The Stamps Nobody Ever Used
Tucked away in the archives of Canadian history is a curious artifact most people have never seen: gasoline rationing stamps, printed and ready to distribute, that Canada never actually needed to use.
During the oil crisis of 1979, triggered by the Iranian Revolution and a sharp drop in global oil production, the federal government quietly prepared for the worst. Rationing stamps were printed, a system was designed, and contingency plans were drawn up. Then, as oil supplies stabilized, the whole apparatus was shelved. The stamps went into storage. Most Canadians never knew they existed.
A Reminder That Anything Can Happen
Economist Peter Tertzakian, a veteran energy analyst, says those forgotten stamps deserve a second look, not as a curiosity, but as a warning.
"They're a reminder that anything can happen in an oil shortage," Tertzakian told CBC News. The existence of the stamps shows that even a country as resource-rich as Canada can find itself vulnerable when global supply chains are disrupted.
Canada is, of course, one of the world's largest oil producers. But production capacity and consumer access aren't always the same thing. Refinery bottlenecks, pipeline constraints, and the geography of energy distribution mean that even a country sitting on vast reserves can face localized shortages at the pump.
Could It Happen Again?
The question isn't purely academic. Global energy markets have been anything but stable in recent years. The COVID-19 pandemic caused wild swings in oil demand. Russia's invasion of Ukraine sent European energy prices soaring and forced governments worldwide to rethink their supply assumptions. And ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East continue to cast a shadow over global crude markets.
While Canada is better insulated than most countries, thanks to domestic production and significant refining capacity. Tertzakian's point stands: the 1979 experience shows that governments can be forced into extraordinary measures faster than the public expects.
Rationing isn't just a wartime relic. France, the United States, and several other Western nations also prepared or implemented fuel controls during the 1970s energy crises. The Canadian government's decision to print stamps, even if they were never used, reflects how seriously officials took the threat at the time.
Energy Security Is Back on the Agenda
In recent years, "energy security" has re-entered the political vocabulary in Canada and abroad. Federal and provincial governments have debated pipeline expansions, LNG export terminals, and the long-term transition away from fossil fuels, all while trying to keep gasoline prices manageable for consumers.
For everyday Canadians, a trip to the pump is already a reminder of how exposed household budgets can be to global commodity markets. Gas prices have spiked dramatically at various points over the past five years, squeezing drivers from Victoria to Halifax.
The 1979 stamps, sitting quietly in an archive somewhere, are a small but striking piece of evidence that Canada's relationship with oil has never been as secure as it might seem.
A Good Time to Remember
Whether or not another rationing scenario ever materializes, Tertzakian's message is worth heeding: preparedness matters, and complacency has a cost. The proofs from 1979 didn't end up in circulation, but the fact that they were printed at all says something important about how quickly energy security can become a national emergency.
Source: CBC News, Calgary. Original reporting by CBC.
