Alberta’s energy minister says laid off workers could go to B.C.

[PsYcNeT]

Originally Posted by Jacks

At least the PC's were reasonably good with the economy, right now we have the gang that couldn't shoot straight.

I see this a lot, but I'd like to know what they did other than "step back and let companies strip the province of it's resources", which sounds like something even a jaded teenager could do.

[peter12]

Originally Posted by Jacks

Comical that NDP supporters say that they can't be blamed for any of this because of oil prices are down and the PC's screwed everything up. It's almost like it's impossible to make a bad situation worse with poorly thought out job killing policies or something. The PC's had a lot of problems and the NDP haven't fixed any of them.

PC:
- Overspending
- No savings
- Corruption and cronyism

NDP:
- Spending even more
- No savings
- Incompetence

At least the PC's were reasonably good with the economy, right now we have the gang that couldn't shoot straight.

Both:
Blithe disregard for the electorate, once elected.

Maybe change that to...

All governments:

High on the hoped for, but unexpected financial, prestige, and power windfall of an elected victory, governments crown themselves shamelessly with their own meagre accomplishments, and crow about plans that will never seriously come to fruition, at the expense of an electorate that grows ever more frustrated and alienated from the bedrock political processes of their once-beloved nation.

[polak]

Originally Posted by Jacks

At least the PC's were reasonably good with the economy, right now we have the gang that couldn't shoot straight.

I'll agree that the NDP aren't gaining any trust right now but this statement is simply not true.

Name one thing the PC's did since 2000 that points to them "being good with the economy"?

Only thing I can think of is they happened to exist at the same time as Oil peaked...

[peter12]

Originally Posted by polak

I'll agree that the NDP aren't gaining any trust right now but this statement is simply not true.

Name one thing the PC's did since 2000 that points to them "being good with the economy"?

Only thing I can think of is they happened to exist at the same time as Oil peaked...

Kept the corporate tax rate low.

[VladtheImpaler]

Originally Posted by GGG

This was a politically dumb thing to say.

It was also even worse to back track

However it is good advice right now to expand your job search outside of Alberta.

The question I have is - why say anything at all??? It's not like the unemployed don't understand that their best option may be to go home/to BC/to Saskatchewan. If she was point blank asked "What do you have to say to the unemployed?", give the usual cliche "We are working very hard with all the stakeholders to improve the economic environment for all Albertans. Unfortunately, we are also at the mercy of the global energy markets, but I promise that we will do our best for the people of this province". Pretty darn simple.

[polak]

Originally Posted by peter12

Kept the corporate tax rate low.

Easy to keep the tax low when you're primary industry is making hand over fist but what happened to Tax when times are good?

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by Resurrection

If like to say too at this point I'm not so much defending what was said... So much as I find it incredible it's causing all this outrage. I can't even imagine what would happen if the NDP was caught in scandals like Allison Redford found herself in. Cons would want the NDP banned and treated like the nazi party.


Yes its the NDPs fault the price of oil is in the toilet. Clearly.

The only outrage, if any, is from you bro.
All everyone else (with a clear head) has stated is that, given her position in government, it was a really stupid thing to say.
And obviously she (and her caucus) agrees, because she immediately retracted it, stating she 'misspoke' and that it was neither her position nor the government's position.
And what she said later was what she should have said in the first place:

“I misspoke and for that I apologize. That is not my position on jobs. It’s not this government’s position on jobs.
These are real people losing their jobs, with real families. We want to help create opportunities to keep Albertans in Alberta.
Our government has an ambitious jobs plan. As Energy Minister, I’m fighting for jobs every day. We’re working with the energy industry, small- and medium-sized businesses, and entrepreneurs to diversify the economy, develop new opportunities, and create good jobs. We are increasing investment in infrastructure, supporting trade development, and improving access to capital for small- and medium-sized businesses. By taking real action on climate change, we can change the conversation on pipelines and finally get access to new markets.
I will continue to fight for jobs in Alberta and in our energy industry.”

