Thoughts on BC Politics and More

Texas is more than two times as attractive than Alberta for oil and gas investment, according to a new survey of petroleum -sector executives released today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non- partisan, Canadian public policy think - tank. “ Canada’s onerous and uncertain regulations, along with our dearth of pipeline capacity has created a competitiveness chasm between Canada and the United States— particularly between Alberta and Texas ,” said Ashley Stedman , senior policy analyst at the Fraser Institute and co -author of the Canada- US Energy Sector Competitiveness Survey . The survey, conducted between May and August of this year, ranks 20 North America n jurisdictions (15 states and five provinces) based on policies affecting oil and gas investment . This year, Texas ranked 1 st while Alberta ranked 16 th out of 20. Specifically, 80 per cent of survey respondents cited uncertain environmental regulations as a deterrent to inv...

May 15 th , 2019: Suits and Boots Launches Campaign in Support of Canadian Canola Farmers Canadian grassroots group Suits and Boots launched a nationwide #StandUpToChina campaign today to persuade China to lift its ban on Canadian canola entering that country, first implemented in March. “ Today, we are standing up for Canada’s Prairie farmers, who are being used as pawns in a diplomatic and trade-war chess game between the U.S. and China that has nothing to do with them ,” said Suits and Boots founder and Edmonton businessman Rick Peterson.  “ This is causing immense pain in Saskatchewan, Alberta and Manitoba as well as in B.C., Ontario and Quebec. Our canola farmers are crushed, and need Canadians’ support .” Suits and Boots’ 3,700 supporters have mobilized in the #StandUpToChina campaign to persuade China to lift its ban on Canadian canola, as well as peas, soybeans and pork, which have also been restricted. This morning, Suits an...

Don’t write off Western anger as ‘alienation’ — it runs a whole lot deeper: Calgary professor  Amanda Connolly ~~ National Online Journalist (Politics) ~~ Global News ~~ 05/05/19 Writing off Western anger over federal energy policies as “alienation” is overly simplistic — it runs a whole lot deeper than that, one professor argues. In an interview with the West Block ‘s Mercedes Stephenson, political scientist Barry Cooper from the University of Calgary said the term minimizes the frustrations of Albertans and Western Canadians while at the same time showing that those in Ottawa are failing to grasp the underlying anger. “There’s been a long train of abuses on Western Canada,” said Cooper, who was also thesis adviser to Stephenson. “It’s not alienation. That’s what Laurentian Canadians project as a kind of psychological problem that Western powers have [but] they understand perfectly well that their interests are not being looked after by the Government of Ca...

Further to my post of April 24 th , entitled, “ Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs indicates that needs lower down in the hierarchy must be satisfied before individuals can attend to needs higher up ”, BC Stats / Infoline has released an update that included the following disappointing news:   Average weekly earnings (including overtime) of payroll employees in British Columbia were $969.20 in February (seasonally adjusted, current dollars) ... or $5.64 less than in the previous month.   HERE’S THE KICKER TO THAT HOWEVER. The earnings of employees in BC were $171.73 LESS per month than workers in neighbouring Alberta ($1,140.93).  That’s over two grand less BC workers are earning, and being able to contribute to the economy of our province. BC workers also earned $67 a week less than those in Newfoundland / Labrador ($1,036.12), $57 less than those in Ontario ($1,025.95) as well as $56 a week less than workers in Saskatchewan ($1,025.18). ...

Canadian Senator Elaine McCoy Senator Elaine McCoy: “ It’s incumbent on any government to ensure that Canadians are having conversations with one another and not turning deaf ears to their neighbours .” As a member of the Canadian Senate, we’ve heard from thousands of Canadians for and against Bill C-69, an act that promises the modernization of the National Energy Board and the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency – that’s a good thing. But an eerie silence prevails around Bill C-48. Bill C-48 proposes a ban against oil tankers off most of Canada’s western coast. The bill threatens national unity severely and significantly by pitting one region against another and communities against communities. Canada was built on conversation, not conflict. We have always talked our way through to solutions that balance everyone’s interests; this has become a fundamental national principle. Bill C-48 promotes conflict, not co-operation. Late las...

