Bitumen and Ed?

[cowman]

Ed Stelmach states on his official website that all bitumen should be processed in Alberta...and damned the cost!
Now that is fine and dandy but how does he propose this should happen?
Should the likes of Ecana take less than the world market for their heavy crude so Ed can have some jobs in his riding...or should the government subsidize Ecana so Ed can have some more jobs in his riding?
Does it make sense, from a business sense, that the heavy crude should be processed in the place that makes the most money for all concerned(including the Alberta taxpayer) or is it more important to keep Eds' constituents on the payroll! POLITICS!!!
Sorry...business just doesn't work that way! These darned companies have this nasty habit of wanting to make money...not supply some politician with a job!

[coppertop]

The cost to Albertans now is billions in lost revenue per year, by shipping raw product out of the province. Of course it might mean less money for the multinationals who are reaping the profits now.

My vote is to put Alberta first !!

[Horse]

I have to agree with you coppertop on this one 10 chances to 1 if they can refine it cheaper elsewheres it is because they are subsidized in the refinery location or they are getting it to dam cheap in the first place.
Damm I wish we would stand up for ourselves instead of giving everything away to make someone like us.

[cowman]

The problem is this: The people of Alberta get a royalty on barrels of crude. If you force the Ecanas of the world to take less than world price they obviously can't pay as much? Royalties in Alberta are a very flexible thing...whether we like it or not!
Now without a doubt forcing them to refine it here would involve billions of dollars in investment and also thousands of jobs! hmmm...I thought you were all against anymore developement? Too much pollution...too much good farmland out of production...too much water being taken out of the system?
I think we can agree that once Encana pays the royalty the oil is theirs...to do what they wish with it? Or do we not respect property rights anymore? Is that fair? How is that any different than the old Communist regimes? State planning.
If it costs Encana extra money to refine it here, do you think it would be reasonable for them to ask to be reimbursed? From the Alberta taxpayer?
The oil company has a DUTY to do the best for their shareholders...not be a charity for Alberta! Can you understand that?

[coppertop]

Given the fact that large multinationals can afford million dollar per year CEO's I highly doubt that paying more to produce the product will put them on skid row.

[ivbinconned]

No they can't Cowman. Yours and my detractors would love to turn Alberta into a Saskatchewan. EXCEPT of course if and where it might inflict on their own lives.

They still would want all the personal benifits like increasing property values, lower...much lower taxe rates.

I have asked copper, but she wouldn't answer, if she has read the "firewall" letter that was written SIX individuals. That and the fact that Morton was born in the U.S. is a couple of talking points she likes to throw out there as if it is evidence of some nazi type horrific proof of what ever her imagination conjurs up.

When liberals resort to this type of inuendo then it IS proof that their arguments are weak and there so called virtue of intolarance does not exsist.

Mark Twain said this of people like copper and horse and wilagrow etc who are scared of the significant change that Morton represents...

..."In the beginning of a change, the patriot is a scarce man, and brave and hated and scorned. When his cause succeeds, the timid join him, for then it costs nothing to be a patriot."

All the development they want that would produce jobs is more likly to happen if Morton wins and is able to stop the bleeding of money's out of Alberta to subsidize the rest of the country. But like I said...they are blind to the truth.

[cakadu]

We do tend to send all of our raw products out of the province/country and loose any of the value. The big companies quietly negotiate these things and it takes money from our coffers, jobs away etc. We don't have the manpower for the jobs, but we do have slow times (we don't always go at breakneck speed) and it would be great if we could diversify what we do.

Wouldn't it make sense to site refineries close to the source of the materials, or would it be better if we spend big money trucking/piping it somewhere?



It disappoints me that there are character judgments and finger pointing. Debating is one thing, making judgments about people you only "know" through the various comments they make in these meeting rooms is entirely another. Anyone who takes the time to post on this site should be able to do so without fear of getting bashed for their opinions. Understanding goes a lot further than finger pointing. Remember for every finger you point, there are three pointing back at you.

[blackjack]

...you are so right ivbcon...why did our lougheeds or gettys or kleins never think of this...if there is ever going to be a change...you can't keep on voting in the same people from the old club...

[Ron]

I think I heard Peter Lougheed on 630 CHED a couple months ago saying we should stop exporting raw product and refine it here. He said it is the provincial governments power to issue some form of export permit for the oil (not sure of the exact name but he definately stated he was in favour of refining here and he thought it was possible).

[coppertop]

interesting ivebin, if you look back over your posts you called me a bigot at one point. Where I come from in Alberta, that would be considered slander, I have my opinions, you have yours. Regardless of who wins tomorrow, I will still support honest, open government that understands issues and shows leadership by their actions, I will never support government that leans on Ottawa to win and bashes them like the bogeyman to get votes !!! If you heard the leadership debate two candidates discussed their background, where their family was from in Ed's case, but Morton only commented that he had emigrated to Alberta 25 years ago. He DID NOT mention where he was from, wonder why ?????