“PSAC represents a diverse array of companies in the oil and gas services, supply
and manufacturing sectors in Canada... from the giant multinational oilfield
service enterprises to the small- and medium-sized local entrepreneurs.”
MARCH 2016
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business elite canada 63
write-offs and severance costs, and total
revenue was reduced by 28 per cent com-
pared to the year before.
Fortunately for companies such as Hallibur-
ton, the Petroleum Services Association
of Canada (PSAC) operates as the preemi-
nent voice of the petroleum services, sup-
ply and manufacturing sector. Involved in
the oilfield industry since the early 1980s,
Mark Salkeld, PSAC‘s president and CEO,
has led the association for the past five
years. With three decades of experience
under his belt spanning across four conti-
nents, Salkeld ensures that PSAC is com-
mitted to supporting member companies
with the resources and education needed
for continual success. In addition to this,
PSAC is a tireless advocate for its mem-
bers, often liaising OGS companies with
governments, communities, the public
and the media.
THE BIRTH OF PSAC
PSAC traces its roots back to 1980, the
year the federal government proposed
the National Energy Program (NEP) in re-
sponse to a 160 per cent increase in oil
prices. The proposal introduced new taxes
on the oil industry, gave Crown oil corpora-
tions more power and redirected capital to-
wards the federal government. Represen-
tatives from petroleum companies across
Canada assembled in Ottawa to advocate
changes to the NEP, but did not succeed
in persuading the government. The conse-
quences were brutal. As oil prices fell, the
energy industry faced a crisis similar to the
one we are experiencing today.
Deciding that a unified voice was needed
to represent and support the petroleum
services industry, PSAC was founded on
Nov. 20, 1981 by 143 member companies.
Although the NEP was put out of com-
mission in 1985, PSAC continued its ad-
