Project Alberta

Alberta :: We don't do business in Alberta

Author: First Lady
Subject: We don't do business in Alberta
Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2008 1:57 pm (GMT -7)
Topic Replies: 0

Very short clip; but speaks volumes.

http://watch.bnn.ca/squeezeplay/november-2008/squeezeplay-november-19-2008/#clip114116
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"Those are words that ring in the American national anthem, on American licence plates, in the American Declaration of Independence."
David Taras, political scientist referring to "Strong and Free" the ALBERTA MOTTO

Chit Chat :: 96th Grey Cup Prediction

Author: First Lady
Subject: 96th Grey Cup Prediction
Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2008 12:14 pm (GMT -7)
Topic Replies: 0

Just two more sleeps and the 96th Grey Cup will be decided. Of course so far as I am concerned there is only one possible outcome; the Stamps will take it. I will not go so far as to predict the exact score.

My other prediction is that I might not be able to watch the game. I may be called upon to fulfill my �Assistant Coach� duties and aid in the expansion of our �family� team.

Our first grandchild is not due for another two weeks, but there have been rumors and rumblings that he could arrive early. This of course would step up the �parent training� schedule.

Late yesterday these rumblings were confirmed by the team physician; who advised we should prepare for the rookie arrival which could come within the next 72 hours.

With this in mind I have secured an appropriate team ensemble for the new arrival.

GO STAMPS GO !!!

Deliver the cup to Calgary and I will try to help deliver the Grey Cup baby.
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"Those are words that ring in the American national anthem, on American licence plates, in the American Declaration of Independence."
David Taras, political scientist referring to "Strong and Free" the ALBERTA MOTTO

Alberta :: RE: Alberta Rolls Back Royalty Increase

Author: Commonwealth
Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2008 10:47 am (GMT -7)
Topic Replies: 10

The foundation of the business case as outlined in the early years of the Tory regime has proven to be flawed.

From the onset of the pre-development plans to this day the government has failed to properly address several issues. The current government plan to correct what it believed to be a problematic issue was flawed as well. This Tory series of governments is unable to see the nose in front of their face.

The root issue with the development of our natural resources was a lack of investment capital. We were an agrarian based society with little disposable income to invest in our own development. The government failed to take into account that those circumstances would change with the process of natural resource development. We have been able to fund that development for quite some time but have decided not to do so to the detriment of the citizens of this province. There was no plan for a value added development process and an attending secondary industrial infrastructure complex.

At any rate, we now stand at a cross roads of sorts with falling commodity prices, and a general down turn of western economies. The oil companies are facing increased royalties and decreased commodity profitability, a two edged sword cutting both ways against them. They are starting to bow out, and not in a graceful manner. The government is faced with admitting error, or suffering the consequences. The admission will certainly not be public, that would be a political blunder that will seal their fate at the next opportunity. They are reacting behind closed doors, but the damage has already been done. The economic harm will be felt for a long time yet.

The question we ought to be asking is where do we go from here? The oil companies are not going to suddenly start investing here again, projects are on hold all over the place. So instead of freaking out about things that we cannot change I think the government should look at doing things they can actually get done. They can make noise about the royalty plan all they want, but the oil companies will not change their plans. What the government can do is change the direction of their plans and focus on citizens instead of business.

Tax reformation will go a long ways to making our lives better. Letting us keep what we earn and tax us on what we spend will go a long ways to restoring public confidence, that is something clearly lacking these days. Why not make mortgages tax deductible? Why not make employment expenses tax deductible? Why not make utility payments tax deductible? Why not use the Heritage Trust Fund as seed capital for an Alberta Pension Plan?

The oil companies are not all that we are, but they do hold far to much influence in our public and political thinking. They are an important industry in this province, and they should be treated with respect but they should not control the political direction for all Albertans.

Alberta :: RE: Alberta Rolls Back Royalty Increase

Author: MikeR
Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2008 9:37 am (GMT -7)
Topic Replies: 10

Commonwealth wrote:

MikeR wrote:

Commonwealth wrote:

Alberta has become a home for corporate welfare. We have been feeding the corporate dogs for so longer that we now believe we have done something wrong when they bite the hand that feeds them.

How have we been "feeding the corporate dogs"? It seems they are the ones feeding our surplus. Although not quite as much anymore...

Or are you equating tax incentives to "feeding the dogs"?

Tax incentives Mike. I am all for equality of treatment under the law and corporations get a far better deal than citizens do. I DO NOT BEGRUDGE THEM THEIR PROFIT, freely earned as it was. I do take exception to their treatment under the guise of taxation.

Regardless of how you see it, it's a business venture that should benefit everyone involved -- in this case, the companies doing business and the government (on behalf of the people) affording them the opportunity to do business. If you don't execute it properly, everyone loses, which seems to be the case here.

