SYNCRUDE SNIFFERS

At first glance, Syncrude's decision to begin using sniffer dogs to do
random checks of employees and worksites smacks of yet another Big
Brother-ish invasion of privacy. However, the risks of our tenuous post-9/11
world as well as the issue of substance abuse and workplace safety justify
it.

The dogs will do sniff searches of company property including locker rooms,
vehicles, lunchrooms and shops, seeking drugs, explosives and any other
materials which could pose a threat to employees or the workplace.

Canada cannot afford to be complacent about the risk of terrorists striking
at the heart of one of its key industries. The nature of the oilpatch and
its essential role in the western economy make it a potential target for
terrorists.

The federal government is introducing intensive security measures in the
immigration and transport sectors after two embarrassing reports on disaster
preparedness and security by Senator Colin Kenny and Auditor General Sheila
Fraser highlighted the futility of federal security initiatives. An
estimated 4,500 airport staff across Canada were found to have criminal
records, while regular screening on all airline workers, maintenance staff
and external supply crews was almost non-existent.

In response, the government added an extra $605 million to the budget this
year to fund security upgrades over the next five years, including tighter
control over secure zones at airports, random investigations of airport
personnel, such as ground handlers, aircraft groomers, caterers and flight
crews entering these areas, and more supporting documentation -- such as
passports and visas -- for foreigners entering Canada aboard ships as crew
members. Syncrude is not out of line in exercising good risk management
policies by bringing in extra precautionary measures.

The company also wants to reduce the daily risk of accidents. The heavy
machinery and volatile substances used in the oilpatch carry the potential
for serious environmental damage and personal injury when used by workers
who may be under the influence of drugs. With 10,000 workers on site each
day at Fort McMurray for Syncrude's $7.8 billion expansion, the company must
ensure that risky behaviour and personal problems don't jeopardize the
safety of other employees, the environment or the company's operations and
its place in the market.

The Alberta government recently announced its intention of beefing up
workplace health and safety practices to cut down on the number of
accidents; Syncrude is rightly following suit.