tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31415271.post4058680515407811031..comments2023-09-22T06:22:50.820-06:00Comments on Ken Chapman: Thank You to the Expert Panel for the "Our Fair Share" Royalty Review Report.kenchapmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11384045981190810115noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31415271.post-84915073635336029192007-10-27T21:50:00.000-06:002007-10-27T21:50:00.000-06:00Federal politics in Canada is pointless and boring...Federal politics in Canada is pointless and boring these days. I recently declined to do a national CTV interview on the passing of the Throne Speech just because it was so boring. Harper trying to goad an election with artificial lines in the sand that are not designed to make parliament work as he claims…nor to serve the best interests of Canada. He merely wants persona power and is now trying to bully people into an election.<BR/><BR/>I say let him govern until Nov 09 like he undoubtedly wanted when he set the election date by law. By then the Liberals can regroup, the Greens can get organized, Quebec will come to realize Harper is not their best Anglo hope. In any event any legislative damage he does between then and now – and seeing his agenda it will not be much, can all be easily reversed after the next election.<BR/><BR/>Harper proved that “strategy” is possible last year when immediately upon getting elected he killed what he thought were Liberal-biased social, cultural and environment programs. He then realized they had an important place in Canada and that Canadians wanted them. So he reversed his stupid approach and put them all back in place. <BR/><BR/>That original stupid partisan policy decisions were all subsequently reinstated at great expense because he had also dismantled all the program infrastructure and staff that supported those programs. So we can do the same to stupid Harper legislation he might pass in the next 2 years.<BR/><BR/>The federal scene is so boring and aimless that there is nothing of significance to talk about. Alberta is a much more interesting political place these days because we are actually going to have an election soon. And the royalty issue is now at the political starting line with Stelmach’ decision last Thursday.kenchapmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11384045981190810115noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31415271.post-64443010882046644052007-10-27T15:52:00.000-06:002007-10-27T15:52:00.000-06:00Ken, you have avoided blogging about federal polit...Ken, you have avoided blogging about federal politics for awhile and, thus, there has been no opportunity to directly critique Dion's leadership. <BR/><BR/>You sure have a short memory - remember, Cdn soldiers in our streets with guns OR the ads saying that Harper would ban abortions, etc. Politics is a blood sport - it seems like you can give it but not take it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31415271.post-62298607391148931062007-10-26T22:41:00.000-06:002007-10-26T22:41:00.000-06:00Anon at 5:58 - define leadership for us...my bet i...Anon at 5:58 - define leadership for us...my bet is you are not aligned with what the majority of Canadians want in a leader these days. <BR/><BR/>In fact you guys are so out of touch with what leadership is that you are insensate about the concept.<BR/><BR/>I am going to be blogging on leadership extensively in the next weeks. Stay tuned<BR/><BR/>Cheap shot comments on leadership with no back up or substance will be likely be published and eviscerated on this Blog. <BR/><BR/>And since they are always anonymous they will be presumed to be CPC sourced. <BR/><BR/>Cheap shots are the stock in trade of you guys who have taken to drinking the Harpercrite Kool - Aid.<BR/><BR/>Define and give examples - not events but real substantiated examples of Harper's leadership and how it has advanced democracy and citizenship and community.kenchapmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11384045981190810115noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31415271.post-71659678884684889162007-10-26T17:58:00.000-06:002007-10-26T17:58:00.000-06:00We'd have a referendum on the issue if you wanted ...We'd have a referendum on the issue if you wanted the real scent of democracy.<BR/><BR/>Stelmach bowed out to the special interest groups of the oil companies. <BR/><BR/>It is time Alberta had a real leader - Stelmach, like Dion, is proving to be no leader at all.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31415271.post-4490508657186174362007-10-26T17:09:00.000-06:002007-10-26T17:09:00.000-06:00Anon @ 11:59 - I may be ahead of myself on some as...Anon @ 11:59 - I may be ahead of myself on some aspects and I am reviewing and reflecting and will have more to say.<BR/><BR/>As for thanking the Panel I am not ahead on that. Now that the government has made a decison they are finished their work. The focus now shifts to the Stelmach documents.kenchapmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11384045981190810115noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31415271.post-55208209094770794102007-10-26T17:05:00.000-06:002007-10-26T17:05:00.000-06:00Randy - good question. I am reviewing all the doc...Randy - good question. I am reviewing all the documents and talking to people and taking some to reflect.<BR/><BR/>I will have a reply to your question shortly.kenchapmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11384045981190810115noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31415271.post-361765878186675822007-10-26T13:32:00.000-06:002007-10-26T13:32:00.000-06:00Ken, you've been blogging constantly on this - How...Ken, you've been blogging constantly on this - How is this not your feared mushy middle ground?<BR/><BR/>RandyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31415271.post-28960896867756975352007-10-26T12:17:00.000-06:002007-10-26T12:17:00.000-06:00I'd sure like to know how much we paid van Meurs. ...I'd sure like to know how much we paid van Meurs. He should have paid us.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31415271.post-39520317948811599932007-10-26T11:59:00.000-06:002007-10-26T11:59:00.000-06:00I'm with you Anon. And you've jumped ahead of you...I'm with you Anon. <BR/><BR/>And you've jumped ahead of yourself Ken. Nobody knows exactly what this means. The gov't has been sadly lacking in many, many details on how this will affect the industry. <BR/><BR/>Contrary to the Premier's claims - the uncertainty continues.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31415271.post-52317485431659948892007-10-26T08:36:00.000-06:002007-10-26T08:36:00.000-06:00With all due respect, I am not as charitable to th...With all due respect, I am not as charitable to the Royalty Review Panel and their primary consultant, Pedro van Meurs.<BR/><BR/>Let's take a look at the scorecard:<BR/><BR/>1. Oil Sands Severance Tax on gross revenues set at $40 WTI Canadian (far below break even)--rejected<BR/><BR/>2. Post pay-out of 33% (not based at all on price and costs)--rejected<BR/><BR/>3. Pre-payout of 1%--rejected<BR/><BR/>4. Upgrader royalty tax credit--rejected<BR/><BR/>5. Elimate option to elect oil sands adminstration status for primary wells in certain areas--rejected<BR/><BR/>6. 6% flat tax on freehold mineral right-- rejected<BR/><BR/>7. Implement recommendations by July 2008-- rejected<BR/><BR/>8. Eliminate deep gas royalty holiday program (who knows that the Panel said here, since they can't get their story straight)-- rejected<BR/><BR/>Those are just the big ticket items that were rejected by the government. <BR/><BR/>Seems to me that establishing a price sensitive, sliding scale, pre-payout and post-payout was a "no-brainer". Why didn't the Panel figure that out. They wanted to implement a 33% post payout with no floor at all, and an OSST with no link to breakeven costs. <BR/><BR/>I find it amusing that you would thank the six experts, after you had questioned Ms Dwarkin's judgement just a few days before. <BR/><BR/>As for Mr. Hunter's acceptance of the government's response, I guess he knows where "his bread is buttered."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com