Editing Pierre Trudeau (section)

====Energy policy====
On September 4, 1973, Trudeau requested that the [[Western Canadian]] provinces agree to a voluntary freeze on oil prices during [[1973 oil crisis|the ongoing Arab oil embargo]]. Nine days later, the Trudeau government imposed a 40-cent tax on every barrel of [[Petroleum industry in Canada|Canadian oil]] exported to the United States to combat rising inflation and oil prices. The tax was equivalent to the difference between domestic and international oil prices, and the revenues were used to subsidize oil imports for [[Eastern Canada|Eastern]] [[Oil refinery|refiners]]. The [[Premier of Alberta|Premier]] of oil-rich [[Alberta]], [[Peter Lougheed]], called the decision "the most discriminatory action taken by a federal government against a particular province in the entire history of [[Canadian Confederation|Confederation]]." While revenues decreased for Western provinces (particularly Alberta) and for the petroleum industry, Trudeau's government subsidized Eastern consumers, angering Alberta, who successfully fought for control of its natural resources in 1930.<ref>{{cite web |title=Energy Wars |url=http://www.history.alberta.ca/energyheritage/sands/underground-developments/energy-wars/default.aspx |publisher=Government of Alberta |access-date=April 21, 2022}}</ref>

In the early 1970s, the [[petroleum industry]] was largely under foreign (mainly American) control, the recent discovery of oil in [[Alaska]] put corporate pressure on the [[Arctic Archipelago|Canadian Arctic]], and Canada's energy sector increasingly focused on North American rather than domestic needs. Trudeau's government initially rejected the idea of creating a nationalized oil company (which was perceived to secure supplies, improve revenue collection, and give governments better information on the global energy market), arguing it would be costly and inefficient. However, after the [[1973 oil crisis|late 1973 oil crisis]] saw global oil prices quadruple, questions arose about whether Canada should continue importing oil. Though Canada also exported oil at times, the provinces of Quebec and Atlantic Canada were at risk of a cut-off of imports; as a result, Canada was in need of knowing more about its potential to produce energy. In late October 1973, Trudeau's government adopted a motion from the [[New Democratic Party]] (which the Trudeau [[minority government]] relied on for support) to establish a nationalized oil company. The ''Petro-Canada Act'' was passed in 1975 (under a Trudeau [[majority government]]), resulting in the creation of a new [[crown corporations of Canada|crown corporation]], [[Petro-Canada]]. Petro-Canada was mandated to acquire imported oil supplies, take part in energy research and development, and engage in downstream activities such as refining and marketing. The corporation started with an initial $1.5 billion in capital and had preferential access to debt capital as "an agent of Her Majesty". Trudeau's government gave itself authority over Petro-Canada's capital budget and its corporate strategy, making the company its policy arm; the government also wanted the company to be mainly active on the frontiers (the oil sands, the Arctic, and the East Coast offshore areas) rather than Western Canada, where most Canadian oil is extracted. In 1976, Trudeau appointed his friend, [[Maurice Strong]], to become the first chair of the company.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |last1=Yusufali |first1=Sasha |last2=Pratt |first2=Larry |title=Petro-Canada |url=https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/petro-canada |encyclopedia=The Canadian Encyclopedia |access-date=November 6, 2022 |date=November 19, 2009}}</ref>