Politics Archives - Page 6 of 11

30Jan

By Bob AscahNo Comments

Energy, Environment, Intergovernmental, Politics

Smith to Trudeau- Olive branch or iron fist in a velvet glove?

Last Thursday, Premier Danielle Smith wrote Prime Minister Trudeau about the “just transition” legislation that the Liberal government will introduce this year. At first blush this letter was seen as an “olive branch”. In Smith’s words:- We can continue with the endless court challenges, legislation to protect jurisdictional rights and inflammatory media coverage over our disagreements, or, as is my strong preference, Alberta and Ottawa can work in partnership on a plan that will signal to all Canadians and investors from around the world that our governments have cooperatively designed a series of incentives and initiatives intended to achieve the following objectives The attempt to dial down the rhetoric may be her government’s response to internal party polling that indicates fights ...

30Jan

By Bob Ascah2 Comments

Bankruptcies, Banks, Employment, Energy, Environment, Politics, Uncategorized

Smith as CEO Alberta Enterprise Group to Savage: 29 July 2021- “RStar”

Below is the full text of the letter from then AEG President Danielle Smith to then Energy Minister Sonya Savage concerning a proposed royalty credit for legally required environmental remediation. Analysis of letter is below. ALBERTA ENTERPRISE GROUP 11626-119 Street Edmonton, AB T5G 2X7 July 29, 2021 Minister Sonya Savage Minister of Energy 394 Legislature Building 10800-97 Avenue Edmonton, AB T5K 2B6 Dear Minister Savage: It was a pleasure meeting with you to discuss a pilot project this fall, to test out the RStar program as a new approach to address the issue of decommissioning and closing inactive wells. I would like to summarize our conversation as you are working with your department officials to understand why this pilot project is so important to our membe...

2Jan

By Bob AscahNo Comments

Environment, Politics

Issues to follow in 2023- Analysis and Opinion- Part 1

Report by Todd Hirsch for NDP on windfall. In October former ATB Financial Todd Hirsch was given a mandate by NDP leader Rachel Notley to study what to do with windfall revenues received by the province’s treasury. Hirsch was a consummate pick of Notley. (Full disclosure- I hired Todd as ATB's first economist through a lengthy process which I won't bore you with.) Hirsch was ATB’s chief economist for 15 years and knows the province’s economy inside and out. Hirsch’s persona, excellent speaking raves and travelling to ever part of the province speaking and learning about Alberta’s economy will build enormous economic credibility which the NDP hopes to “capitalize” on. There are only so many financial alternatives to parceling out a budget surplus: 1) pay down debt, 2) spend the money, o...

A Nod to Independence- Alberta Sovereignty (within a United Canada) Act

12Dec

By Bob AscahNo Comments

Energy, Environment, Investment, Opinion/Research, Politics

A Nod to Independence- Alberta Sovereignty (within a United Canada) Act

Much ink, digital and audio content has been accumulated in the nearly two weeks that has elapsed from the Throne Speech and introduction of Bill 1. the Alberta Sovereignty Within a United Canada Act (ASWUCA) became live. Pundits, learned professors, business people and the loyal opposition have weighed in. The reviews have been rather negative for the most part with much of the criticism aimed at the Henry VIII clauses embedded in the Bill. I walk through the main portions of Bill 1 offering comments and opinions. From what Premier Smith tells us she is open to changes. These changes came a week later after heavy criticism from many quarters including the Calgary Chamber of Commerce. At the end of the day, the Act may have all the huffing and puffing that went into the equalization r...

1Nov

By Bob AscahNo Comments

Energy, Investment, Opinion/Research, Politics

Exxon money leaving Alberta’s oilpatch

Imperial was the first of Canada's Big Oil to issue a third quarter report. The shareholders of Imperial, or IMO to markets, are receiving a rather parsimonious dividend ($227-million) which is being raised 29 per cent (from still a relatively low, conservative level). In addition to about $170-million in clash dividends this quarter, Imperial will buy back $1.5-billion ins shares and repay debt owing to Exxon of $1.0-billion. It is evident that Exxon-Mobil wants more return in the form of cash from its oil sands "experiments." It will be up to Imperial's Canadian board and management to fight to prolong the life of the oilsands primarily through generous Canadian taxpayer handouts, not Exxon investment. For nine-months to 30 September 2022, Imperial paid $1.6-billion in royalties mostl...

