How it could matter to anyone is beyond me. Who is being hurt? The discussion is illuminating , interesting and everyone is learning something. Plus pretty much no one has been a jerk or had to be banned? What's the problem? People whining about stick to hockey seems to be the only one.
- James_Tanner

And booom; 1/3 of the comments suddenly disappeared.


yeah, just an average blog and thread...

The oil belongs to Canada. Alberta benefits greatly from it but the rest of Canada is also entitled to a share. If the oil dries up Alberta will be on the receiving end. It’s just the way it is.
The eastern voters didn’t vote against Alberta, they just didn’t like what was offered by the Tories.
- shack67

But power belongs to Quebec...
See the difference. You are right, it does belong to Canada yet we can't sell, transport it, market it within our own borders, again thats the difference.
We don't want what you have but are happy to take what money that is made from it. If the job loss happened in S. Ontario like it did here or god forbid Quebec, we'd have a national crisis but the whiny children in Alberta should bend over and take it again and again... THATS why as dumb as it is, theres sentiment to leave confederation.

But power belongs to Quebec...
See the difference. You are right, it does belong to Canada yet we can't sell, transport it, market it within out own borders, again thats the difference.
We don't want what you have but are happy to take what money that is made from it. If the job loss happened in S. Ontario like it did here or god forbid Quebec, we'd have a national crisis but the whiny children in Alberta should bend over and take it again and again... THATS why as dumb as it is, theres sentiment to leave confederation.
- geta02it

Oh I’m not arguing that Alberta doesn’t have a legitimate complaint. I think they’re getting screwed by the federal liberals. But transfer payments is a way to spread the wealth. Alberta isn’t the only province to pay.
As for Quebec they will gladly accept your oil dollars but then they will get on their environmental high horse when it comes to running a pipeline through their province. They should refuse federal assistance if the money comes from the oil patch. Fat chance that happens.

Oh I’m not arguing that Alberta doesn’t have a legitimate complaint. I think they’re getting screwed by the federal liberals. But transfer payments is a way to spread the wealth. Alberta isn’t the only province to pay.
As for Quebec they will gladly accept your oil dollars but then they will get on their environmental high horse when it comes to running a pipeline through their province. They should refuse federal assistance if the money comes from the oil patch. Fat chance that happens.
- shack67

And thus why we are, where we are. And you're right Alberta isn't alone but when Ontario and Quebec are considered "have not provinces" somethings fundamentally wrong. When the patch was (morally accepted and prosperous), there wasn't allot of female doging about equalization. In fact we generally agreed in "sharing the wealth". Today not only has investment dried up, we get paid a discount on what we do produce, have the highest unemployment in the country, get poked in the chest at EVERY turn for how dirty we are AND get called a bunch of whiny children. We are honestly ok paying but if its fair and its not.

And thus why we are, where we are. And you're right Alberta isn't alone but when Ontario and Quebec are considered "have not provinces" somethings fundamentally wrong. When the patch was (morally accepted and prosperous), there wasn't allot of female doging about equalization. In fact we generally agreed in "sharing the wealth". Today not only has investment dried up, we get paid a discount on what we do produce, have the highest unemployment in the country, get poked in the chest at EVERY turn for how dirty we are AND get called a bunch of whiny children. We are honestly ok paying but if its fair and its not.
- geta02it

No argument from me on any of that.

The oil belongs to Canada. Alberta benefits greatly from it but the rest of Canada is also entitled to a share. If the oil dries up Alberta will be on the receiving end. It’s just the way it is.
The eastern voters didn’t vote against Alberta, they just didn’t like what was offered by the Tories.
- shack67

Uh ? Like every province, Alberta owns its resources. Oil included. At least that's what the constitution says.

Uh ? Like every province, Alberta owns its resources. Oil included. At least that's what the constitution says.
- tincup

They own it but they pay other provinces through transfer payments. So do they really own it?

They own it but they pay other provinces through transfer payments. So do they really own it?
- shack67

Yes, they do own it. Transfer payments comes through personal, federal income taxes if i'm not mistaken. Albertans incomes tend to be higher than other Canadians.

I could be wrong, and I'll pre apologize if I am, but I do believe that before free trade when Ontario was a manufacturing powerhouse, that we sent equalization payments for decades.
- James_Tanner

Ontario has almost always been a have province and net contributor....but not to Alberta. Alberta's been kicking in for like 50 years in a row, and since close to day 1.