Energy East politics must give way to national interest, says Jim Gray

Alberta must take a"much more aggressive position" onaccess issues if it wants to get its oil to market, says one industry veteran.

"If we are going to be landlocked, and we are going to be prevented from getting our products without this horrible discount that we have to take onthe world markets, then I fear for my kids and for my grandkids in terms of their jobs," said Jim Gray.

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The businessman and philanthropist has been at the forefrontof Alberta's energy sector since the mid-1950sand is chairman of Brookfield Asset Managementand acurrentdirector of Atlanta Goldand RS Technologies.

Speaking specifically to the latest standstillover the Energy East pipeline, Gray saidprovinces must put aside their regional differencesto achieve what is in the best interestof the country.

He saidprovinces have inthe pastfive to ten years been too preoccupied with asking"What's in it for me?"

"We've got to stop these local interests. That has to recede. There has to be a national vision for this country," he said.

"Under this situation as it exists today , I doubt we could build the Trans-Canada Highway.I doubt we could buildthe CPR."

In ItTogether

On Tuesday, Gray will speak at a series titled "In It Together," which seeks to find the silver lining to the ongoing economicdownturn.

"There's benefits from $30 oil, believe it or not, because we're starting to innovateand reduce our costs, and do things we would never do at $100 a barrel," Gray said.

Gray said the company he co-founded back in 1973, Canadian Hunter, is an example of howopportunity can beborn out of crisis.

"I'm a believer in contrarian investors. I'm a believer that no matter how difficult the circumstances are, there are still embedded in there opportunities for individuals and for corporations."

Calgary at a Crossroads is CBC Calgary's special focus on life in our city during the downturn. A look at Calgary's culture, identity and what it means to be Calgarian. Read more stories from the series atCalgary at a Crossroads.