Brian Crossman is a partner in Estevan-based Independent Well Servicing. The opinions expressed in this column are the opinions of the author and not necessarily the opinions of Independent Well Servicing.
By greeblie from US – Instrument Of Evil?, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=48076080
Once again it is time to recap the past year’s events and attempt to predict the upcoming events of 2026, obviously geared towards the Canadian energy industry. South of the border, we have huge changes that affect Canada directly along with the rest of the world. (Trump continues to be a huge disruptor.) On our side of the border, we had an election that to my surprise gave the Liberal party a near-majority, and now with back room deals potentially installing a Liberal majority. (Not really democracy) This is in spite of gross negligence and incompetence by the party, CRA and most bureaucratic departments. The federal finance department continues its plan to raise the Canadian debt ceiling. If you think Canada is in serious financial trouble now, buckle up buttercup, you ain’t seen nothing yet.
So, what exciting, interesting and potentially terrifying will happen in the next 365 days? What can we in the energy industry do to prepare? I will once again take a shot at what is going to happen in 2026. I have attempted this for a few years now with mixed results. So once again, “What the Hell” and let’s see what we can ascertain with some help from the “Fantasmical Prognostication Machine” AKA, my “Magic Eight Ball TM” and we give it the old college try.
#1. WTI oil price- “What the Hell?” The eight ball gave me the “CANNOT PREDICT NOW.” What really happened as of November 2025 WTI average price was around $70.00 ($77.13 in 2023). It currently sits around $55.50 at time of writing. Experts are predicting the price to be around $56.63 for WTI, so I ask if the price will remain stable and shake the “Magic 8 Ball TM” and receive a “BETTER NOT TELL YOU NOW” Not a warm and fuzzy feeling for the industry.
- 0106 SASPO-2874_Self Serve Campaign_New Connects_Youtube_v30106 SASPO-2874_Self Serve Campaign_New Connects_Youtube_v3
- 0105 SaskEnergy Commitment to Safety0105 SaskEnergy Commitment to Safety
- 0102 Lori Carr Coal Extended0102 Lori Carr Coal Extended
- 0100 Turnbull Project Manager0100 Turnbull Project Manager
- 0099 Mryglod Steel 1080p0099 Mryglod Steel 1080p
- 0097 Eagle Sky Ventures LTD0097 Eagle Sky Ventures LTD
- 0095 Fast Trucking nearly 70 years good at it0095 Fast Trucking nearly 70 years good at it
- 0092 Turnbull projects big and small0092 Turnbull projects big and small
- 0046 City of Estevan This is Estevan Teaser0046 City of Estevan This is Estevan Teaser
- 0077 Caprice Resources Stand Up For Free Speech0077 Caprice Resources Stand Up For Free Speech
- 0061 SIMSA 2024 For Sask Buy Sask0061 SIMSA 2024 For Sask Buy Sask
- 0051 JML Hiring Pumpjack assembly0051 JML Hiring Pumpjack assembly
- 0049 Scotsburn Dental soft guitar0049 Scotsburn Dental soft guitar
- 0041 DEEP Since 2018 now we are going to build0041 DEEP Since 2018 now we are going to build
- 0032 IWS Summer hiring rock trailer music
- 0022 Grimes winter hiring
- 0021 OSY Rentals S8 Promo
- 0018 IWS Hiring Royal Summer
- 0013 Panther Drilling PO ad 03 top drive rigs
- 0002 gilliss casing services0002 gilliss casing services
- 9002 Pipeline Online 30 sec EBEX9002 Pipeline Online 30 sec EBEX
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#2. “Will there be an election this year?” I give it a good shake and it says, “OUTLOOK GOOD.” Based on the past two weeks in Ottawa I disagree. As I have said in the past, the Liberal Party is very good at playing the long game, and 2026 will be no different. Never underestimate the political machine and the voters continuing to wish for “Free Stuff” despite saddling future generations with the cost. I will say that people smarter than I (Tom Korski with Blacklock’s Reporter) believe that all the infighting inside the Liberal party will trigger an election. As far as the CPC is concerned, I believe they are on the right track, but the media, the internet, the NDP and the Liberals want to convince you otherwise. They are good at throwing the mud, but when Pierre Poilievre criticizes the ruling party (his job) he is labeled as divisive and angry. My opinion is that they are afraid of him, the proof being the great lengths they go to attack him. If he wasn’t a threat they would just let it go and enjoy the results. I am old enough to remember when holding the government in power to task was considered the right thing to do. Just like building pipelines to get oil and gas to tidewater and growing the economy is also the correct course of action.
#3. “Will I win the lottery?” Shake it- “OUTLOOK NOT GOOD.” I don’t plan on retiring any time soon anyway, so I’ll roll with that.
#4.”Are operating costs going to continue to rise?” “MY REPLY IS NO” is what shows up. I have a tough time believing this as a stagnant economy does not lower prices immediately, but prices need to stabilize for the good of the economy.
