambton and what the needs are,” she said.

Also expected are Sarnia-Lambton MPP Bob Bailey and several other MPPs and parliamentary assistants.

The Petrochem Canada conference is hosted by the Sarnia Lambton Economic Partnership.

Shauna Carr, a partnership economic development office, said about 150 “folks in the petrochemical, new energy or emerging energy sectors” are expected for the two-day event.

“We host it because of the traditional petrochemical industry here,” she said. “But, as well, topics like the circular economy and hydrogen will be featured at the conference this year.”

The conference connects “folks in the industry with new ideas and different players” and includes a sold-out trade show allowing service providers and product providers to network with attendees and each other, Carr said.

A technical conference also is part of the event, she said.

Carr said the annual conference initially moved between Sarnia and Alberta, but organizers have decided since to keep it in Sarnia.

Keynote speakers include Tom Olsen, chief executive of the Canadian Energy Centre, and Rachel Doran, Clean Energy Canada’s policy and strategy director.

“The point of the event is to highlight the fact that the petrochemical industry is still a very strong industry, locally,” Carr said. “Even with all the emerging sectors, this industry is still going to play a very key role for a lot of years to come.”

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