154 Replies to “SWTE: Dumb Luck Alberta”

  1. I assume since Mr. Potvin writes for a Vancouver based paper that he is a BC’er. Obviously he knows little about BC’s oil and gas industry. Here are a few interesting tidbits:
    BC is one of few jurisdictions where the in-place reserves continue to climb as production increases.
    Northeast BC has large volumes of undiscovered natural gas resources � between 32 and 54 trillion cubic feet (TcF) of natural gas has been found to date.
    BC also boasts large untapped potential resources in both the Bowser and Nechako Basins with a combined total resource estimate of 16 Tcf of natural gas, 8.1 Tcf of coalbed gas and 7.6 billion barrels of oil.
    Oil and gas royalty revenues are forecast to be $1.854 billion for 2004/05.
    B.C.�s resource industries count for about two-thirds of B.C. exports – over $22 billion in 2004.
    Oil and gas production is the largest single generator of direct resource revenue for the province.
    http://www.gov.bc.ca/bcgov/content/docs/@235G1_0YQtuW/energy.pdf
    Does he really think that BC would give up it’s largest single generator of direct resource revenue without a fight?

  2. Bear: Alberta should just pull the pin and see what happens for a few years. Tidy things up a bit, hang some curtains, cut the grass and see who comes knocking; smelling of fresh aftershave with a nice box of candy under their arm.
    Cousin Saskatchewan would probably come around and knock, quietly on the back door. Half the left wing population of metropolitan BC would be pricing real estate in Bellingham WA or Ontario. Maybe you guys could put together a nice cozy little country. You’d probably have to be firm with some of the freeloaders to the north.
    The US couldn’t swallow you guys anyway. Our age of territorial expansion is over and our political system is more trade oriented these days.

  3. Check out this story written in the Calgary Herald Dec/20
    Alberta envy grows as wealth gap widens
    Majority of easterners want province to share riches.
    http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/story.html?id=b052185b-93a2-4f37-980b-8819956f39ab&k=49586
    Asshats like Potvin and posters like Ron are easy to blow off as the light weights they are.
    The real danger is Martin and the Liberals believe there own bullshit and would not hesitate to bring in NEP light via a carbon tax. One just has to see and hear there self righteous indignation concerning the biggest moonbat ripoff the world has yet to see. It’s called Kyoto.
    With the Kyoto accord in one hand and the sniveling Quebecers in the other. They would not hesitate to levy the tax if god forbid they had a majority government. Why you ask.
    Since the Libranos got caught with there hands in the cookie jar that was to bribe Quebec with. They will now have to find a new source of funds to use as bribes while lining there own pockets and it will all be done under the guise of ” equalization”.

  4. Kate, your post was dead-on. It’s almost surreal to see your statements as reasonable as yours on the CBC. It’s also amusing to contrast Marcie A’s lost in space look to your direct and self-assured facial expression.
    Alberta is not just lucky. My brother has already moved there (and is doing very well working on an oil rig), and I’m considering moving to Calgary in 2006. We’re both Prince Edward Islanders – a province with fertile soil, amazing scenery and world-renowned-seafood products….and 10% PST, a GDP that’s more that’s more than 65% from government sources.
    There’s nothing wrong with our locale (which my brother and I are sad to leave) or the people here – it’s the economic policies. Being jealous of Alberta’s success, or ten thousand years of equalization and government programming will not improve the situation of “have-not” provinces.
    Nobody ever asks what our equalization program would look like if Alberta was as socialist as PEI? Who would fund it?

  5. Anqe by all means move you won’t be disappointed it truly is the land of milk and honey IMO and it’s people like you, who are not looking for a hand out, that made it that way.

