Alberta Politics

[Whatup]

3 of the worst people on the planet……

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The resource sector is the most important wealth generator for Alberta and Canada. Alberta has the 3rd largest reserves of O&G in the world and despite many people here calling O&G a "sunset" industry (which it is not) this industry is a massive source of revenue for Canada. Premier Smith is being a diplomat and using diplomacy to ensure this revenue will continue - she is doing her job. Revenues from O&G are so important to help generate actual wealth and provide a good standard of living for Albertans and Canadians - Trudeau loves hiring government workers but the government does not generate wealth. What is Trudeau doing? What are his dimwit cabinet ministers doing? They are busy going on Liberal friendly MSM like CNN and CTV embarrassing themselves.

 

[Oilguy]

Quite possible.

Though, regarding production expansion, the majors are expanding their production via M&A. At some point, that option will be tapped out. If market access allows, actual growth in the sector may be possible, and shareholders will likely demand it.

I don’t know, I don’t see any producer even whispering about a new base plant or upgrader and I don’t think investors would reward that. I see small incremental expansions and debottlenecking projects that take advantage and maximize existing infrastructure.

That said after 2.5 decades in this industry all I know is to expect things I never expected.

 

[Gus Haynes]

Worse than George Soros, Keir Starmer and Justin "freeze their bank accounts" Trudeau?

Yes.

 

[Kosy123]

That white suit should be a life sentence in prison.

 

[Gronk!]

Oh Marlaina Marlaina Marlaina....

Ford says Canada must come first as Smith breaks with premiers on Trump retaliation​

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith won't sign plan to take on Trump​

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canada-premiers-trudeau-meeting-trump-tariffs-1.7431085

 

[policyenthusiast]

Oh Marlaina Marlaina Marlaina....

Ford says Canada must come first as Smith breaks with premiers on Trump retaliation​

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith won't sign plan to take on Trump​

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canada-premiers-trudeau-meeting-trump-tariffs-1.7431085

Bit of a sensationalist headline, she is right that stopping oil exports from Alberta harm Canada far more than it would the U.S. Considering 88% of oil exports are from Alberta, signing onto this plan would be agreeing to cripple our provincial economy for years.

 

[David A]

Oh Marlaina Marlaina Marlaina....

Ford says Canada must come first as Smith breaks with premiers on Trump retaliation​

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith won't sign plan to take on Trump​

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canada-premiers-trudeau-meeting-trump-tariffs-1.7431085

Apparently she is still not back in Canada yet. Of all places, she is in Panama according to the story, is it another "family vacation" or perhaps looking for a deal on a used canal for a close family friend?

 

[Gronk!]

Bit of a sensationalist headline, she is right that stopping oil exports from Alberta harm Canada far more than it would the U.S. Considering 88% of oil exports are from Alberta, signing onto this plan would be agreeing to cripple our provincial economy for years.

For the record, here's what other media are reporting

Alberta premier splits with Team Canada approach after First Minister’s meeting

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith was absent Wednesday afternoon when the prime minister and Canada's premiers met with the press to announce their commitment to "stand together on a united path forward."

bellmediainc-ctvnews-prod.web.arc-cdn.net

Alberta won't support feds plan to deal with Trump tariffs, Smith says

Alberta is refusing to sign on to a joint statement from all other premiers and the prime minister on the plan to respond to U.S. president-elect Donald Trump’s potential tariffs on Canadian goods. The decision from Premier Danielle Smith comes after a first ministers meeting in Ottawa on...

edmonton.citynews.ca

Trudeau vows ‘fair’ Trump tariff response but won’t rule out energy cuts | Globalnews.ca

The prime minister hailed "unanimous" consent on a possible response to U.S. tariffs after a meeting with the premiers, but Alberta's premier says she can't sign on to the plan.

globalnews.ca

 

[Whattagame]

Bit of a sensationalist headline, she is right that stopping oil exports from Alberta harm Canada far more than it would the U.S. Considering 88% of oil exports are from Alberta, signing onto this plan would be agreeing to cripple our provincial economy for years.

Considering how much energy she puts into whining about transfer payments, she should realize that it will be painful for everyone.

99.9999% of her time in office is spent making arguments for precisely why O&G exports are the ultimate...Trump card...for trade negotiations with the US.

Smith is being incredibly dense here. This could be the moment where Alberta leverages the situation to get national buy in for a rapid build out of infrastructure to support domestic use and trans-oceanic export. But she's too busy fangirling over here tangerine hero.

It really is shameful.

 

[kcantor]

Sooo...

Alberta has apparently refused to sign the joint communique/ statement on tariffs issued by the Prime Minister and all of the other Premiers at the end of their meeting today. Someone needs to tell Danielle Smith Albertans are Canadians first and Albertan's second.