Reflections on 2 political conventions – Alberta style

30Oct

By Bob AscahNo Comments

Energy, Environment, Opinion/Research, Politics

Reflections on 2 political conventions – Alberta style

Updated 2 November 2022 I spent October 21-23 at the NDP conventions at Calgary’s Hyatt Regency. The Hyatt is a tony place for a “labour-based” party and six years before it was the Hyatt too which welcomed DIPers. By my third convention I did finally find a hospitality suite, two to go to in fact, with rumours of a third. Most sophisticated parties, like Alberta's NDP, now operate with sponsoring organizations to create the single most spectacular annual gathering of the parties' core supporters. The usual organizations for both parties are also relying on business for support. I could see why some business groups and others are investing time of senior people at these conventions simply to ensure they have a voice “in” a prospective NDP government It was very strange that the UCP were h...

30Oct

By Bob AscahNo Comments

Budget, Fiscal History, Government Finances, Politics

Alberta PST- ESNA presentation

On Friday 21 October 2022, I made a presentation, along with two collaborators Ian Glassford and Elizabeth Smythe to the Economics Society of Northern Alberta on A Sales Tax for Alberta- Why and How published in June by Athabasca University Press. Here is the link to the Youtube channel of ESNA. Below are my slides for the presentation. Much of the question and answer session had much to do with the question of whether personal income tax is essentially a tax on consumption and why would you need to add another sales tax which is not progressive, unlike the personal income tax. Of course the progressivity of personal income tax is debatable given the vast number of specific credit and treatments on savings instruments which disproportionately benefit the well-off. The...

10Oct

By Bob AscahNo Comments

Opinion/Research, Politics

Premier Danielle Smith- Buckle-up

It was probably closer than she expected but her faith in the count was ultimately rewarded. Last night it took 6 vote counts to decide the winner. Smith finally got 53.77 per cent to Toews 46.23 per cent. The UCP is now a party quite evenly split between the party of Jason Kenney (and designated successor Travis Toews) and the party of Daniel Smith. I didn't watch the full victory speech except first few words. Smith looked delighted, basking in her new power. How she will wield it remains to be seen. Brian Jean did much worse than I thought. For a thoughtful "biography" of Smith see Jason Markusoff's post dated 6 October 2022 entitled "The reinvention(s) of Danielle Smith." Another good primer is West of Centre with Kathleen Petty. There is also a fascinating post by Ken Boessenko...

5Oct

By Bob AscahNo Comments

Employment, Environment, Politics

Timber Management Agreements- politics and consultation rights

A recent rash of timber license agreements have been reached in the past week (29 September; 27 September). This is indicative of the influence of timber interests- labour and capital- whose support of the local UCP candidate will practically guarantee their election. These agreements purport to give long-term employment guarantees. These assurances however might not be entirely in accord with the actual tenure agreements. Grande Prairie The 29 September news release from Nate Horner, the Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Economic Development minister spoke to the future of the Grande Prairie region reads in part: Over their lifespans, the renewed Grande Prairie and Pembina FMAs are expected to maintain more than 1,250 full-time, contract and seasonal positions, and will potentially cont...

2Oct

By Bob AscahNo Comments

Opinion/Research, Politics

Character and the UCP leadership race

The character of political leaders is critical to success of the society governed by the leaders. Frequently cited characteristics of political leadership include trustworthiness and honesty. Good interpersonal and organizational skills and judgement are other desirable qualities. Danielle Smith Smith's character has been mainly evaluated on her judgement in giving up the Wild Rose leadership and joining the Progressive Conservative caucus under the late premier Jim Prentice. This move drew outrage from her supporters leaving the party in a lurch just months before the election writ was dropped. This action caused a split in the conservative vote producing an unexpectedly large win by Rachel Notley’s New Democrats. The Wild Rose under Brian Jean did much better than anticipated winning 21 ...