The Financial Post reports in its Thursday edition that Pengrowth Energy chief executive officer Derek Evans says Canadian oil and gas leaders have been too "shy" to speak out in support of their industry and he plans to help fill that vacuum as he retires from a job he has held since 2009. A Canadian Press dispatch to the Post reports that Mr. Evans says the disconnect between average Canadians and the industry in terms of pipeline and drilling technology safety, and their inability to see how importing oil hurts domestic producers, can in part be blamed on the inaction of industry leaders. He blames himself as much as anyone. He says: "I think we've got far too many engineers and accountants running oil and gas companies that don't feel we need to stand up. We need to create a real dialogue. That's one of my hopes as we drive forward. ... I just don't think we've given it enough of a shot." Mr. Evans will be replaced by oil sands veteran Pete Sametz, a former interim CEO of Connacher Oil and Gas. Mr. Evans will adopt an advisory role during the CEO transition, then take a few months off before looking into an as-yet-undefined way that he can become an advocate for the oil and gas industry.