Quebec to receive $1.4-billion equalization boost while oil-producing provinces face deficits Justin Tang/The Canadian Press ~~ Bill Curry/Globe & Mail ~~ December 9, 2018 Quebec will receive $13.1-billion in equalization payments next year – a $1.4-billion increase – while Alberta, Saskatchewan and Newfoundland and Labrador continue to be left out even though Canada’s oil-producing provinces are facing deficits and hard times. The equalization system is … aimed at ensuring provinces can provide reasonably comparable levels of public services at reasonably comparable levels of taxation … it is a frequent source of tension between the “have” provinces and the “have not” provinces that receive the payments. The governments of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Newfoundland and Labrador – where government finances are heavily influenced by the state of the energy sector – are all running budget deficits … in contrast, Quebec’s government announced last month t...

In December 2014, federal, provincial and territorial governments began negotiations to strengthen and modernize the Agreement on Internal Trade – which last year (July 1 st , 2017) resulted in the Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA). This agreement covers most of the service economy, which accounts for 70 per cent of Canada’s GDP. It also committed provincial governments to a comprehensive set of rules … ones which applied to almost all areas of economic activity in Canada, and exceptions were clearly identified.   The changes were also looked upon as opportunity to enhance innovation in the sharing economy, and clean technologies … all designed to promote Canada’s long-term economic development. In advance of tomorrows gathering of Premiers, and the federal government led by Justin Trudeau, things seem a little fragile. Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister is urging the federal Liberal government, of Justin Trudeau, to take concrete steps to end intern...

If you are unaware, and that is a distinct possibility as there has not been a lot in the media about it, we are currently in the midst of 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence.   This is a campaign inspired by the United Nations, to help advance gender equity, make life better and make communities safer for women, girls and transgender people in BC and around the world .   It is also something which all 4 western provinces in Canada are working towards.   It is not however, at least at the moment, something with a unified focus and plan across the west. Regardless, Manitoba’s Rochelle Squires, Minister responsible for the Status of Women, is unequivocal in saying: “ We want to take aim at victim blaming and the notion that it’s a woman’s job to keep herself safe and prevent sexual assault .   We must place the onus squarely on perpetrators or potential perpetrators, because the best way to stop sexual assault is to not assa...

I received an email today, from the Auditor General of Manitoba, which summarizes activities it undertook for 2017 - 2018.   One of the reports was titled, " Perspectives on Climate Change Action in Canada ". It's a lengthy report, but one thing stood out as I was glancing through the report on the bottom of page 4, top of page 5 ... it read: Of the jurisdictions that had 2020 reduction target's, only 2 (New Brunswick and Nova Scotia) were on track to meet them with current actions , based on domestic emission reductions.   In addition , governments were using different baselines years for their targets or were setting different types of targets , such as overall emission reduction targets versus targets for specific sectors of the economy. Furthermore, governments were using different approaches for reducing emissions and different sources for estimating annual emissions .   As a result, it is unclear how the federal, provincial, and territo...

Today I pleased to be able to present a guest commentary from Tom Birch.   A former resident of the North Okanagan, and a gentleman who states he is a "proud conservative", he now resides in the City of Prince George.   Out of everything I have read regarding the Colten Boushie ** murder trial, this is by fair the most honest, and balanced .   The Boushie murder trial is tragic on many levels. It is not about the right to defend yourself. Self-defense was not the plea. It was about whether the death was accidental due to the chaotic events created by the crime in process. For those saying that the farmer, Gerald Stanley, had the right to kill Boushie because he was committing a crime, please stop. It was not about race. What happened was the result of the crime in process and the question is whether it was an accident or not. Those who bring racism to this trial were already carrying it with them. And for those few who say he had it comin...