  7. Wouldn’t you agree, Kate, that one can judge the significance of the contribution a writer makes by the responses they generate.
    So I read with interest comments here that I was alerted to by one of your, ahem, readers.
    “Asshats like Potvin … are easy to blow off as the light weights they are.”
    “This wingnut Potvin calling for a military occupation of Alberta. Who in blazes is this raving lunatic…”
    “That idiot Potvin…”
    “This guy is a complete idiot…”
    “For an idiot like Kevin Potvin…”
    “Guys like Potvin are so daft as to be below my comprehension…”
    “Obviously he knows little…”
    “Like your typical Marxoid…”
    “His hate-filled ramblings….”
    “My bet is on the Albertans and the rest of us ‘red-neck’, ‘gun-totin’ Westerners to pull our unregistered guns from out of the barn….”
    Nice bunch here. I’m guessing they are all self-identified Christians and Conservatives.
    Not one of the comments referred to the gist of the article, and so I ask you all: name another country in the world where the national government does not control the energy resources?
    The government of Alberta is not equipped with treaty-making powers, diplomatic contact powers, or international trade relations negotiating powers which are necessary now to deal in the international energy markets, especially with the whole world heating up considerably over all issues related to distribution of declining energy stores.
    I understand Albertans historic resentments over energy policies. But this is a family squabble over desert while the whole neighbourhood outside is on fire.
    If anyone has a comment directly about that point (instead of more juvenile name calling) I would be interested in reading it.
    Kevin Potvin

  8. “Canadian soldiers, for all their bravery, would be no match for gun-totin’ rednecked Albertans.”
    Shit, I always knew there was a “hidden agenda” behind gun control

  9. Biggie, you be sure to pass along your compliments to the Canadian Armed Forces next November 11, now, ya hear? Or better yet, why don’t we email your post to those stationed in Kandahar right now?

  10. Kevin Potvin, name another country where the national government controls what is constitutionally not theirs to control.

  11. Martin Turns Down Debate with Duceppe
    Josh Pringle
    Tuesday, December 20, 2005 8:36 PM
    Prime Minister Paul Martin has said he would debate Gilles Duceppe anywhere.
    But Martin has turned down an invitation to debate the Bloc Quebecois leader face-to-face.
    The T-Q-S television network says it invited Duceppe and Martin to square off on it’s airwaves.
    Last week, Martin said he would meet Duceppe on every street corner anywhere in Quebec to fight for federalism.
    >>>>>>>>>>>>>>
    Harper Willing to Debate Duceppe
    Josh Pringle
    Tuesday, December 20, 2005 10:10 PM
    Stephen Harper is willing to go one-on-one with Bloc Quebecois leader Gilles Duceppe.
    The Conservative leader’s campaign team says it will contact a Quebec language TV station.
    Prime Minister Paul Martin rejected an invitation by the T-Q-S network to debate Duceppe about federalism.
    Martin had said last week that he’d meet Duceppe anywhere at any time.
    Harper’s team says if Martin refuses to stand up for Canada, Harper will. >>>
    http://www.cfra.com/headlines/index.asp?cat=2&nid=34979

  12. Kevin, I hate to break this to you, but your article was selected for illustrative purposes only.
    No one (rational) really cares to understand why you think the way you do and how you come by your conclusions. We”ve seen your type of rationale before – it’s the mindset responsible for the economic miracle known as Cuba.

  13. Vancouver magazine
    Kevin Potvin, the workaholic, chain-smoking owner of The Republic, a lefty
    bi-weekly newspaper published in East Vancouver, recently fired a columnist by …
    http://www.vanmag.com/0311/taming.htm – 21k –
    >>>>>>>>>>>
    One & the same? Or, one & the same? >>>
    Kevin Potvin, the workaholic, chain-smoking owner of The Republic, a lefty bi-weekly newspaper published in East Vancouver, recently fired a columnist by the name of Karen Litzcke. For people unfamiliar with the small Commercial Drive publication, it might seem like just another unremarkable example of the internecine bloodletting favoured by Trotskyites and their obscure, rhetoric-driven broadsheets. But was it?>>>

  14. Being Albertan Raised(and currently living in Ottawa), i can tell you the mere thought of taking alberta’s hard-earned national resources gets some blood boiling. You take the oil, albertans will just stop pumping it for you. And i doubt with your silky smooth vancouver hands you will be out pumping it – might break a nail eh kevin?
    And being in the reserves, i will be sure to do so…

  15. “No one… really cares to understand why you think the way you do and how you come by your conclusions.”
    �Kate McMillan
    And so we have a working definition of the conservative mind in Canada, if indeed your blog is popular. It certainly seems closely followed by those with a certain outlook on the world, or lack of one, to be more precise.
    Kate, I only ask this: name another national government in the world that does not control its energy resources.
    Then ask youself why it would be that everywhere else, energy resources are understood as a national concern.

