How could the premier of Alberta not notice the oil industry?
Of course Goodale is wrong on the oil industry too. He pushed through the sale of what was left in public hands of Petro-Canada, the peoples' oil company, we named it when Pierre Trudeau created it. Now with oil prices high, and rising, someone other than the public will be getting the benefit of public investment.
Klein could tax the oil companies of course, and put the money into making the best public sector in the world. Instead as the Parkland Institute showed in an important study, Alberta taxes oil companies less than Alaska does, and far less than Norway does.
Now there is an election issue. Alberta goes to the polls November 22 -- let's have fair taxes for oil companies.
Since Klein does not want the oil tax revenue for Alberta, Goodale could get some for Ottawa, through an export tax, for instance. Of course that goes against the free trade agreement with the U.S., but then so does mad cow, softwood lumber, steel, etc. If the Americans want to be protectionist, we should get something in return.
Goodale points to Ottawa setting aside about $60 billion in debt repayment. He takes pride in it, and wants to do more. This is probably the worst single public policy since the noose. Just as the government introduced abolition of the death penalty by refusing to go ahead with executions, so the current government could take its surpluses and reinvest them in public policy measures needed for the environment, health and child care, culture, etc.
But no, Goodale pretends the law says he has to apply any surplus to the debt. And who makes the law, Ralph? What is gained by paying down the federal debt? Interest payments are lower says Goodale. Really? Watch what happens when interest rates go up. If you borrowed at three per cent and the rate goes to four per cent, your cost of borrowing just went up by 33 per cent. It is the rate you pay, not the amount outstanding, that gets you dramatic improvement, or worsening circumstances.
Taking $60 billion in public money out of circulation makes Bay St. happy. Instead of creating public wealth which is what debt is -- an asset that pays interest -- there will be more incentive to create private debt which is how Bay St. makes money.
Goodale is an MP and a former MLA from Regina. Klein is a proud former mayor of Calgary seeking another term as premier. What do they have in common? They both work overtime for corporations.
And Canadians do deserve better.
Duncan Cameron -- duncanc@rabble.ca -- writes from Chelsea, Quebec. His columns are reprinted here with permission. For the original column, visit rabble.ca
Note: In debt with the two Ra...
duncanc@rabble.ca
rabble.ca
Stumble It!
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Dave Ruston
The point of Duncan’s article was wasted on you. He is talking about the public good, and the ability of Canadian governments being able to collect a decent tax/royalty on resources owned by Canadians, for the benefit of all Canadians, and not just stolen from under our noses for the exclusive benefit of Wall Streeters.
Duncan was talking about our brief forayer into nationalizing a portion of Canada’s oil, but in typical Albertan fashion, we will give it to the Yanks, just so as another Canadian will not get it. And, for you to suggest that we all become “opportunists” grabbing all that we can, seems to impart justification upon the whole system. Grab all that you can, and head down to the SUV SUPERSIZE STORE, and buy up the latest gas guzzler, and burn all the energy you can getting from A to B, just so there is less for the rest to do the same.
If we all do it, it can’t be wrong! Or can it?
POTS
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"Arrogance is unacceptable. Do it to my face, and I will react" - Jim Callaghan
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RickW
Wrong !!
Care to try again ??
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"Arrogance is unacceptable. Do it to my face, and I will react" - Jim Callaghan
I was listening to the CBC last week, and believe it or not, foreign investment into Canada has not changed in the last 30 or so years.
In fact, we always hear about the "mergers" and "takeovers" of Canadian Companies but never here about Canada investment in other countries. Al-Can has made huge take overs in Europe, US and the Pacific Rim. In the billions. We are taking over more company's, land, etc. in the world, while the foreign investment into ourown country has remained the same.
Poor Alberta. My hear bleeds for you guys! I hope one day my salary is comperable to an oil field rough neck!!!
I will enjoy wathcing the provinces election on TV. My one query is whether the Conservatives will keep the huge majority they have, or increase it even more. Will vive be posting more anti conservative propaganda here in the near future to "educate" us on the Alberta Agenda?
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Dave Ruston
We, the Hegelian Dialectic, are more active today than ever. Find us in every political issue that encourages taking sides. We can see it in environmentalists instigating conflicts against private property owners, in democrats against republicans, in greens against libertarians, in communists against socialists, in neo-cons against traditional conservatives, in community activists against individuals, in pro-choice versus pro-life, in Christians against Muslims, in isolationists versus interventionists, in peace activists against war hawks. No matter what the issue, we, the invisible dialectic, aims to control both the conflict and the resolution of differences, and leads everyone involved into a new cycle of conflicts."
problem - reaction - solution
and Vive is a classic, ain't that right Sue?
Probably part of your socialist agenda? Teaching Albertans the "true" way. Obviously they havn't done it right eh?
Ever get your hands dirty?