Oh! Alberta

Last night on the National I got to watch Albertans complain about their bad luck. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/alberta-oil-crash-people-stories-1.3487381

Albertans were upset about their job prospects being rather dim and you know being out of work.

Unfortunately, that is the case in a commodity economy. Especially, with something as volatile as black gold aka oil.

There was one gentleman on the program that was looking real hard for work. I commend him on that. But, maybe when you haven't found anything in a long time you bite the bullet and take whatever job you can get. As the dude was still unemployed in the episode. Guess what? Taking a shit job at your local Tim Horton's is better than nothing.

Also, you had your neocon bar owner who used to work in the oilfields back in the 80s, and saw that industry collapse. He ranted on about what is Justin going to do. I thought to myself, wow I didn't know they were on a first name basis. Then one of his borderline racist and definitely xenophobic customers complained about the fact: "Justin just brought in some refugees. What about us?"

Well what about you? Guess what don't put your eggs in one basket. Learn about the global market. Did you not pay attention to the nuclear deal brokered by the US and its allies with Iran? Oh you didn't eh. Well Iran has a lot of oil and guess what? They want that shit on the global market now. So you were already starting to hurt, guess what? It is only going to get worse. Iran wants their production up to 4 million barrels a day. They're at 2 million right now. Before the sanctions they were at 3.5 million.  So regardless if the Saudis slow production. More oil is going to get to market. How this connects with Alberta, is the fact that oil will be dirt cheap still globally, and less jobs will be had in the oilfields.

Furthermore, where was Albertans when manufacturing jobs were lost in Quebec and Ontario? Oh wait fend for yourselves as the oil boom was happening.

The next complaint that seems to be popular from Alberta is the need for that Energy East pipeline. They're pissed that in Ontario and Quebec we have a hold up. Well it is imperative to make sure proper environmental checks are being made.

Another point relating to that is why the hell don't they refine their own oil? Oil is cheap right now. And therefore refining should be cheap. It is a volatile business as well, but, it would produce refining jobs in Alberta and it is right there.

Finally, get a bloody provincial sales tax. Guess what? It helps your people out and economy when in dire straits. Also, you can use that money to reinvest and diversifying your economy.  Until then get used to the fact that the rest of Canada doesn't care about your oil problem. Every region has its issues. And blaming transfer payments on why you're doing so bad is bullshit too. I don't think Ontario and Quebec complained about payments when we were kicking ass in the manufacturing industry. Now that's on the decline. As a consumer you can look in the mirror for that. By not holding companies accountable for outsourcing jobs.

As Tom Petty sang [and wrote with Bob Dylan]: "You got me in a corner, you got me against the wall, I got nowhere to go, I got nowhere to fall, take back your insurance, baby nothings guaranteed..."