Originally posted 10 February 2018
Updated 20 March 2018
- Legislature debate
- Not much has happened. More Mayes Edmonton Journal cartoons.
- Notley lines up her advisory panels including key ministers and deputy ministers.
- Horgan not saying much.
- Wine war proceeds to a tribunal
- Now a truce- court reference for wine
- New measures to tax out-of-province property aim at wealthy oilpatchers?
As the conflict has escalated, so has the polarization. The story going the rounds in Alberta has to do with Burnaby area fisheries pumping thousands of tons of fish offal into the Pacific. “How dare they be so high and mighty!” “Isn’t fish offal organic,” I said. Don Braide, a well-respected columnist of the Calgary Herald stressed the importance of hitting them where in hurts- the $1.3 billion in services and goods supplied to oilpatch companies. Highlighted for the Edmonton Journal reader was the comment “The industry should threaten to find alternate suppliers. That’ll get Horgan’s attention.” Although this quote is nowhere to be found in the text of the article, it is eyeball catching. Perhaps the copy editor had a creative moment. But the real headline- Boycott B.S.’s oilpatch suppliers in capital letters and about 60 point fount is a real emotion packed eye grabber. Braide’s goes on to pinpoint where the real pain would be felt- hit them in Burnaby where 78 companies supply the pipeline or Vancouver where 141 suppliers operate. The source is not cited by Braide but one suspects it to be CAPP or Kinder Morgan. No matter, this is the bare knuckle round and every point of leverage will be utilized.
Other industry media voices such as Claudia Cattaneo and Chris Varcoe are pushing the federal government to act in the national interest. This pressure will be relentless. Suncor CEO Steve Williams has weighed in this week in an interview stating in effect no more investment unless Canada gets its act together or “ups its game.”
Mr. Trudeau- where art thou?
In addition, editorialists are pushing the Prime Minister to act in the national interest. But what is the “national interest.” Is it the agenda of the oil and gas industry or the mass of consumers of gasoline driving to and fro to work, Tim Hortons, and the mall, or a newly-arrived Syrian family getting their first SUV, or a senior citizen in White Rock in a retirement community; or a mid-level federal official in a Halifax promoting economic opportunities in Atlantic Canada? The answer is not that clear. However, to an unemployed rig worker or a small oilpatch supplier the stakes are very clear. And to economic elites, the answer is also clear but for political leaders it is far more complex.
As pressure builds on Mr. Trudeau, he will have to figure out where his party’s electoral advantage lays. And the preliminary answer is probably not good for the Alberta government. With four seats at play and maybe a few more in Alberta, the Liberals might win six Alberta seats if all goes well. And that assumes that the recently resigned Cabinet Minister Hehr and a new Liberal candidate in former Liberal M.P. Darshan Kang’s riding will be re-elected. Not very likely. But the Liberals have 14 seats in B.C. so the reader can get a sense of how Mr. Trudeau’s closest political advisors will be leaning.
Advisory Committee
The latest move in the controversy has Alberta’s Premier nominating four eminent Canadians to an advisory panel. Advisors include: Frank McKenna of TD Financial group, former Canadian Ambassador to the U.S., and erstwhile New Brunswick Premier; Anne McLellan former federal Energy and Justice minister and Task Force chair on cannabis legalization; Peter Hogg eminent Osgoode Hall constitutional scholar; and Jim Carter the former President of Syncrude and ATB Financial board member. In this latest move, the Alberta Premier has dropped the gauntlet, clearly becoming frustrated by the day on Trudeau’s inaction on this file. .Press Release
This is not a fight between Alberta and B.C. This is B.C. trying to usurp the authority of the federal government and undermine the basis of our Confederation. Ottawa needs to say clearly and unequivocally that B.C.’s actions won’t stand. Sadly, B.C. decided to pick this fight with the country. No one wants it and it could end tomorrow, but as long as B.C. continues, Alberta will fight for jobs in Alberta and speak up for a Canada that works.
Whether this type of statement will prompt the federal government to be more definitive or continue generally to vacillate, only time will tell. Apparently federal officials are meeting with B.C. officials.
One of the developments to watch for next week-end will be the NDP convention in Ottawa. The new leader Jagmeet Singh may be facing a tough dynamic as the only two NDP provincial governments are “waging war.” Operatives may be in Ottawa this coming week working on ways to minimize damage as floor resolutions on energy and the environment are debated.