Energy Archives - AB Pol Econ

Elizabeth Smythe- Democracy in Alberta – Interview

1Jun

By Bob AscahNo Comments

Energy, Politics

Elizabeth Smythe- Democracy in Alberta – Interview

For the video, click here. In this episode, Dr. Elizabeth Smythe speaks about her course on democracy at Edmonton Lifelong Learners' Association (ELLA) this past May. She discusses western political scientists' views on democracy, including ideas about "exporting" democracy. She explains the evolution of government authority from absolute monarchy to today's representative system as well as direct democracy. Representative democracies are not purely democratic, however because voter franchises expanded only after significant push by those representing under-represented groups like women or men without property. In addressing democracy in Alberta, she notes a decided trend toward the cabinet (executive) making decisions rather than representative elected bodies. Democratic b...

Is Smith really a separatist/annexationist? Part 4- ‘My fellow Albertans’

25May

By Bob AscahNo Comments

Credit Ratings, Energy, Environment, Government Finances, Intergovernmental, Investment, Politics

Is Smith really a separatist/annexationist? Part 4- ‘My fellow Albertans’

“Separation, if necessary, but not necessarily separation” Introduction Premier Danielle Smith’s 5 May 2025 address followed by one week the Liberals’ near-majority re-election. Smith chose to deliver Her update on the ongoing war with “Ottawa.” “Ottawa” is code for the federal Liberal Party elite and is frequently used word to disparage the federal government. Smith used Ottawa 15 times in this address. Smith, ever the articulate, telegenic leader is a consummate communicator who has learned on the radio talk circuit as well during Her political career, didn't disappoint. She comes across as a voice of reason and the mainstream listener may not fully understand the underlying coded messages. In this analysis, I examine the text of Her address as well as watching/listening to...

Is Danielle Smith really a separatist/annexationist? Part 3- Survey results

17May

By Bob AscahNo Comments

Credit Ratings, Energy, Government Finances, Investment, Opinion/Research, Politics

Is Danielle Smith really a separatist/annexationist? Part 3- Survey results

Note to readers: The comments section below is now functioning. Please feel free to comment on any of my scribbling. I would like to hear what you think. In this part I examine recent and some historical polling data on Alberta separatism. In subsequent parts I will review Premier Smith’s “address” to Albertans and her salvo of fury over Mark Carney’s cabinet choices. Smith has clearly gone on the offensive since revelations in early February about suspicious procurement practices at Alberta Health Services surfaced. As a former colleague of mine at ATB used to characterize changing the narrative, Smith and her communications staff have embarked on a massive “head fake.” Recent polling by the Angus Reid Institute show that 48 per cent or roughly half of a randomized sample of...

Is Danielle Smith really a Separatist/Annexationist? Part 2

4May

By Bob AscahNo Comments

Credit Ratings, Economic Data, Energy, Government Finances, Intergovernmental, Opinion/Research

Is Danielle Smith really a Separatist/Annexationist? Part 2

Updated 3 May 2025 Note to readers: The comments section below is now functioning. Please feel free to comment on any of my scribbling. I would like to hear what you think. Explanatory comment I have been working on this question for the better part of three weeks spurred on my the concatenation of Her fiery speech to the Legislative Assembly on 26 March, Her attacks on Carney and the trip to PungurU and Ben Shapiro, revealed She was exploring the idea of independence ("from Ottawa) or statehood ("Texas of the North). As this blogs shows it is charitable to say Smith is "flirting" with separatism. It's doubtful there was that much open animosity between Ottawa and Quebec during 2 referenda. Smith's fiery speech might be compared to pre-Civil War missives from the south to Washingto...

Is Danielle Smith really a Separatist or Annexationist? Part 1

30Apr

By Bob AscahNo Comments

Credit Ratings, Economic Data, Energy, Government Finances, Intergovernmental, Opinion/Research

Is Danielle Smith really a Separatist or Annexationist? Part 1

Note to readers: The comments section below is now functioning. Please feel free to comment on any of my scribbling. I would like to hear what you think. Background In a June 2023 article in The Conversation I raised the question “Will Danielle Smith veer back to the right and towards Alberta separatism?” At the time, a month after Smith’s United Conservative Party won the general election, I argued that Alberta had an economic and financial “ace in the hole”- Alberta’s vast export surplus driven by conventional and unconventional oil. Alberta separation would mean that Canadians' standard of living would drop significantly as would the Canadian dollar. I also noted that, unlike Quebec Inc., the ownership of Alberta’s fossil fuel-based economy is largely controlled by American financia...

