Ipac Members React Strongly To National Energy

Tempers ran high Thursday as members of the INDEPENDENT PETROLEUM ASSOCIATION OF CANADA called for a strong stand against last week's federal energy policy and budget,

The members fury became evident after hearing an unemotional assessment of the impact on them of the federal energy policy from IPAC's retained chartered accountant DICK SCHULL, and a report by IPAC president EARL JOUDRIE of his impressions of the prevailing feeling in Ottawa about the national energy policy's effects,

"Time is running out", stated BILL HUGHES, of PADDON HUGHES DEVELOPMENT CO LTD after a request for urgent action.

Maybe we should take time to consider stronger action such as a one-day or two-day strike, " said BOB BRAWN, president of TURBO RESOURCES LIMITED, in response to a member who called for production restrictions and accused IPAC of being mellow.

"It's time we got mad and let the federal government know in the strongest possible language bow we feel, " said JIM GRAY, Executive Vice-President of CANADIAN HUNTER EXPLORATIONS LTD, "It's my country and I don't want to be driven out of it. " He called for major expenditures on advertising to counter a claimed $25-30 million ad campaign by the federal government,

But Earl Joudrie, president of IPAC was not distressed by the outbursts, "We held this meeting for two reasons, " he said. " We wanted to inform our members of our Ottawa findings, We also wanted to feel out the mood of the members, "" He said that he interpreted these sentiments coupled with the audience's applause for them as an indication that IPAC will have to consider a stronger line

We are always in touch with the members we will poll them to determine our strategy in future, he added,

Joudrie had outlined a plan for members of the Association to adopt in expressing their dissatisfaction with the situation. We must maintain communications with Ottawa and try to convince them that the oil and gas industry is being hurt. I would invite members to write to both levels of government explaining how their individual businesses are being damaged. " He said that Ottawa is eager to look at individual companies in order to assess the real impacts of the policy on them.