The Canada Project
A Novel
When Elise, a star Wall Street journalist, is dispatched to Calgary to start covering the Canadian energy scene, she soon meets the charismatic John Hess, an oil company CEO who manipulates her into promoting his business to global investors. But while the rich and powerful corporations battle over resources, their game plan is disrupted by the growth of the off-oil movement in the United States and their campaign to suppress the Canadian oilsands industry. From Western Canada to the centres of political, financial, and oil power in Washington, New York, and Houston, Elise finds herself in the eye of the hurricane as she reports on greedy oil and gas executives, angry environmentalists, and frustrated Indigenous leaders who struggle to find common ground in an ever-changing world.
Written by a former energy-sector journalist, The Canada Project is a work fiction based on the true story of the conflict over Canada’s oilsands industry. It records a piece of Canadian history that has been as transformative and as divisive as any revolution.
Written by a former energy-sector journalist, The Canada Project is a work fiction based on the true story of the conflict over Canada’s oilsands industry. It records a piece of Canadian history that has been as transformative and as divisive as any revolution.
Reviews
“In Claudia Cattaneo’s heart-stopping thriller The Canada Project, the interests of the press, the oil industry, environmentalists, and Indigenous leaders conflict. … Piquant questions are raised about the environmentalist groups’ true motivations and about whether the press is selling out to cover big oil. These extensive conflicts propel the novel, whose forward movement is further spurred by Elise’s work and personal struggles.”
- Foreword Clarion Review
"Finally, a book that can help the oil and gas professionals, and not only, to understand the ups and downs of this industry in Alberta. Claudia Cattaneo did an amazing job writing this novel, which is so captivating and full of details that can help anyone to connect the dots and have the full picture of why the oil and gas industry in Canada has been quieted down so much. This book should be viewed as an historical novel."
- Madalina Despa, Project Engineer
“First-time novelist Claudia Cattaneo writes an impressive and inquiring story based on fictional characters and experiences gained from her nearly 40 years as a journalist primarily in the Canadian energy sector. There is intrigue and hypocrisy throughout, particularly with the engagement of the indigenous community who were led to believe that their alignment with the (environmental) movement was in keeping with indigenous goals. Those near to the industry will be captivated by the story and know that as a former journalist, she has deep insights into the manipulation and politicization of energy in Canada.”
- Maureen Payne, APR
Communications and Public Affairs Consultant (retired)
“This novel took me back full force to my whole life in oil and gas. There was nothing like it I believe: the science, the technologies, the scale, the great discoveries, the great failures, the business strategies, the wheeling and dealing, the money, the intrigue, the big characters.”
- Kim Davies
Oil and Gas CEO (retired)
- Foreword Clarion Review
"Finally, a book that can help the oil and gas professionals, and not only, to understand the ups and downs of this industry in Alberta. Claudia Cattaneo did an amazing job writing this novel, which is so captivating and full of details that can help anyone to connect the dots and have the full picture of why the oil and gas industry in Canada has been quieted down so much. This book should be viewed as an historical novel."
- Madalina Despa, Project Engineer
“First-time novelist Claudia Cattaneo writes an impressive and inquiring story based on fictional characters and experiences gained from her nearly 40 years as a journalist primarily in the Canadian energy sector. There is intrigue and hypocrisy throughout, particularly with the engagement of the indigenous community who were led to believe that their alignment with the (environmental) movement was in keeping with indigenous goals. Those near to the industry will be captivated by the story and know that as a former journalist, she has deep insights into the manipulation and politicization of energy in Canada.”
- Maureen Payne, APR
Communications and Public Affairs Consultant (retired)
“This novel took me back full force to my whole life in oil and gas. There was nothing like it I believe: the science, the technologies, the scale, the great discoveries, the great failures, the business strategies, the wheeling and dealing, the money, the intrigue, the big characters.”
- Kim Davies
Oil and Gas CEO (retired)
