For business, an ideology-driven agenda – whether from the right or the left – doesn’t create favourable conditions for investment
Common sense is not so common, observed the 18th century French writer Voltaire. Sadly, he could be talking about politics in Alberta today. Albertans have been whipsawed by two back-to-back political parties that govern more by ideology than common sense. The NDP governed from the ideological perspective that the state should tax more and use…
Alberta's spending reduction plans much smaller than previous governments that wanted to eliminate the deficit, says Fraser Report
The Alberta government’s plan to eliminate the budget deficit by 2022/23 is less aggressive — both by timeline and by the amount of spending reductions — than previous successful deficit-reduction plans by other governments across Canada, says a new report released Thursday by public policy think tank the Fraser Institute. “The recent Alberta budget represents…
Let’s hope our government has the vision to ensure we make the most of this golden opportunity
All the hand-wringing and anger over the way the Rest Of Canada treats Alberta and its oil and gas sector obscures the fact that some very, very interesting things are developing in clean technology. It seems that cynical Canadians both to the east and west of this province are too ready to dismiss claims that…
Alberta’s UCP government delivered its first budget on Thursday afternoon, saying the “moderate” 2.8 per cent spending reduction over four years protects front-line services like health and education. The government said the budget will create the right conditions to bring jobs, growth and investment back to Alberta while getting the province’s fiscal house “in order…
'For too long, serious concerns and complaints from industry and from council officials themselves have been ignored. That stops now"
The Alberta government announced Wednesday The Real Estate Amendment Act 2019 which it says will bring an end to “ongoing dysfunction” with the Real Estate Council of Alberta by reforming governance of Alberta’s real estate regulator. The Ministry said the amendments address serious address serious concerns raised by real estate professionals, buyers, sellers and regulatory…
How well prepared is Alberta for the disruptive change coming to the province’s energy sector?
This past week has seen further waves buffeting the oil industry. Millions of people around the world marched on Friday demanding climate action, and British Columbia won a court ruling that temporarily blocks Alberta’s turn-off-the-taps legislation. Against this backdrop, the recent Energy Disruptors conference in Calgary was timely indeed. The event brought about 1,500 energy…
We discourage skilled and experienced people from entering elected public life, since seeking office means forgoing significant income and often involves significant sacrifice to their families
Recently-announced pay cuts to members of Alberta’s legislature raise the important question of whether our elected representatives get paid too much or even enough. Outside of political considerations, the question of salaries is important because we link attracting talent to pay. With the new cuts, the Alberta premier will make around $167,000, cabinet ministers about…
There were days through the spring and summer when thousands of people poured into Calgary’s streets to demonstrate support for Canada's upstream oil and gas sector. There were placards, posters and T-shirts with slogans. There were chants and speeches. There was undeniable passion. They rallied to support the integrity of Canadian oil and gas –…
There are ways to reorganize some of our basic services, and we can rev up a new research-and-development engine of growth
During an early-morning chat over the fence, Chuck seemed more subdued than usual. “Just read the blue-ribbon panel’s report on Alberta’s finances,” he moaned, referencing the provincial-government-commissioned report led by former Saskatchewan finance minister Janice MacKinnon, “and it’s bad. We’re in debt up to our necks, the oil business is up the tubes and after…
Weaken the regulatory framework at your peril. Sloppy regulation begets sloppy industrial operation. And that drives investment away
Grant Sprague and Bev Yee, Alberta deputy ministers of energy and environment respectively, are very capable senior bureaucrats. Here’s hoping they bring to bear all their skills for the review of the Alberta Energy Regulator. They should keep in mind that the review ought not to be the witch hunt the current political framing suggests…
Common sense is not so common, observed the 18th century French writer Voltaire. Sadly, he could be talking about politics in Alberta today. Albertans have been whipsawed by two back-to-back political parties that govern more by ideology than common sense. The NDP governed from the ideological perspective that the state should tax more and use…
