Nationalize Oil Industry?

[jdobbin]

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/stor...11?hub=Politics

Lauzon said that if the federal government can't be convinced to nationalize the Canadian oil industry, Quebec should act with its own governmental bodies, such as pension fund manger Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec, in partnership with independent dealers.

He suggested they could build a refinery in partnership and negotiate with oil producing countries such as Venezuela, Mexico, Bolivia or Iran.

The political instability and lack of security of all those countries, with the exception of Mexico, make the suggestion questionable, an industry representative said Wednesday.

Looks like Quebec has its eyes on Alberta's oil industry.

[blueblood]

Go figure a frenchman would pull a ridiculous idea like that out of his ass. There is nothing wrong with gov't setting up an oil rig and COMPETING with private companies, but flat out nationalization????

This guy was wondering why everyone is poorer, maybe he should look at his own province with its communist like social policies. Quebec 56 out of 60 provinces/states as far as being the wealthiest is concerned. What's next the nationalization of Agriculture and Agribusiness. No wonder no one wants to set up shop in Quebec, we have idiots like that over there, I for one wouldn't invest over there.

A Quebec politician/professor has no leg to stand on when it comes to dictating the economic future of Canada when their province is an economic disaster in itself. Socialism only works when it has a money tree, when oil runs out in venezuela, i'd like to see the economic disaster it's going to have.

[Riverwind]

A Quebec politician/professor has no leg to stand on when it comes to dictating the economic future of Canada when their province is an economic disaster in itself. Socialism only works when it has a money tree, when oil runs out in venezuela, i'd like to see the economic disaster it's going to have.

The guy was an NDP candidate in Quebec - I don't think he represents mainstream political thought in Quebec.

[geoffrey]

Can we nationalise Quebec's hydro power too? And industry?

Or is it only Alberta that deserves to be targetted?

--

My favourite part:

"We can't afford to keep getting poorer,'' said Lauzon, who teaches at the University of Montreal at Quebec.

So instead of doing things the rich Alberta way, we should adopt the interventionist Quebec method and somehow we'll be richer? Uhh huh. He can't afford to keep getting poorer perhaps, Alberta, on the other hand, is doing just great.

[blueblood]

A Quebec politician/professor has no leg to stand on when it comes to dictating the economic future of Canada when their province is an economic disaster in itself. Socialism only works when it has a money tree, when oil runs out in venezuela, i'd like to see the economic disaster it's going to have.

The guy was an NDP candidate in Quebec - I don't think he represents mainstream political thought in Quebec.

If you'd see the Quebec way of doing agriculture vs. the western candian way for example, I'd be begging to differ. Heavy unionized jobs and gov't jobs are their economy. I'd like to see what would happen to the first quebec politician to cut the expensive gov't programs in order fix their fiscal mess.

[Michael Bluth]

This guy has to realize the Feds won't be "convinced" to privatize the Canadian oil sector. So this means that Quebec should go it alone?

So Quebec is better off by importing oil from unstable countries than buying from domestic sources?

Who would cover the higher costs of product due to transportation?

Would consumers be forced to pay higher costs?

The oil companies have a lot of other places to sell their product.

Is this a late April Fool's joke?

[geoffrey]

So Quebec is better off by importing oil from unstable countries than buying from domestic sources?

Most of Eastern Canada's oil is not domestic. It's a very small Canadian market for Alberta crude, it's all sent to the US midwest. It's more efficient for everyone that way.

The beauty of (somewhat) free trade.

[White Doors]

The funny thing is that they think that they can afford it.

Non-issue.

[geoffrey]

That's actually a good point. What's the value of EnCana or Syncrude? It would cost trillions to buy out the oil industry.

That's assuming the Quebecers want to give us a fair deal. Chances are it wouldn't be that way. At least Trudeau was decent enough to pay market (or higher) prices when he decided to pull a Chavez (or I suppose Chavez pulled a Trudeau?).

[Riverwind]

That's actually a good point. What's the value of EnCana or Syncrude? It would cost trillions to buy out the oil industry.

I read in the G&M that most foreign buyers won't touch the oil sands because they are too expensive.

What does PetroCAN stand for?