- 0106 SASPO-2874_Self Serve Campaign_New Connects_Youtube_v30106 SASPO-2874_Self Serve Campaign_New Connects_Youtube_v3
- 0105 SaskEnergy Commitment to Safety0105 SaskEnergy Commitment to Safety
- 0102 Lori Carr Coal Extended0102 Lori Carr Coal Extended
- 0100 Turnbull Project Manager0100 Turnbull Project Manager
- 0099 Mryglod Steel 1080p0099 Mryglod Steel 1080p
- 0097 Eagle Sky Ventures LTD0097 Eagle Sky Ventures LTD
- 0095 Fast Trucking nearly 70 years good at it0095 Fast Trucking nearly 70 years good at it
- 0092 Turnbull projects big and small0092 Turnbull projects big and small
- 0046 City of Estevan This is Estevan Teaser0046 City of Estevan This is Estevan Teaser
- 0077 Caprice Resources Stand Up For Free Speech0077 Caprice Resources Stand Up For Free Speech
- 0061 SIMSA 2024 For Sask Buy Sask0061 SIMSA 2024 For Sask Buy Sask
- 0051 JML Hiring Pumpjack assembly0051 JML Hiring Pumpjack assembly
- 0049 Scotsburn Dental soft guitar0049 Scotsburn Dental soft guitar
- 0041 DEEP Since 2018 now we are going to build0041 DEEP Since 2018 now we are going to build
- 0032 IWS Summer hiring rock trailer music
- 0022 Grimes winter hiring
- 0021 OSY Rentals S8 Promo
- 0018 IWS Hiring Royal Summer
- 0013 Panther Drilling PO ad 03 top drive rigs
- 0002 gilliss casing services0002 gilliss casing services
- 9002 Pipeline Online 30 sec EBEX9002 Pipeline Online 30 sec EBEX
- 9001
#5. “Will the demand for fossil fuels rise?” I asked this and the orb says, “YOU MAY RELY ON IT.” I agree, even with some increased EV use and renewables, we are a long way off and all this new tech still requires oil and gas to create it. Most analysts agree that to manufacture EVs, windmills, solar panels and facilitate the “energy transition” will take a huge amount of fossil fuels to accomplish. Canada (Saskatchewan as well) do a world-class job of extracting fossil fuels in the best way. This where my obligatory and heartfelt plug for Saskatchewan comes in. Our province continues to stand out as one of the best regions in Canada (and the world) to do business. Our resource opportunities continue to expand in oil, gas, lithium, gold, uranium, rare earth minerals and now the opportunity for natural Hydrogen. (Very exciting possibilities!) All of the current dilemmas in agriculture and potash are short-lived in my opinion, as the world requires these products to survive. Saskatchewan is blessed with leaders and visionaries in government, research and business, several of whom I been fortunate to have met, chatted and befriended. With this hard-working group working together, the future of Saskatchewan looks bright indeed.
#6. This is the part where I would normally ask “MAGIC EIGHT BALL TM” if the Saskatchewan Roughriders will win the Grey Cup in 2026. As a longtime fan, I didn’t ask last year, as not to jinx their season. (You’re welcome by the way) My personal prediction is that it’s back-to-back in 2026. “MAGIC EIGHT BALLTM” was also correct about season two of “Landman” being made, much to the delight of oilfield people everywhere. (So far, it continues to impress!) Look for the official pipelineonline.ca season two review in the coming weeks.
Once again, just for fun I give it a prolonged shake and say out loud “Is everything gonna be alright?” “IT IS CERTAIN” the answer. I agree. As with most things in life, things may not work out the way you want, or the way you think they should, but trust me and the magic eight ball, they will work out. Be as kind and generous as you possibly can, as this is the spirit of Christmas. Here’s to a very Happy and Prosperous New Year everyone!
Brian Crossman is a partner at Independent Well Servicing. He is predicting (praying for) a return to common sense in the government to get along and work with business for the benefit of all Canadians.
- 0106 SASPO-2874_Self Serve Campaign_New Connects_Youtube_v30106 SASPO-2874_Self Serve Campaign_New Connects_Youtube_v3
- 0105 SaskEnergy Commitment to Safety0105 SaskEnergy Commitment to Safety
- 0102 Lori Carr Coal Extended0102 Lori Carr Coal Extended
- 0100 Turnbull Project Manager0100 Turnbull Project Manager
- 0099 Mryglod Steel 1080p0099 Mryglod Steel 1080p
- 0097 Eagle Sky Ventures LTD0097 Eagle Sky Ventures LTD
- 0095 Fast Trucking nearly 70 years good at it0095 Fast Trucking nearly 70 years good at it
- 0092 Turnbull projects big and small0092 Turnbull projects big and small
- 0046 City of Estevan This is Estevan Teaser0046 City of Estevan This is Estevan Teaser
- 0077 Caprice Resources Stand Up For Free Speech0077 Caprice Resources Stand Up For Free Speech
- 0061 SIMSA 2024 For Sask Buy Sask0061 SIMSA 2024 For Sask Buy Sask
- 0051 JML Hiring Pumpjack assembly0051 JML Hiring Pumpjack assembly
- 0049 Scotsburn Dental soft guitar0049 Scotsburn Dental soft guitar
- 0041 DEEP Since 2018 now we are going to build0041 DEEP Since 2018 now we are going to build
- 0032 IWS Summer hiring rock trailer music
- 0022 Grimes winter hiring
- 0021 OSY Rentals S8 Promo
- 0018 IWS Hiring Royal Summer
- 0013 Panther Drilling PO ad 03 top drive rigs
- 0002 gilliss casing services0002 gilliss casing services
- 9002 Pipeline Online 30 sec EBEX9002 Pipeline Online 30 sec EBEX
- 9001