  16. Potvin . . just another Trotsky wanna be, a Fidel/Che/Mao/Lenin/Stalin loving hero worshipper who actually believes that communism is making a revival. Living dowm on Commercial Drive he is immersed in the Socialst BC homeland and like the rest of them there, very comfortable ignoring reality and drinking his own bathwater.
    Humor him . . he needs his meds or mnedical help – or both

  17. “And so we have a working definition of the conservative mind in Canada, if indeed your blog is popular. It certainly seems closely followed by those with a certain outlook on the world, or lack of one, to be more precise. ”
    Sounds just like the republican to me…

  19. “Then ask youself why it would be that everywhere else, energy resources are understood as a national concern. ”
    – Then why did Martin promise the proceeds in the maritimes? Granted, he went back on that in typical liberal fashion – but it seems its ok for them. Its ok to be jealous of good leadership when your province lacks it. Check out the debt and deficit numbers of alberta before klein. Oh and take a look at this kevin:
    http://www.alberta-canada.com/economy/economicResults/fastestGrowingEconomy.cfm
    – as you’ll see, this is what good leadership did to the “oil dependent” Alberta.
    Do your research before you begin writing

  20. Ah, Kevin, now you are presuming that everyone who reads SDA is a conservative and/or Christian? Very presumptus of you.
    And what’s with this name one country bit? The resources are the responsibility of the province not the federalies. Canada is a confederation. Look up the definition.
    Oh yes, this bit about Alberta not being equiped to negotiate foreign trade deals and such. Ever look at Quebec? Hell, they actually have their own immigration offices overseas let alone trade offices. And Ottawa lets them go on their merry way.
    For a so called journalist you sure do have thin skin. Better listen to Kate, her points are valid.

  21. just curious kevin have you sent your Christmas wishes to our troops in Afghanistan? or Haiti where retired Candaian civilians are being murdered? your world order agenda leaves a little bit to be desired

  22. How come it is that “OIL” is the only “ENERGY CONCERN” That needs to be nationalized? What about Hydro? Nuclear? Coal?
    I say we “nationalize” hydro profits from selling electricity to the US!

  25. It is interesting, though, isn’t it, when you sit back and note that no other big energy resource in the world is controlled by a junior level of government in place of the national level.
    A provincial government cannot make treaties, including mutual defense treaties, secret or otherwise. Nor can a provincial government make formal representations to other foreign governments.
    Both of those abilities would seem to me increasingly important in a world in which energy resources are under higher demand and lower supply, and in which all the major militaries are either actively at war or gearing up for it.
    It may appear welcome to Albertans to be taken in by the US, as some here seem to suggest, but we only need to cast back to the afternoon of September 11 2001 to see what the umbrella of protection really means when the chips are down. On that afternoon, it was assumed that all intercontinental air planes currently in the air and headed for North American airports were potentially highly lethal missiles. They were diverted from US airspace on pain of being shot out of the sky. They were sent, these potential missiles, to Canadian airports and cities. There is in reality to umbrella of protection extending over Canada, as we see on the one day on which it was actually required.
    Alberta would not likely become the 51st state if it chose to leave Canada. It would more likely come to inhabit some midling state of being like Puerto Rico, neither a country nor a sovereign entity.
    I wonder why it is everyone assumes America would bring Alberta inside. No one has really asked them about that, have they.
    Kevin

  26. Unfortunately for Kevin Potvin he has neglected to discuss the 100 years of history behind the distribution of resource control from the feds to the provinces. Furthermore, to suggest that the province of Alberta is unable to recognize that the world has changed is at worst ludicrous and at best an uninformed opinion. The fact is that Alberta, and every other province are the ones best suited to administer there resources, economies and people.
    It is contradictory for Kevin to suggest Alberta is unable to adapt to a ‘different world’ when people like Kevin cling to a centralist philosophy of fed control / intervention in provincial maters. Indeed the dictatorial, oppressive, strings-attached policies of our present federal system have indisputably inflamed talk of separation and caused untold political damage to federal provincial relations more then anything else in this country.
    As for suggesting, even in jest, that force be used to take that which does not belong to you is called theft by any definition.