27Apr

By Bob AscahNo Comments

Banks, Energy, Environment, Investment, Opinion/Research, Politics

Presentation to Philosophers’ Cafe- Mark Carney’s book Value(s)

Updated 1 May 2025. On Saturday 26 April, I was invited to present to the Philosophers' Cafe on Mark Carney's 2021 book Value(s). It was a pleasure to present this to an exceptional group of engaged, mostly seniors. This invitation from Professor Emeritus Martin Tweedle was prompted by a book review I can written in May 2021 on Carney's "Magnum Opus." You can access my dressed up speaking notes in the PDF file below. The discussion was spirited at times with many questions coming back to who is this man? Can he be trusted given his corporate connections? Unlike the book review, my presentation made some additional points about the book. First, Carney left the Bank of England (BoE) at the end of February 2020 and yet he had the final 600 -page manuscript to the publi...

Smith pivots- her new scapegoat is Mark Carney

17Mar

By Bob AscahNo Comments

Energy, Environment, Intergovernmental, Opinion/Research, Politics

Smith pivots- her new scapegoat is Mark Carney

Note to readers: The comments section below is now functioning. Please feel free to comment on any of my scribbling. Alberta governments have a history of painting the federal government as a malevolent force. An early and legitimate beef was the lack of control and ownership of natural resources which wasn't rectified until 1930. Readers are familiar with the rise of the Social Credit movement and its five year fight over banking with the Dominion government. The most recent fight since today's skirmishes was the battle over provincial government power over the setting of resource pricing, commonly known as the National Energy Program, It is a canon of Alberta political science that successful premiers fight Ottawa. For an excellent note on western alienation/separatism...

19Jan

By Bob AscahNo Comments

Credit Ratings, Economic Data, Energy, Financial Institutions, Intergovernmental, Opinion/Research

Danielle Smith’s Pretext

Updated 20 January 2025. This is an opinion/prediction piece Economic and political winds favourable for Smith Danielle Smith has enjoyed a highly favourable economic backdrop in her first 27 months of her premiership. Oil prices have ranged from a monthly average price of $U.S. 69.95 in November 2024 to a monthly high average price of $85.64 in April 2024 (Cushing, OK WTI Spot Price FOB). This favourable oil price environment has assisted Smith greatly on the fiscal side. In preparing for the May 2023 election, the province’s books were in surplus by a whopping $11.6-billion and the fiscal 2024-25 fiscal year surplus is estimated to be $4.6-billion. The surplus could go much higher with the weakness in the CAD. From October 2022 to December 2024, Alberta’s labour force grew from 2,5...

Pinocchios Aplenty: Fact Checking Alberta’s Coal Industry Modernization Initiative

10Jan

By Bob AscahNo Comments

Energy, Environment, Investment, Opinion/Research, Politics

Pinocchios Aplenty: Fact Checking Alberta’s Coal Industry Modernization Initiative

Contributor Dr. Ian Urquhart is Professor Emeritus of Political Science from the University of Alberta. In memory of Kris Unger. Kris was passionate about preserving Alberta’s landscapes, most especially perhaps the Eastern Slopes and the Rockies. I hope his spirit approves of the following Introduction Disingenuous. That’s how The Globe and Mail’s Emma Graney characterized Energy Minister Brian Jean at the news conference announcing the government’s vague Coal Industry Modernization Initiative. Deceptive and brazen also would be fitting adjectives. In their 30-minute news conference Mr. Jean and Environment Minister Rebecca Schulz failed miserably to communicate accurate information to the public about many vital aspects of exploiting coal in Alberta. One of the few une...

1Jul

By Bob AscahNo Comments

Energy, Environment, Opinion/Research, Politics

The Pronouncements of Rebecca Schulz

In this 4,000 word essay I recount and analyze the dozen or so news releases put out by Environment and Protected Areas Minister Rebecca Schulz since last June. On 9 June 2023, after the 29 May election Rebecca Schulz was appointed the minister of Environment and Parks. Under the order of precedence for cabinet, Schulz was in the middle of the pecking order at ninth after the Premier. However since her appointment Schulz has overshadowed Smith energy and minerals minister, Brian Jean and has become indispensable in supporting Premier Smith assault against the federal government and, in particular, Environment and Climate Change minister Stephen Guilbeault. In an particularly unsavoury remark in a friendly conversation with Tucker Carlson, Ms. Smith urged Carlson to put Stephen Guilbe...