The Big Four oilsands companies' influence threatens Alberta democracy, argues political scientist

The oilsands have driven Alberta’s economy and finances for the past two decades. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Over the past five years, ownership of oilsands production has become hyperconcentrated in four companies: Cenovus Energy, Canadian Natural Resources Limited (CNRL), Imperial Oil Limited and Suncor Energy.

These four producers — known as the Big Four — account for about 84 per cent of Alberta’s daily production of 3.3 million barrels of bitumen, a type of crude oil found in oilsands deposits.