  27. “Hungry Valley… You can’t put balanced and conservative in the same sentence. Conservatism deals with extremes.
    Could someone indulge a small L Liberal for a moment? As I read your Clarity Act, which is anything but clear…blah blah woof woof
    Posted by Ron at December 20, 2005 04:54 PM
    Free the west indeed.
    How about free this country from CCF/Social Credit/Reform/Alliance/Consrvative/Liberal/Bloc poiltics altogether.
    Posted by Ron at December 20, 2005 05:01 PM ”
    Perfect example of the old addage: “it is better to be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt.”

  28. Kate: I couldn’t agree more with your point about the contrast between Alberta and Saskatchewan, which I have trying to make to my fellow Saskatchewanians for some time.
    Kevin: Name another country in the world where energy resources haven’t been used by their government to oppress their citizens and trample their liberties. Here’s the list to choose from (2003 top petroleum exporters):
    1. Saudi Arabia
    2. Russia
    3. Norway
    4. Iran
    5. Venezuela
    6. United Arab Emirates
    7. Kuwait
    8. Nigeria
    9. Mexico
    10. Libya
    11. Algeria
    12. Iraq
    (only one first-worlder in there)
    I think Canada’s and specifically Alberta’s limited “government control” over energy resources is to its very great credit and is an enormous benefit to ALL its citizens.

  29. Kevin, with regards to your “name another country” thing… Canada isn’t just any other country. Want to see who is responsible for what in Canada’s confederation? Just look up something called the BNA or British North America Act of 1867. Please read it, you might find it interesting although not in a socialsit left leaning moonie way.
    Hint: Google British North America Act…

  31. A question for Kevin Potvin: Were you being satirical in proposing that the army be used to assert federal control over Alberta’s resources?
    Why have you not written any commentaries on the James Bay Hydro project in Quebec? Or a BC windmill farm. After all, hydro and wind power would be national energy resources under your definition.

  32. Kate
    Great rebuttal to Potvin.
    Unfortunately he lives in a little world (commercial drive) out here in Van. and he is suffering from swelled head syndrome due to the adoration bestowed on him from his very limited and narrow minded minions he writes at (not for).
    Tell you what Kate. I will ask some of the members from my Regiment here in Vancouver what they think about socialist boys willingness to have them deployed against other Canadians.
    Let alone have them act as the instruments of illegal confiscation for the government.
    I can say with confidence they would collectively wish they could shove a C6 up his ass and pull the trigger until the belt is done but they are wiser people than that, It would be a waste of good ammo (now watch, Potvin will call for a gun ban for the army).
    What is even more worry some than Kevin writing and spewing his drivel are the people that read, agree with and think he is making sense.
    Oh well such is the price one must pay for living in LALA land.

  34. Kevin, FYI – There is a movement towards Independence in Alberta, not towards becoming part of the USA.

  35. http://www.prairiecentre.com/pdf/cp_map.pdf
    On the map it says 2001 Edition by Collins Barrow Securities
    From thier website: http://www.cbsecurities.com/
    “CB Securities is active in the Canadian oil and gas industry, specializing in oil and gas divestitures, mergers and acquisitions. We help clients design and implement effective marketing strategies that maximize disposition proceeds at the property level and maximize shareholder value at the corporate level. In addition to marketing oil and gas properties, we provide corporate fairness opinions and assist clients in structuring mergers and takeovers.”
    Looks to be a oil field legal services company.
    I remember as a child growing up in one of those nameless small towns in western Saskatchewan in the mid – seventies. (A white area just east of that big green blotch). At the time there were seismic crews everywhere looking for oil. Some were so close to town that you could feel the ground shake when the explosion went off. Exciting times for a small town kid. I remember my Dad talking to one of the crew chiefs asking him if he found any oil. He said there was lots of oil all around my home town but it was something he called “heavy oil” and they were looking for “light oil”. Allan Blakeney was re-elected on a campaign of nationalizing the resource sector with Sask-Oil, Pierre Trudeau with Petro-Canada. The next year seismic crews were gone.

  37. Section 92 of the BNA Act give control of the resources to the provinces, not the national government. If you don’t like it, get the constitution changed. While you’re getting it changed, remember to include anything and everything that even faintly smacks of a resource from every province.
    When you’re done with that, don’t be too terribly surprised when you discover that Canada is missing a few provinces.

