Alberta Politics Thread

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by calgarygeologist

We can do a union with Sask and Manitoba. Maybe a port is possible for Hudson Bay although I believe the ice situation could be tricky and we would probably need some sort of agreement with Canada for use of the Hudson Strait. If BC wants in they need to provide access to the Pacific for the oil.

I think the most delusional part of Alberta separation fantasies is the belief that any of the other provinces would want to go with them.

[GGG]

Originally Posted by Slava

How are we not getting our fair shake though? Part of a confederation is that wealthier provinces help support poorer provinces...which seems to be a source of consternation here in Alberta. Is it the pipelines? Does that mean that if/when we see a pipeline approved in the next few years then we're all good?

If we get 3 million barrels a day of pipeline approved to east and west coasts and the Gulf of Mexico.

[para transit fellow]

Without a market.... The alberta advantage withers away.

Once upon a time, we shifted our sales from Eastern Canada to the lucrative America markets.

Now we discover the American markets have abandoned our sales for their locally produced oil.

What baffles me is that Alberta now thinks that eastern Canada has left us high and dry in our quest to maintain a market for oil.

...or have I missed something?

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

Alberta and Quebec might be the most two alike provinces in the Country.

You are not entirely wrong. Though one gives far more to the Dominion than it gets, while the other takes far more than it earns.

[chemgear]

Saw these today.

http://www.calgarysun.com/2016/09/13...e-neb-setbacks

In Alberta, opposition parties have said the recent events have shown the Notley government's efforts to win social licence for pipelines through its sweeping climate change plan aren't working.

"That's just wrong and its also quite silly," Notley told reporters at McDougall Centre Tuesday morning.

"It is crystal clear that there is no appeasement of these groups. There will be no "social license" gained by taxing Albertans," said Jean.


http://www.calgaryherald.com/busines...726/story.html

Canadian First Nations and U.S. tribal communities are stepping up their fight against Alberta's oilsands industry, vowing to stop the development and distribution of the province's crude across the continent.

Indigenous leaders from nearly 100 aboriginal communities in Eastern and Western Canada and a few in the United States, including Standing Rock Indian Reservation in North and South Dakota, signed a treaty Thursday in Montreal and Vancouver.

"We're not proposing to destroy Alberta," said Simon. "We're trying to help it, we're trying to help the country and we're trying to help this planet."

While the goal is to remain peaceful, he said all options are on the table.

"They should know that we never hesitated to taking our fight to the streets," added Ghislain Picard, chief of the Assembly of First Nations of Quebec and Labrador.

"We have a few hundred years of experience in making sure that our voice is heard."

[Dan02]

Originally Posted by rubecube

I think the most delusional part of Alberta separation fantasies is the belief that any of the other provinces would want to go with them.

I think Saskatchewan might join the good fight, but it's not them you'd need it's BC.

[Resolute 14]

Of course, nobody in the media or in politics had the courage to press any Native leaders on who is funding their campaign.

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by chemgear

Saw these today.

http://www.calgarysun.com/2016/09/13...e-neb-setbacks

In Alberta, opposition parties have said the recent events have shown the Notley government's efforts to win social licence for pipelines through its sweeping climate change plan aren't working.

"That's just wrong and its also quite silly," Notley told reporters at McDougall Centre Tuesday morning.

"It is crystal clear that there is no appeasement of these groups. There will be no "social license" gained by taxing Albertans," said Jean.


http://www.calgaryherald.com/busines...726/story.html

Canadian First Nations and U.S. tribal communities are stepping up their fight against Alberta's oilsands industry, vowing to stop the development and distribution of the province's crude across the continent.

Indigenous leaders from nearly 100 aboriginal communities in Eastern and Western Canada and a few in the United States, including Standing Rock Indian Reservation in North and South Dakota, signed a treaty Thursday in Montreal and Vancouver.

"We're not proposing to destroy Alberta," said Simon. "We're trying to help it, we're trying to help the country and we're trying to help this planet."

While the goal is to remain peaceful, he said all options are on the table.

"They should know that we never hesitated to taking our fight to the streets," added Ghislain Picard, chief of the Assembly of First Nations of Quebec and Labrador.

"We have a few hundred years of experience in making sure that our voice is heard."

With the rumours running around that Kinder Morgan should be approved by the end of the year, I think Jean is off-base here.

