Quote:
Originally Posted by polak
Shutting down shop was the wrong wording I'll admit (I was a little drunk last night, my bad, blame the Honda curse). I meant no company is leaving the oil sand market.
I think we might need to evaluate the risk of Oil & Gas companies "refocusing" their money versus the risk of more serious Oil price drops with no other industries to keep Alberta a float. It's absurd that we're still seeing people push back the diversification of our economy especially when our main industry is one with a limited shelf life. When are we going to finally wake up? When our reserves start to dry up? Is that what it's going to take? I guess that is the Alberta way. Go Go Go and then worry about the future when it arrives....
I think you guys are worried that O&G companies "refocusing" their money means less cushy, high paying jobs that Albertans seem to be so used too. Well, I think that's a sacrafice that needs to be made for the overall good of Alberta's economy long term. The jobs in theory would be replaced by the new industries the subsidies would attract, sure they might not pay as well and sure, basic trades might not pay 6 figures any more, but that's the price of maintaining our economy long term.
It's a simple solution. You take a paycut now so your kids and their kids can still find jobs in 50-60 years when Oil might be worthless for all we know.
|
Or we exploit it as hard as possible to generate wealth now that can be reinvested over longer periods of time (into other industries for example). Time value of money.
As for referring to O&G jobs as high paying and cushy, get over yourself. Albertans in this industry work their ass off to both get here and stay here.