And if that is the case, then of course we've done something wrong... and we (or the government acting on our behalf) should be able to admit that and correct it.
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Alberta :: RE: Alberta Rolls Back Royalty Increase

Author: Commonwealth
Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2008 6:04 am (GMT -7)
Topic Replies: 10

MikeR wrote:

Commonwealth wrote:

Alberta has become a home for corporate welfare. We have been feeding the corporate dogs for so longer that we now believe we have done something wrong when they bite the hand that feeds them.

How have we been "feeding the corporate dogs"? It seems they are the ones feeding our surplus. Although not quite as much anymore...

Or are you equating tax incentives to "feeding the dogs"?

Alberta :: RE: Alberta Rolls Back Royalty Increase

Author: First Lady
Posted: Thu Nov 20, 2008 9:39 pm (GMT -7)
Topic Replies: 10

Quote:

Wildrose Alliance says "Too little, too late"; in response to
Premier Stelmach Transitional Royalty Program.

November 20, 2008

Alberta Wildrose Alliance Leader Paul Hinman reiterates his call for the Stelmach government to cancel the New Royalty Framework (NRF) outright.

"This latest announcement is reactionary, policymaking on the fly designed to fix something the government has caused� says Hinman.

Hinman points out that the last few weeks have seen a continued exodus of rigs leaving the Province of Alberta for more profitable jurisdictions, and expresses his amazement that, since Minister Knight announced less than a week ago that he was initiating a Competitiveness Study for the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin, he�s already changing course. "Is the study done already?" asks Hinman, "Or did the government get a report from Alberta Transportation as to how many rigs were actually leaving the province?""

The Wildrose Alliance Party points out the following weaknesses with the Stelmach Tories� latest slapstick plan:

1. Junior Oil and Gas companies operating in Alberta have had their share prices hammered so badly recently that many cannot afford to go to the market even if there were capital available.

2. There was already a shortage of new equity in the Junior Oil and Gas markets because of the NRF, which has forced small producers to work from cash flow for new drilling. The government�s implementation of the NRF on existing production this coming January 1 will further impair that cash flow and thus affect new drilling adversely.

3. If share prices do recover, investors outside of Alberta may not have any faith that this government will even stick to this makeshift plan for the five years. They have proposed six revisions to the current Royalty framework in the past 14 months, all with a mind to raising tax revenues.

The only stability Premier Stelmach has provided is instability.

4. This plan will slow drilling between now and year end as companies await the arrival of the new transitional program.

5. The five year term is not enough for long term investment.

Hinman states "There is only one thing to do: announce a full retraction of the NRF and launch a full open consultation with the industry to see if a new framework is even viable.� Hinman wonders why the Premier finds it so difficult to admit that he has made a mistake, let alone to put things right. �Albertans always appreciated that kind of openness from Premier Klein,� he says, speculating that Premier Stelmach may have been urged to make the changes after his meetings in Europe. �Does he believe the Europeans more than Albertans?"

The Wildrose Alliance Party is the only party that has opposed the New Royalty Framework from the beginning. Oil and Gas investment is the lifeblood of our Province and needs to be recognized as such. The PC Government has tinkered with the industry�s investment parameters without proper input from stakeholders and has now inflicted serious damage on the industry, just as the Wildrose Alliance predicted. �They have single-handedly undermined the investment confidence the rest of the world used to have in our Province,� Hinman points out.

�Premier Stelmach must refocus Alberta's policies on tax reductions, not increases, as we cannot afford a further loss of activity to other jurisdictions. The government's job is to be supportive of good economic principles and make it fiscally competitive for Albertan's to conduct business in Alberta for Albertans.�

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Paul Hinman
Wildrose Alliance leader
Phone: 403 393-2003

info@wildrosealliance.ca

_________________
"Those are words that ring in the American national anthem, on American licence plates, in the American Declaration of Independence."
David Taras, political scientist referring to "Strong and Free" the ALBERTA MOTTO

Media & Blog Watch :: RE: What exactly are they doing at city hall?

Author: First Lady
Posted: Thu Nov 20, 2008 9:25 pm (GMT -7)
Topic Replies: 23

MikeR wrote:

It appears that I will have to do what I can to boot him from office next election...

Mike for Mayor !

... or AlderMike
_________________
"Those are words that ring in the American national anthem, on American licence plates, in the American Declaration of Independence."
David Taras, political scientist referring to "Strong and Free" the ALBERTA MOTTO

Alberta :: RE: Alberta Rolls Back Royalty Increase

Author: B.Max
Posted: Thu Nov 20, 2008 7:13 pm (GMT -7)
Topic Replies: 10

Commonwealth wrote:

The right wing elements that have governed here for the last four decades have created problems of that there is no doubt. Even so I don't expect them to step aside, it will take a general election to accomplish their removal nothing less.

