tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31415271.post2273991061819874551..comments2023-09-22T06:22:50.820-06:00Comments on Ken Chapman: Lougheed Confirms Albertans Own the Oilsands But Says We Better Start Acting Like Owners.kenchapmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11384045981190810115noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31415271.post-16943374813001246562009-06-10T11:46:43.029-06:002009-06-10T11:46:43.029-06:00I wish the PC's weren't going so far to th...I wish the PC's weren't going so far to the left. The only alternative left is the Wildrose Alliance. Mark Dyrholm has some great ideas.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31415271.post-37466576127230655912009-06-09T08:35:20.210-06:002009-06-09T08:35:20.210-06:00Good Morning Brian. I agree with your perspective...Good Morning Brian. I agree with your perspective. The Royalty Review Panel already suggested a compromise on royalities but the Stelmach government did a further compromise, and then proceeded to further change the royalty rates three more times. these changes were all in favour of the energy sector and done without any serious analysis or disclosure.<br /><br />The Calgary energy sector is used to having quiet diplomacy back channel access to the highest levels of political and policy decision making especially in the Klein days. Klein even critized Stelmach for even embarking on a royality review saying the owers were "getting their pound of flesh already." That shows the governing philosophy of the Klein days that implies the oil industry is the de facto owner of the resource.<br /><br />The energy sector believes those back doors of "quiet diplomacy" doors have shut in the Stelmach days. But given the recent actions on royalities - I am not so sure the preferential treatment is not still alive and well.<br /><br />Royalites are rents - pure and simple. In a non-renewable resource they are a one time revenue source for the owners, the citizens of Alberta. The Auditor General estimated that the Alberta governmenr had forfieted about $2B<br />of royalites due to lax enforcement of collections. Our government's response was to refuse his budget request so that he could not look into the royalty collection matter any further.<br /><br />Our goverment is supposed to represent our interests in this relationship with our energy sector tenants. So far they seem to be more in support of the private interests of the energy sector Boardrooms, not the living rooms of the Province. <br /><br />Some more enlightened energy sector tenants are coming to realize they need a social license to operate and are starting ot make moves and maybe even amends for past attitudes and transgressions. <br /><br />One can only hope that they will be enabled by strong government enforcement and regulation on behalf of Albertans greater interests about social end eviironmental concerns as well as sustainable and responsible economic growth.kenchapmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11384045981190810115noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31415271.post-7288011841680252992009-06-09T08:22:02.185-06:002009-06-09T08:22:02.185-06:00I am looking forward to your review after studying...I am looking forward to your review after studying his legacy. What I will say for him is hind sight is 20 -20 and while he ruled created much of this "corporate politics". If he would like to be revered then perhaps start with thongs I should have done differently when I had the power.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31415271.post-4639548859211490542009-06-09T01:46:13.004-06:002009-06-09T01:46:13.004-06:00The Tories have (quietly, of course) reversed them...The Tories have (quietly, of course) reversed themselves 110% on royalties since the last election. This after all their "Our Fair Share" demagoguery. If they ended up backtracking once in the face of economic reality what is going to be different this time? Energy policy seems to change pretty much weekly, which is the opposite of "stable".Brian Dellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01987594019787137564noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31415271.post-84703661189856108752009-06-08T22:23:35.175-06:002009-06-08T22:23:35.175-06:00Lougheed seems to be a man of vision and wisdom. I...Lougheed seems to be a man of vision and wisdom. I admit that I haven't studied him very long (his time at the helm preceded my interest in politics) but his comments and his legacy speak of an approach that would have led to a sustainable industry, differing dramatically from what we have today.<br /><br />What he is ultimately getting at, though, is power distribution in this province (and in this country too). In my opinion, the Alberta PCs have systematically removed power from the people and put it in the hands of industry. Bill 50 is an attempt to continue this trend. Lougheed envisions a society where the people have input into the decisions that affect them and where this input is held in high regard. Not unlike a revolution, the people must take this power back. This is called a movement. Alberta is riddled with interest groups, but the movement lacks momentum. Ultimately, I think it's because the people are distracted and not paying attention to the things that actually matter. Normally politicians and the media would conspire to make a smokescreen to distract the people, but Albertans seem quite content to complacently ignore the goings on around them.<br /><br />I hope Lougheed continues to speak his mind and continutes to influence whatever is left of his legacy.Greghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10989551277353321578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31415271.post-71200313433055670262009-06-08T18:44:22.889-06:002009-06-08T18:44:22.889-06:00The Tories use the oilsands as a carrot to get $$$...The Tories use the oilsands as a carrot to get $$$$$ for elections. Disgusting politics and they will never change.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31415271.post-61469255152058015452009-06-08T16:16:59.508-06:002009-06-08T16:16:59.508-06:00Who is Louheed? Oh yeah , he was that guy that rul...Who is Louheed? Oh yeah , he was that guy that ruled Alberta through the last boom time and left a mess for Getty to clean up.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com