Canadian oilpatch

A wave of high-profile mergers and acquisitions in the Canadian oilpatch is a sign of an industry that is flush with cash and increasingly confident in the short- and medium-term outlook for fossil fuels, experts say.

Exxon Mobil Corp.'s acquisition of Pioneer Natural Resources in a US$59.5-billion mega-deal is being seen by some as a major vote of confidence in fossil fuels.

For the second time in a year, the federal government is invoking a little-known 1977 energy treaty between Canada and the United States in an effort to prevent a federal court from shutting down the Line 5 pipeline.

“No matter where you work, I respect you for putting food on the table. But I do have to say that my life has additional meaning now,” Nick Kendrick says.