  38. Glad that you raised the subject, Glen. What makes Mr. Potvin believe that the PPCLI (assuming he knows what that acronym stands for) would follow their illegal orders? And it’s so nice to see a “peace monger” admit that his only use for the CF would be as a tool of oppression used by the central government.

  40. I have yet to hear any serious discussion about alberta becoming part of the states. at this point the seperatist movement in alberta is mere grumblings by people of an undervalued province. Give it some time, and further liberal mismanagement, and we will see what happens. But I certainly don’t know a lot of Albertans looking to our southern neighbours (even though a lot of them don’t harbour the irrational hatred towards them) for a new backyard to bunk in. I find it amazing that you are actually part of the media in this- wait, what am i saying, im not surprised at all. Its EXACTLY your type of incoherent babble, your fear-mongering that infuriates conservatives like myself on a daily basis… If you want the real perspective – move to a small albertan town for a couple years… if you’re still so jaded, then maybe we’ll listen.

  41. Brad,
    The date on the map is 2001. From looking at some of the areas on the map that I am familiar with I would say the information is no more than 1-2 years older than that.

  43. Gee whiz, while we were all trying to teach Kevin about the BNA our Kate has written another killer Roundtable article.
    Once again a top notch column. Go get then Kate!

  45. Hard to understand since Alberta supplies about 70% of the USA energy needs.Billions of US dollars supply the construction of the oilsands development..pretty much most of the money that comes to Alberta comes from New York city.I would say that American troops would land here first before any of this bullshit that’s going around ever came to pass.When John Kerry was running for president he sent his sister to Alberta to woe the Americans that live here just in case the vote was close.Not sure on this one but i do believe that 100,000 Americans reside in Alberta.You would see American troops on the ground here…

  46. Well this is interesting.
    So we’re asked in this whole discussion to refer to the consitution.
    Here, at http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/E-4.5/49804.html, in the Emergencies Act of 1985, which replaced the War Measures Act, is the following provision:
    30. (1) While a declaration of an international emergency is in effect, the Governor in Council may make such orders or regulations with respect to the following matters as the Governor in Council believes, on reasonable grounds, are necessary for dealing with the emergency:
    (a) the control or regulation of any specified industry or service, including the use of equipment, facilities and inventory;
    (b) the appropriation, control, forfeiture, use and disposition of property or services;
    Now, it would appear to me that all that is required for a constitutionally-legal taking of control of Alberta oil is a declaration by the federal government that an international emergency exists.
    I would argue that such a state of emergency is nearly here. So much depends on oil (ambulances, army airplanes, hospital emergency generators) that if oil were to become prohibitively expensive in the global markets, that that would consititute an international emergency, thus allowing the feds to take control of that resource.
    Does that hopefully satisfy those worried about the abrogation of the constitution?
    Kevin

  47. Kevin you forgot the most important point there.The USA was being attacked from inside their own country.That was the best decision that they made.Why let jets fly into the counrty..you make no sence .

  48. Mr. Potvin: Your basis for government control seems to be based on some Hollywood movie of evil Americans grabbing the last barrel of oil. It won’t come to that. Our whole civilization is based not on oil but on transportation. At the moment oil is the best and cheapest way to propel out various methods of transport. As oil becomes more scarce and rises in price, it will be replaced with other sources. Coal for one. At current rates of consumption of oil, we have 200 years worth of coal if converted to motive fuel. Will it be expensive? Yes. Will the Chinese attack us to get our oil? No. Will the Chinese buy the oilsands if we let them? Yes.

  49. Horse sh*t. If the price of oil goes up it is a national emergency? Give us a break. The feds could instantly ease the situation by dropping their cut of cash from the pump. Would they, I doubt the Liberals would. After all, they still have a 1.5 cent tax to elliminate the deficit.
    Now Kevin, name one country that has used the price of oil as a national emergency?

  50. Texas Canuck:
    “Now Kevin, name one country that has used the price of oil as a national emergency?”
    The United States.
    November 27 1973 was when Richard Nixon signed into law the Emergency Petrolem Allocation Act, authorizing price, production, allocation and marketing controls.

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