One of the cultural proclivities that has always been a head scratcher to me is why we Canadians do not leverage the great technologies we create for our own advantage. The list of Canadian inventions/developments/breakthroughs is truly breathtaking and SADLY one of our best kept secrets. This morning I stumbled upon the latest one and I simply had to share it. I won’t repeat what the host and interviewee explain so well in the video, but allow me to comment. In a phrase: This is GENIUS.

We are the world’s largest producer of bitumen and one of the reasons that the world environmental movement frowns on us is because it is so “dirty” and therefore creates a lot of pollution — but only if you burn it. A Canadian consortium of mostly indigenous companies has solved that problem. DON”T BURN IT. If we transport the bitumen in its solid form (which is a natural state) there is no fear of spillage, is worth TWICE what we get for it if we liquify it and the world wants more , more, more because even if every vehicle on the planet becomes electric, they will all still need roads to drive on.

This solution could solve so many problems simultaneously (watch the video) and make Canada a leader in this brilliant new way to use an almost endless in-ground resource without adding to the carbon problem that the world has.

The real issue is why have the BC, Alberta and Federal governments not leapt on this technology to market and support this new industry? The answer is offered at the 12:00 mark and it goes to Canadian policy culture. The current government seems keen to change that culture and this technology is a perfect project.

I am only an artsmen but I cannot see any downside. Lest polluting. More profitable. Canadian.

What are we waiting for?