Pierre Elliot Trudeau Rips Off Canada....

[White Doors]

I read in the G&M that most foreign buyers won't touch the oil sands because they are too expensive.

Perhaps true, but that doesn't seem to be affecting the stock prices.

[geoffrey]

The taxes in Canada are too expensive, that's why the accelerated CCA is in place. In the long run, the cost to the government is negliable in comparison to the gains (future taxation, much lower unemployment across Canada, ect.). Unfortunately we haven't seen those returns from the auto industry or aerospace which turn out more to be empty money pits.

I've got little issue with the accelerated CCA. Nor should anyone in Eastern Canada, where manufacturers enjoy similar treatment, more so after the most recent budget.

There is alot of risk in oil sands, that's the other big block to foreign investment... and also why it's so profitable.

[blueblood]

They're saying that the price of corn and the whole biofuel thing down in the states especially is starting to ease oil prices. I forget where I read that though.

I don't see how the oil sands can be risky, it seems when the infrastructure is in place there shouldn't be much to it, I think it's easier to get manpower wise than downhole rigs

[August1991]

Looks like Quebec has its eyes on Alberta's oil industry.

No, it looks like CTV is aiming for ratings among doh Albertans. (And judging by the response here, CTV understands Pavlovian reaction well.)

Léo-Paul Lauzon has been talking about this for ages. (I think I started a thread once with the same topic.) IOW, there's nothing new in it.

BTW, Lauzon's schtick is being a Ralph Nader type with Annual Reports. Not a bad show.

[Figleaf]

Point of information for those getting all worried ... nationalization doesn't need to be carried out like a third world confiscation. Nationalization could mean just the gov. buying up the industry on the open market.

[Michael Bluth]

Point of information for those getting all worried ... nationalization doesn't need to be carried out like a third world confiscation. Nationalization could mean just the gov. buying up the industry on the open market.

Which is how PetroCan was formed. That one was a real winner with the electorate and the business community.

[B. Max]

Which is how PetroCan was formed. That one was a real winner with the electorate and the business community.

Exactly, and we payed through the nose for it.

[Figleaf]

Point of information for those getting all worried ... nationalization doesn't need to be carried out like a third world confiscation. Nationalization could mean just the gov. buying up the industry on the open market.

Which is how PetroCan was formed. That one was a real winner with the electorate and the business community.

What do you feel was wrong with it?

[blueblood]

Point of information for those getting all worried ... nationalization doesn't need to be carried out like a third world confiscation. Nationalization could mean just the gov. buying up the industry on the open market.

In Canada we don't have property rights, there's nothing stopping the government from expropriation. Also the gov't to buy out the oil industry in Canada would bankrupt our treasury. Ask Quebec how their socialist experiment is going, having Southern states full of slack jawwed yokels in better fiscal shape than Quebec is a joke. Left Winger socialists should have no say in how the economy of Canada should be run.

[Michael Bluth]

What do you feel was wrong with it?

Goverment should not be in the business of running businesses. They aren't good at it. It is not a role they should seek to fulfill.

Or better said...

Left Winger socialists should have no say in how the economy of Canada should be run.

[geoffrey]

It did give Maurice Strong something to do instead of robbing third world countries for a couple years. Maybe we need more nationalised industry to keep those types busy.

[blueblood]

It did give Maurice Strong something to do instead of robbing third world countries for a couple years. Maybe we need more nationalised industry to keep those types busy.

Your joking?

[Figleaf]

deleted

[geoffrey]

It did give Maurice Strong something to do instead of robbing third world countries for a couple years. Maybe we need more nationalised industry to keep those types busy.

Your joking?

Well, with the Liberals out of government for a few years, their bagmen are going to have nothing to do. Might as well put them to work, rather than have them run off to the UN and steal from a humanitarian oil for food program, no?

[blueblood]

It did give Maurice Strong something to do instead of robbing third world countries for a couple years. Maybe we need more nationalised industry to keep those types busy.

Your joking?

Well, with the Liberals out of government for a few years, their bagmen are going to have nothing to do. Might as well put them to work, rather than have them run off to the UN and steal from a humanitarian oil for food program, no?

Well there's the Agricore United board of directors that could use a good housecleaning...