Hydraboss

The royalty review is needed, and should just bloody well be done. The wait is what is killing the winter season preparations here. Trudeau Jr. has absolutely no ties to this province and will not defend anything about it (short of using it as a cash cow when the price of oil returns). He will not represent "the concerns of Albertans" any more than his traitorous father did. So no, I'm afraid we can't agree on that one. <For Shady before he complains> The reason for this discussion involving Alberta is.... I think the responses from Albertans regarding their dislike of the NDP and Liberals will affect the next set of federal opinion polls.

As far as I see, the biggest screw up on the part of the provincial NDP is the deferral of the royalty review. Because of the amount of time from licensing to pumping down a pipeline (roughly 18 months for conventional...hmmm....), none of the major players are going to start funding new projects until they know whether or not they can make more money in, say, Saskatchewan. They are waiting on two things in particular - the royalty review results and the federal election. If it's NDP federally, I think you'll see the US companies put their investment money in places like the Marcellus Shale play in the US rather than have to fight with a Canadian government that wants to basically destroy their business models.

First of all, there isn't a single "big one" closing down. Once an oil sands project starts (beyond clear the site), it pretty much has to at least finish the phase. No real choice there. Second, these "tarsands projects" aren't any more "environmentally destructive" than a bloody steel plant down east (likely less). In situ projects take up very little space and if they are hard on anything, it's water. But they're not allowed to run a heated pipeline down from the Arctic Ocean and through desalination units because....they might interrupt an iceworm migration or something. The natural gas they use to heat the injection water is the same gas they drill for and produce. They could either sell it on the market or use it for oil extraction. Third, Alberta still has an absolute ton of "real oil" in the ground. Case in point - Lloydminster/Cold Lake/Swan Hills and pretty much every other place not in the center of Edmonton or Calgary. But it's cost-intensive to produce (so is the oil sands, but the volume is immensely different). The only thing you're correct on is that the various governments cannot control the price of oil. Congrats.

The short answer: My concern is mostly centered on O&G because that's where I derive my living from, and that directly translates to what I give my kids. The provincial NDP are pretty much neutered in Alberta. Sure, they'll screw up a bunch of things (like their deferral on royalties is doing right now) but they will learn very quickly not to slay the golden goose. Or they'll be out after their mandate never to be elected again. Pretty simple. Now the federal NDP - now that's a different story. They'll sacrifice Alberta's O&G sector to gain votes down east, and no one will see the effects for a year or two - by which time it will be too late to recover a lot of it. Alberta is still "the colonies" to a lot of folks in central Canada so they will cheer loudly everytime a nail gets put in the coffin. Let's see Mulcair pay for his $15 babysitting program if Alberta is a "have not"... Trudeau, I admit, is more of a personal disgust thing with me. His scumbag of a father nearly did this province in years ago and it hasn't been forgotten in the oilpatch. Never will be. I'm right in the middle of the O&G industry and have been for well over 20 years, and I will tell you that there are a huge amount of businesses praying that the NDP don't get in, and hoping the Liberals don't. All in all, if the Liberals get elected, the world won't end. If the NDP do, the financial effects for the country will take a while to ripple but when they do it will be disastrous. Clearer?

And I'll be able to live with my decision because there really isn't a party that closely matches my beliefs.

Perfectly fair to say. And I will continue to vote for Harper, even though I truly feel he's a clown for the most part, to block the other two that I feel will do nearly irreparable damage to my province. edit->sp

OGFT, are you aware that they don't run those "Don't flick your Bic" commercials before movies anymore? Ever wonder why? Simple - things change. One side of my family came here from a Russian territory when they were still arguing how to spell Canada. So what? Things changed since then. You now have to wear seatbelts in cars. You can't smoke in hospitals anymore either. Why? Because things changed. I have news for you...this country HAS BEEN built. Past tense. How's that for shoving it where the sun don't shine?

Two points: 1) Both Suzuki and Trudeau were correct in their estimations of each other. Full stop. 2) If the "people of Canada" gave a damn about climate change as immensely as some on this board try to make them out to be, then the Green party would be tied with the other majors or leading. They're not. Never have. Likely never will. Someone has it as their signature....economics trumps virtue or something like that. Everyone supports "green measures" until it means they can't buy a new Macbook or a 60" plasma.

It always amazes me that NDP and Liberal types always bang the drum about "blind partisanship" on the part of Conservative supporters, but are more than willing to drop their support of their party for another that has drastically different views - just so they can vote to block someone. If these people are so convinced that the party they support is closely aligned with their personal beliefs, why are they ready to drop everything they believe in to try to influence the outcome of an election? If their ideas are so "right for Canada" shouldn't they have faith that enough other Canadians will see it their way and vote for their favored party?

That sounds like a pretty reasonable stance to take. There are lots of your "socialist haven" type countries and non-socialist ones that don't allow much immigration. Try to buy a one way ticket to New Zealand and see what happens.

The "little terrorist" is eligible for parole in 2016. That's what you consider "life"??

amen

He's a couple of days too late with that one. He should have said it on Sunday to have the desired effect - PC voters running away from the NDP to the WR.

Maybe, but Justin's income is 33% tax exempt so he won't be paying any increase himself. Nor will his peers. MP base salary $167,400 Leader (other) $56,800 Total $224,200 X 66% = $147,972 TAXABLE

The CPP scam is reliant upon an all-or-nothing approach. How would you suggest they increase payments to "some" (those who have not borne increased CPP tax) based only on increased contributions by "some"? If you figure it out, please let me know. I'll opt out of CPP instantly in exchange for similarly increased TFSA limits.

I actually think that will help Denis in his bid for reelection. I doubt he will win, but stepping down as Solicitor General won't hurt him considering he was pretty forthcoming with the reasons why.

Sorry but "turn the other cheek" may work on the playground, but not in international politics and security. "Knowing better" is not the same as "abstaining from action".

All great points. You've convinced me...I am NOT voting for the Nazis. I am also NOT going to vote for the USA. Maybe that'll make them change their attitudes...

Any news service that keeps the rolling polls on screen is good enough. Listening to reporters and anchors "declare" ridings is such a joke. I prefer to monitor the elections myself.

Exactly. Some people seem to just look at TD1s, etc and decide that the basic exemption listed is the final word on taxes. In the same way that the "rich" have tax loopholes, the "poor" have exemptions and credits like crazy. The math isn't complicated, but it does take a little effort to understand.

Actually, I'm pretty sure he does. Likely a better understanding than most on this board.

Shows how little you know about Canada. It would be a pencil registry. Geez.

Beer? Check. Munchies? Check. Multiple monitors, tablet and tv? Check. Check. Check. About time something interesting happened in Alberta politics. Still not taking the "NDP majority" pill though. I doubt Edmonton will be a complete sweep, and I think Calgary will be split three ways. Wildrose for the win in the "rest of Alberta". This is going to be fun.

I agree 100%. They had a right to bear arms. So did the guys who put lead in their bodies. Good guys won this round. Wonder if these two idiots had their guns "registered" - because if they had registered them, I'm sure it never would have happened.

Yup. USA = Nazis Anything else you want to add Mr. Khadr?