Quote:
Originally Posted by Bill Bumface
I don't see how pipelines, if built, are anything but kicking the can down the road.
Alberta was actually diversifying decently at the tail end of the 90s and all of it got undone by the escalation of costs caused by another oil boom.
It seems lazy and unimaginative to think the solution to our economic problems is just to find a way to make another oil boom happen.
Alberta is producing 40% of Canada's GHG emissions and we are seeing the economics of renewables become more and more attractive.
We know oil is not going to be the long term solution. What if all the pipeline effort and money had been put toward sound steps toward diversification? Where would we be today?
|
I am 100% of the mindset that liquid hydrocarbon fuels are not Alberta's long term path to prosperity. We need to THOUGHTFULLY and URGENTLY diversify while still using our strengths.
That being said, even under the most optimistic green forecasts there will be a market for oil and Alberta should be chasing that market WHILE building on existing strengths for new markets, new uses for inputs etc. I mean if people need oil, why shouldn't it be Albertan oil (vs Saudi, Russian or Venezuelan).