How you, or anyone else, can defend what she initially said, as a minister of our government, shows a total and complete lack of understanding on, well - pretty much everything.

[WCan_Kid]

Originally Posted by polak

Easy to keep the tax low when you're primary industry is making hand over fist but what happened to Tax when times are good?

You do realize that oil prices sucked for 20 years prior to the last boom starting in '03-'04, right?

[Mazrim]

I remember the question being asked well before the election about taxing companies: If a percentage point or two was the difference between operating in Alberta or not, how were margins so tight even when times were good? I don't think that's a government issue solely. The debate came down to whether people were comfortable being personally taxed more on everything to prop up an industry that was bloated and inefficient that they couldn't stand any increases in taxes without cancelling projects and laying off people.

Neither the PC's or the NDP have handled the situation very well so far, so anyone putting their total faith in one party to turn this around seems misguided to me.

[Nobama]

Originally Posted by polak

Oil Patch executives and veterans who have been in the industry for longer than a lot of the people on this board have been alive can't figure out how to properly run their business in this boom bust cycle without crazy cost run ups in the good times and crazy layoffs and cuts in the bad but the first time government who has been in place for less than a year?

Well they should have it figured it out by now. What are they waiting for?

Your own industry abandones you to protect the slimmest of shareholder values but you point your vitriol at the new government. Love it.

These comments are the best. The "O&G Industry should be used to this!" and the "O&G Industry robs us blind and makes too much money!"

I like to compare the O&G Industry to the Medical Industry. Imagine going to school for 8 years then working as an intern in a small town for 3-4 more years. Then finally saving up enough money and starting your own practice. Then when you seem to have everything figured out prices for doctors go down 60% and you lose all your customers. Sounds ridiculous right? This is the energy industry. A made up game controlled by WallStreet to short sell commodities and make money on the backs of hard working people. A complete joke really.

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Originally Posted by PsYcNeT

If we have to swing back conservative next election, can we vote in a party that isn't full of incompetent #######s, like the Alberta Party?

You probably could have worded this better as that comma is doing a lot of work, but assuming you mean we should vote in the Alberta Party, I'm 100% for it provided they can find enough good candidates in enough ridings.

That's the real problem here. Greg Clark is fantastic and I'd be perfectly content with him as premier but as the last go-round demonstrated, if you're a party with no history of success you tend to end up running less than qualified people who shouldn't be MLA's.

I've been saying since election day, though, that there is prime ground for a centrist party and the AP could be a good option, they're well situated and I spoke to a number of people who would have voted for them if only there were someone running in their riding. At the same time, though, they can't just slap an Alberta Party sign on a mannequin and put sit it in the legislature.

[Regorium]

Originally Posted by Mazrim

I remember the question being asked well before the election about taxing companies: If a percentage point or two was the difference between operating in Alberta or not, how were margins so tight even when times were good? I don't think that's a government issue solely. The debate came down to whether people were comfortable being personally taxed more on everything to prop up an industry that was bloated and inefficient that they couldn't stand any increases in taxes without cancelling projects and laying off people.

Neither the PC's or the NDP have handled the situation very well so far, so anyone putting their total faith in one party to turn this around seems misguided to me.

To be completely fair, this is a very interesting and valid point.

Apple has a 28% operating margin. In tech, that's considered low.

Suncor has an 8% operating margin. In O&G, that's amazing.

How did we get to a point where:
- People think oil companies gouge people, while Apple is a saint.
- That any business is good with an 8% operating margin? That they're willing to take out billions of dollars in loans to start a project on a netback of a couple percentage points?

O&G might need to rethink how they do things in this environment and see if they can get margins up to that 20-30% level.

[Resolute 14]

Yeah, sorry Jacks. But it is easy to be good with the economy when your major commodity is running well over $100 per barrel. That argument is no better than the suggestion that the NDP should be spared criticism because the price of oil is currently low.

