Canada’s productivity problem isn’t that big if we exclude oil

[AlbertaFarmer5]

How would that possibly work, Chuck keeps telling us that nuclear is the most expensive generation while solar and wind are by far the cheapest. Without a shred of evidence to back up that preposterous claim. And real world evidence all over the world that the opposite is true, such as France using nuclear having the cheapest electricity in Europe while Germany with wind and solar has the most expensive.

It is an excellent idea. Especially while our neighbors are installing unreliable expensive renewable energy, there will be a big market for reliable economical generation to export. The one problem with that would be that nuclear is not conducive to quickly ramping up and down to act as backup generation for unreliables.

Another problem is that the federal government has put in so many barriers to any type of project, they will be nearly impossible to ever get built, and the costs would be astronomical just meeting all of the prohibitive regulations and permitting

[shtferbrains]

One problem with nuclear is you have huge amounts of money out for 12+ yrs before you get any return.

The reason for such long build times is regulatory got so bad after 3 mile island that there were no new plants built and some that were in construction were halted.
None of that has changed.
One of the regulatory hurdles is that only Union shops can be trusted to work on Nuclear facilities. Everyone knows where that goes.

If there is ever an emergency shut down anywhere in the world your share capital evaporates.

I would like to invest in a nice local company like Cameco but see a big risk there. They had mines shut down for years and sold off stockpiles after Fukushima.

[furrowtickler]

Canadas productivity problems are directly related to way way too many civil servants and RED TAPE that drains the productivity of this nation

[LEP]

Diversification. As demand for oil declines over time, the over priced drain on capital that is the oil sands are on a path to becoming a stranded asset.

Even Steve Harper the economist said we would stop burning fossil fuels as an energy source by 2100.

Will you be around to see it?

[AlbertaFarmer5]

Since Chuck believes that it's the oil and gas industry that is dragging down the productivity of the rest of the country.

There's a really simple way to fix this problem.
End the transfer payments from the provinces whose tax revenues come from the unproductive energy sector, to the provinces whose deficits come from all of the other productive industries.

Would you be in favor of that, chuck?

[WiltonRanch]

See how the Mongoose restarted a discussion and just buggers off again.

[blackpowder]

The sands have subsidized Newfoundland for nearly two generations through direct wages. He's talking thru his arse.
I don't know what the answers are. Just trying to discuss some.
But he's been on here for years and we know nothing about what he's actually ever done with his own hands except to turn 6 quarters into 40 as he claimed once. Nothing he's ever said has given first hand testimony to bugger all. He's a ghost. Smoke. Not credible.
Respect is earned by doing. I've worked in Ft Mac once, I've invested in a junior play. I've cored coal and pumped water at 50 below. Fed cows and two households without off farm income.
I've shared facts. Chuck is careful to not share anything. Cherry picked points and nothing more.
Lenin, Hitler and a ton of other visionaries never worked a day in their lives but were successful at something. Screw Chuck.
Everyone else, let's make some money. Open to ideas.

[chuckChuck]

The last oil boom prior to 2014 caused a lot of inflation. It drove up the cost of labour, housing, and negatively affected a lot of businesses outside of the oil sector in western Canada.

It also drove the loonie higher and hurt a lot other exporters.

Only Alberta thinks it should use a lot of one time resource revenue that fluctuates with oil prices to fund core government services.

Its been boom and bust how many times over the decades?

And what is the plan as oil revenues decline over time?

The oil sands are some of the most expensive capital intensive oil on the planet with a huge carbon foot print. A small decline in demand and lower prices will have a profound impact.

So putting all your eggs in that oil sands basket is a risky proposition in a carbon constrained world.

[fjlip]

Just as RISKY as investing in a farm with 2022 prices/interest rate/expenses, and the crash now at HALF price grain.

[blackpowder]

Extract all the economics a la Guardian from CCs last post and the questions have merit.

[AlbertaFarmer5]

So putting all your eggs in that oil sands basket is a risky proposition in a carbon constrained world.

What is a "carbon constrained world"?

From the IEA:

• Global energy-related CO₂ emissions grew by 1.1% in 2023, increasing 410 million tonnes (Mt) to reach a new record high of 37.4 billion tonnes (Gt). Emissions from coal accounted for more than 65% of the increase in 2023.

No serious forecaster is showing CO2 emissions peaking any time soon.

[AlbertaFarmer5]

The last oil boom prior to 2014 caused a lot of inflation. It drove up the cost of labour, housing, and negatively affected a lot of businesses outside of the oil sector in western Canada.

It also drove the loonie higher and hurt a lot other exporters.

So instead of just ending transfer payments, it sounds like Canada would be much better off if the regions that produce fossil fuels just separate. Perhaps the have not regions should use their productive industries and pay Alberta et al to separate. They will be much better off by your logic.

Why are you so violently opposed to any talk of separation considering what you just posted?

[goalieguy847]

NORWAY? Hahah
diversified their investments!
Sure. What a stupid argument Chuck. They may have a diversified investment fund but you need to look at where their money is coming FROM. 68 % of their exports last yr were oil and gas and over 70% the yr before!

THATS LIKE ME SAYING IM FIGHTING CLIMATE CHANGE CUZ I HAVE TESLA SHARES.....but burn welllll over 60 k L of diesel a yr!

get serious chuckster.

65% of global C02 emissions in 2023 come from coal?
how come all you far far left dorks arent flying over to china and protesting there?

What an absolute bunch of hogwash you peddle.
Without albertas oil and gas ( and sask and bc) the economy would crumble under the true cost of the carbon tax ontop of the astronomical price that fuel would be. If all alberta O+ G shut down tomorrow..How would you grow any crops on your 40 quarters with diesel prices that would exceed your cost per acre than a new ( 1000 buck bag) of canola?

what a muppet you are sometimes.

[AlbertaFarmer5]

As a big Muppets fan, I take offense to you comparing Chuck to a muppet. Unlike chuck, they are intentionally funny and entertaining.
Their humor is highly intellectual compared to anything coming out of chuck.

Although I have said in the past that he does remind me a lot of doctor Bunsen honeydew. Always so confident, always so wrong, even as the science experiment goes horribly wrong and the world comes crashing down on him.

[blackpowder]

He would fit somewhere in an An Raynd story.
Seriously, we're being played.
And don't doubt there's a lot more of them out there influencing.