[CaptainCrunch]

Western Feedlots shutting down

http://calgaryherald.com/business/lo...attle-industry

One of Canada’s largest cattle feeder operations is shutting down, blaming market forces currently rocking the feedlot sector as well as what it calls Alberta’s “poor political and economic environment.”

Anne Wasko, market analyst with Gateway Livestock, said the pain in Western Canada’s feeding sector right now is virtually unprecedented, with the only comparison being the difficult post-BSE years of 2003 to 2005.
“The cattle feeding sector in North America, but certainly specifically here in Alberta, has been in a negative margin situation for about 14 months now,” Wasko said. “The losses have been substantial — they’ve been, at times, record large on a per head basis . . . as high as $500 to $600 per head.”
Carlier acknowledged “a bit of a drop” from last year.
“The prices are still fairly good, even though they’re less than last year,” he said.
But Plett said while market forces have put strain on the business, recent policy decisions by the provincial NDP government also contributed to Western’s decision to suspend operations. He criticized what he called the “layering on of policy on agribusiness” through government measures such as Bill 6 and the carbon tax.
“Alberta used to have the Alberta Advantage . . . Of late, a number of moves have made it much more difficult to do business in Alberta as opposed to other jurisdictions,” Plett said.

[Resolute 14]

Not really. It would require only the blindest of optimism to believe that anything Notley is doing will earn her a "social license" from these groups. Kinder Morgan being approved would be a matter of regulatory approval and of laws. Which these groups are actively trying to interfere with and undermine.

[puckedoff]

Regarding Western feedlots, I reckon the packing plants around Brooks are not going to be able to survive the minimum wage hike anyways so I'm guessing Western is just trying to stay ahead of the curve.

[Ironhorse]

But, but, all those packing plant workers were going to spend their newly found wealth in the local economy!!!11!!1

[Locke]

This is what happens when you raise every single cost of doing business.

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Not really. It would require only the blindest of optimism to believe that anything Notley is doing will earn her a "social license" from these groups. Kinder Morgan being approved would be a matter of regulatory approval and of laws. Which these groups are actively trying to interfere with and undermine.

Yeah, actually I misread the quote.

[DiracSpike]

More proof that social license isn't a real thing. These people don't care about any of the punitive measures the NDP instituted. Why they're so hard for pipelines I have no idea, they must have this idea of a big rusty leaky pipeline running across the country while CEO's twirl their moustaches and sit on piles of money.

This whole pipeline debate reminds me of the OJ Simpson trial. The evidence against OJ, much like the points favoring a pipeline, are almost above reproach. Job creation, value creation, nation building, no public money needed, cuts down on dangerous rail traffic which destoryed an entire town, reduces carbon, and cuts down oil purchases from a dangerous human rights denying regime in Saudi Arabia. Deep down the opposition knows this so they employ the Johnny Cochran defense of playing up some ancillary boogey man factor. Except instead of a racist conspiratorial LAPD it's the spectre of environmental catastrophe, which is overblown but it's easier to appeal to people's emotions and biases that way. The worst part is the NEB and everyone in Government seems to be falling for it, and it's frustrating as hell.

[burn_this_city]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

Alberta and Quebec might be the most two alike provinces in the Country.

I had a couple people there tell me they like Albertans the most in Confederation because of our shared dislike for Ottawa.

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by DiracSpike

More proof that social license isn't a real thing. These people don't care about any of the punitive measures the NDP instituted. Why they're so hard for pipelines I have no idea, they must have this idea of a big rusty leaky pipeline running across the country while CEO's twirl their moustaches and sit on piles of money.

Oh come on. The way oil companies have handled pipeline leaks, tanker spills, etc. in the past is precisely why people have hangups about pipelines.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by rubecube

Oh come on. The way oil companies have handled pipeline leaks, tanker spills, etc. in the past is precisely why people have hangups about pipelines.

There are people who think the oil sands (sorry, tar sands) are an egregious moral wrong and peril to humankind, and every effort should be made to shut them down. Nothing will appease those people, and it's folly to try.

[peter12]

Originally Posted by rubecube

Oh come on. The way oil companies have handled pipeline leaks, tanker spills, etc. in the past is precisely why people have hangups about pipelines.

Oil companies are not pipeline companies. How do more people not know the difference?

[IliketoPuck]

Originally Posted by peter12

Oil companies are not pipeline companies. How do more people not know the difference?

Edit: maybe a bit too broad.

Detractors don't care about facts, Peter. Facts get in the way of catchy slogans.