[polak]

Originally Posted by Nobama

These comments are the best. The "O&G Industry should be used to this!" and the "O&G Industry robs us blind and makes too much money!"

I like to compare the O&G Industry to the Medical Industry. Imagine going to school for 8 years then working as an intern in a small town for 3-4 more years. Then finally saving up enough money and starting your own practice. Then when you seem to have everything figured out prices for doctors go down 60% and you lose all your customers. Sounds ridiculous right? This is the energy industry. A made up game controlled by WallStreet to short sell commodities and make money on the backs of hard working people. A complete joke really.

I'm confused by your comment...

My point was more so that the government is shouldering all of this blame for an industry that was pretty poorly ran being in the tank when the good times ran out.

How quickly we forget the high flying overnight parties, catered lunches, stampede blow outs of just two years ago. It was almost a competition of who could outspend each other. It sucks cause it only takes a couple companies to fall into the trap before everyone needs to in order to compete for talent but hopefully the industry learns from that.

Will it? Not a chance.

[PsYcNeT]

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

You probably could have worded this better as that comma is doing a lot of work, but assuming you mean we should vote in the Alberta Party, I'm 100% for it provided they can find enough good candidates in enough ridings.

That's the real problem here. Greg Clark is fantastic and I'd be perfectly content with him as premier but as the last go-round demonstrated, if you're a party with no history of success you tend to end up running less than qualified people who shouldn't be MLA's.

I've been saying since election day, though, that there is prime ground for a centrist party and the AP could be a good option, they're well situated and I spoke to a number of people who would have voted for them if only there were someone running in their riding. At the same time, though, they can't just slap an Alberta Party sign on a mannequin and put sit it in the legislature.

Yeah I met Greg back in September during a meeting to discuss Senate Bill S-233 and similar drafting in Alberta. Really on the ball, sharp dude.

[c.t.ner]

Watching people tie themselves in knots trying to defend this statement is hysterical.

Is it true that given how things are going some people should make the tough choice and look elsewhere to find work to survive and make it through this tough times. Sure it is.

BUT no government official, under any circumstance should publicly state it. The last thing people who have been recently laid off or lost their jobs need to hear is the suggestion that they should just leave their homes and go to a better place. It's ridiculous and shows a real disconnect between their understanding of their role as government and the face of the province.

[Regorium]

Originally Posted by polak

I'll agree that the NDP aren't gaining any trust right now but this statement is simply not true.

Name one thing the PC's did since 2000 that points to them "being good with the economy"?

Only thing I can think of is they happened to exist at the same time as Oil peaked...

I think we can all agree that a lot of Albertans (not just the 1%, but higher end engineers, executivies, geophysicists etc.), were able to significantly grow their wealth due to their policies in recent years.

For example, the continual hold-out on not implementing a PST. Simplifically speaking, if everyone just saved that 5% PST and put it towards the stock market, that's a pretty big sum for a lot of people.

The fact that Albertans are just average humans just like the rest of the world that enjoy instant gratification and luxury isn't an indictement of PC policy. Perhaps it WAS the government's fault that they didn't treat us like idiots and saved for us (through raising taxes to contribute to the oft-mentioned Heritage fund). But I can see a positive side to the old policy as well.

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by Sliver

Some of you need to face very basic facts here without getting mad at some dopey lady stupid enough to tell the most obvious of truths.

I think most people are aware of the facts. This thread is just venting frustration at the ineptitude and lack of qualifications of the NDP cabinet. Nobody is happy to have a "dopey lady stupid enough" as minister of one of the most important posts in the Alberta government.

[VladtheImpaler]

Originally Posted by WCan_Kid

You do realize that oil prices sucked for 20 years prior to the last boom starting in '03-'04, right?

He doesn't because he was in junior high then.

[Muta]

Originally Posted by peter12

Kept the corporate tax rate low.

Don't we still have the lowest corporate tax rates in the country?