I can just imagine her squealing like a stuck pig if the only exemption to counter whatever tariffs are imposed by Trump was Ontario automobiles or Quebec Hydro or Manitoba farm products or BC forest products.
Would there be a short-term price to pay by Alberta if our oil and gas exports were placed on hold long enough to achieve an acceptable Canadian solution to the initial impasse? Yes. So what?

In regard to turning off the taps in order to achieve a principled objective, I harken back to the "let the eastern bastards freeze in the dark" that is attributed to Lougheed (even though it was more likely uttered by Klein). It was Lougheed who turned Alberta from a have not to a have province and Smith et al could well learn a lot from Lougheed who was a master at the job of being Alberta's Premier while still staying a Canadian first and an Albertan second. In the meantime, Lougheed is probably spinning in his grave like a dreidel at Chanukkah.

 

[trevorhayden]

Literally no one has talked about curtailing oil export to the USA except D Smith. I am starting to suspect she is only listening to herself.

 

[TAS]

Considering how much energy she puts into whining about transfer payments, she should realize that it will be painful for everyone.

99.9999% of her time in office is spent making arguments for precisely why O&G exports are the ultimate...Trump card...for trade negotiations with the US.

Smith is being incredibly dense here. This could be the moment where Alberta leverages the situation to get national buy in for a rapid build out of infrastructure to support domestic use and trans-oceanic export. But she's too busy fangirling over here tangerine hero.

It really is shameful.

I see the federal government team (Trudeau, Leblanc and Joly) and the premiers are all reconvening together on Trump inauguration day to further discuss a unified plan/strategy on what may be the start of tariffs. I wonder if Smith will be joining her Canadian counterparts in person or joining in virtually from the US.

 

[trevorhayden]

She has a plan. US soldiers stationed around Alberta on January 21?

 

[HappyJazzz]

Sooo...

Alberta has apparently refused to sign the joint communique/ statement on tariffs issued by the Prime Minister and all of the other Premiers at the end of their meeting today. Someone needs to tell Danielle Smith Albertans are Canadians first and Albertan's second.

I couldn't disagree more.

Alberta wouldn't be in this situation if other parts of Canada hadn't been hindering our ability to do business.

Blocking the northern gateway and energy east projects effectively put Alberta in the position where the US is our only viable trade partner.

International trade aside, our own country stopped us from doing business with our own country...

As far as I'm concerned, Smith is doing exactly what she should be doing, representing the interests of her electorate.

Pretty funny to see all this kvetching come from a bunch of people that are hell bent on putting Edmonton's interests over Calgary's...

Not as funny as Ford's response tho!

Nothing says "We aren't Americans, we totally have a hecking unique culture eh!" like wearing a hat that mimics your alleged adversary's style...

Either Laurentian politicians are all double digit IQ'd maroons, or they have the most saboteuring advisors in existence...

Either way, this cringe-fest can't end soon enough!

 

[northlands]

Alberta has apparently refused to sign the joint communique/ statement on tariffs issued by the Prime Minister and all of the other Premiers at the end of their meeting today. Someone needs to tell Danielle Smith Albertans are Canadians first and Albertan's second.

I can just imagine her squealing like a stuck pig if the only exemption to counter whatever tariffs are imposed by Trump was Ontario automobiles or Quebec Hydro or Manitoba farm products or BC forest products.
Would there be a short-term price to pay by Alberta if our oil and gas exports were placed on hold long enough to achieve an acceptable Canadian solution to the initial impasse? Yes. So what?

For consideration, out of any of the industries you have listed: BC forestry (<5% provincial GDP), Manitoba ag (7% provincial GDP), Ontario auto (<2% of GDP), Quebec hydro (<4% provincial GDP), none of them would see the degree of economic devastation that Alberta would from export tariffs/curtailment/ban of oil and gas (21% of provincial GDP). And those numbers quoted don't include an adjustment of what is exported to the United States, where in Alberta's case over 90% of our oil and gas exports all go to the United States. A full export ban to the United States would basically wipe out 20% of Alberta's GDP.

Meanwhile, O&G exports is among the strongest leverage Canada has in this trade war, and it has a relatively minimal impact on Ontario, Quebec and BC, so it makes it a pretty favourable option for whatever government will have their hands on the wheel in a few months. Yet even still, the United States has become a net exporter of oil. Crude blends aside (United States doesn't produce much heavy sour, which a lot of their refineries require), they can withstand a trade war far longer than Canada. Some Exxon lobbyists upset that IOL tanked and some Americans pissed they have to pay higher gas prices is not even remotely close to the same pressure as having an entire province be economically devastated.

Yes, a united front of all premiers aligned is better for Canada, and obviously this is a lifetime opportunity for Smith to play to her base on sticking it to out east and showing support to O&G, but it also is looking out for the best interest of the province she is representing. Alberta would likely fare better slogging through four years of 25% tariffs than even a year long trade war involving significant curtailment of O&G exports. Not to mention, in a roundabout way, it actually helps reduce future possibility of an Albertan separation sentiment that would otherwise explode.

What a mess.