Alberta has become a home for corporate welfare. We have been feeding the corporate dogs for so longer that we now believe we have done something wrong when they bite the hand that feeds them.

After the shocking statement that was made on that business and investment show today, I don't see how they have any choice. Stelmach and Knight must resign immediately to restore investor confidence in the province.

Alberta :: RE: Alberta Rolls Back Royalty Increase

Author: MikeR
Posted: Thu Nov 20, 2008 6:24 pm (GMT -7)
Topic Replies: 10

Commonwealth wrote:

Alberta has become a home for corporate welfare. We have been feeding the corporate dogs for so longer that we now believe we have done something wrong when they bite the hand that feeds them.

How have we been "feeding the corporate dogs"? It seems they are the ones feeding our surplus. Although not quite as much anymore...

Or are you equating tax incentives to "feeding the dogs"?
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Media & Blog Watch :: RE: What exactly are they doing at city hall?

Author: MikeR
Posted: Thu Nov 20, 2008 6:19 pm (GMT -7)
Topic Replies: 23

From QR77 Breaking News:

Quote:

Calgary city council has passed the budget 11-4, with aldermen Diane Colley-Urquhart, Andre Chabot, Joe Connelly and Ric McIver voting against it. The property tax increase for 2009 was whittled down to 5.3%.

It appears that my Alderman, Jim Stevenson, voted in favour. It appears that I will have to do what I can to boot him from office next election...

5.3% is still way too much in these tumultuous economic times... especially when they intend to fund unnecessary extravagances like that $25 MILLION dollar pedestrian bridge. Shame on city council.
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Alberta :: RE: Alberta Rolls Back Royalty Increase

Author: Commonwealth
Posted: Thu Nov 20, 2008 4:00 pm (GMT -7)
Topic Replies: 10

The right wing elements that have governed here for the last four decades have created problems of that there is no doubt. Even so I don't expect them to step aside, it will take a general election to accomplish their removal nothing less.

Alberta has become a home for corporate welfare. We have been feeding the corporate dogs for so longer that we now believe we have done something wrong when they bite the hand that feeds them.

Alberta :: RE: Alberta Rolls Back Royalty Increase

Author: B.Max
Posted: Thu Nov 20, 2008 3:09 pm (GMT -7)
Topic Replies: 10

They were talking about this today on a business and investment show. As they were saying, Stelmach has ruined Alberta's reputation as a place to invest and it is being avoided like the plague. Further they said, what will have to happen are these royalty rates will have to be returned to lower levels, not just on new projects but existing ones, and for the long term in order to restore stability. As I see it, the only way that is going to happen is for both Stelmach and Knight to resign immediately. We are in very serious trouble in Alberta. Stelmach is running this province into the ground.

Alberta :: RE: Alberta 'worst place for gas development': CNRL

Author: Commonwealth
Posted: Thu Nov 20, 2008 9:48 am (GMT -7)
Topic Replies: 10

The jar is already broken, they simply fear to tell us the truth.

Alberta :: RE: Holiday spirit might infuse the government; ease royalty fee

Author: Commonwealth
Posted: Thu Nov 20, 2008 9:47 am (GMT -7)
Topic Replies: 1

That is a funny article. An oil company painting a government as Scrooge!
Lets look at this for a minute, hmmm, we have an industry that made record profits and a government that had record surplus. Now the economy crunches and both are screaming foul.

That is funny! When the citizens are hurting who came to the rescue? Yet when business and government get dinged the tax payer is to blame and the tax payer has to foot the bill.

I say that both groups are out to lunch and out of touch with reality.

Alberta :: RE: Alberta Surplus Forecast Drops from $8.5B to $2B

Author: Commonwealth
Posted: Thu Nov 20, 2008 9:40 am (GMT -7)
Topic Replies: 4

The economic reality syndrome will soon make itself know to a great many citizens.

It isn't really about royalty rates here in Alberta yet folks are sure twisting things that way for their own reasons is my guess. Although it did play into the equation it wasn't the constant many people think it was. It was merely another variable.

The real factor we face today is falling commodity prices and corporate greed. That applies from the bottom to the top of our economy. We had runaway inflation in Alberta with costs going through the roof, well now we will see the other side of the curve. House prices won't simply level off they will absolutely crash. Lots of small business will fail and lots of folks will move back to where they came from. This will not be unique to Alberta folks.

I fully expect a lot of products to be devalued seeking buyers with less and less disposable income. I will now suggest that we are about to watch a slide that will apply across the board. This presents opportunity for our government and our people, change does that. We need only be brave enough to grasp the bull by the horns and deal with the issues at hand.

Alberta still has a surplus, it would be prudent to put all of that surplus away and not spend a dime of it at this point.