Not being facetious, I've found the reading in here to be really interesting. A lot of people could learn from the tone of this discourse, starting with politicians & their aides. Nice civil exchange of opinions.

Now, can we get back to slagging the Benning fanboys?
- Marwood

Totally agree my friend.

Slag away, fun fact if we win tonight we are 1st in our division, Benning is a genius.

Why? Without the tax revenues from the oil and gas industry, as well as the spinoff industries, from B.C. Alberta and Saskatchewan the rest of the country would suffer.

For quite some time, Alberta has disproportionately paid more into federal treasuries than almost any other part of the country. You can’t just shut that off.

Albertans send on average 50 billion worth of taxes to Ottawa, but only received 27 billion back in the form of federal spending. This equates to a “gap” of 23 billion. On average, it means that every Albertan pays $5,000 more into Confederation than they get back. It’s the largest single “gap” of any province.
- Pacificgem

I agree with it all and that's why I used the term "wean". Slowly remove the dependence and replace with alternatives. I never said to just shut if off.

Here's my reasoning. We know that energy trends are going to electric. Who benefits most from an electric economy? Governments, both federal and provincial, because most electric companies are Crown or Provincial Corporations. Oil and gas industry are mostly privately held with a majority of the profits going to the head company (usually foreign).

Now the question is; how will all this electricity needed be made? With Canada agreeing to all these environmental and climate accords, we will not be able to generate electricity using fossil fuels. There will be pressure on industry to research and develop alternatives to fuels. Therefore the need for fossil fuel will decrease naturally by shear lack of demand.

It won't happen tomorrow or the next day, but if Alberta continues to go all-in on oil production now for the quick buck, then they will pay in the future big time. Look at fisheries out east. Look at the automotive industry in Ontario. Dying slow deaths while they keep trying to prop it up. Alberta's next.

I'm right here, bring it on female dog
- Nucker101

I bring everyday, snowflake. You shouldn't look past his previous glaring mistakes and then give him a pass after he accidentally put a decent team together.
I was going to start listing them but my mouth flooded with vomit.

I bring everyday, snowflake. You shouldn't look past his previous glaring mistakes and then give him a pass after he accidentally put a decent team together.
I was going to start listing them but my mouth flooded with vomit.
- Marwood

Exactly. That's why I don't bother anymore. For me, it's about balance. Sure JB's had some solid wins lately but the overall record is still poop. I got to see a bunch more wins before I run out and buy my canuck themed knee pads.

lefty, your entire argument here boils down to: 1) alberta's economy being oil dependent is okay because it's historically and at present been the cause of alberta's and through trickle down a cause of canada's wealth; and 2) alberta's economic shortfalls during a downturn in the oil sector can be made up by implementing a consumption tax.

both of those points are fair and reasoned.

however, when bloats talks about "weaning" off oil, i don't think he means it in instantaneously. i wouldn't want to put words in his mouth (but i will) and say that he's talking the long game i.e. decades.

in the interim, you can certainly implement a consumption tax just like every other province.

however, if they don't diversify, they'll turn into a maritime province in the next 50ish years as the world moves off of oil. i understand that you (lefty) are in the oil sector and you don't want to believe that the world will move on from oil but that's what will happen as new technologies emerge (i'm talking decades not years.)

nobody is arguing that oil will be irrelevant in the next couple of decades... however, if you don't plan for a shift away from the stuff, you're burying your head in the.... sand.

btw.... the rest of your posts were largely irrelevant (and this comes from a guy who has no problem writing novels to support my points.)
- RealityChecker

Yes.

Exactly. That's why I don't bother anymore. For me, it's about balance. Sure JB's had some solid wins lately but the overall record is still poop. I got to see a bunch more wins before I run out and buy my canuck themed knee pads.
- bloatedmosquito

He was a first time GM taking over a mess with an antsy owner. Some mistakes were inevitable but I’ll concede that some were just flat out stupid like the Sbisa contract and overpaying in trades.

His arch has been very anti-Gillis. Benning started off as a joke but over the past year or 2 he’s been solid. That’s more encouraging than a GM who comes in like Midas and then ends up doubling down on his core of old losers.

He was a first time GM taking over a mess with an antsy owner. Some mistakes were inevitable but I’ll concede that some were just flat out stupid like the Sbisa contract and overpaying in trades.

His arch has been very anti-Gillis. Benning started off as a joke but over the past year or 2 he’s been solid. That’s more encouraging than a GM who comes in like Midas and then ends up doubling down on his core of old losers.
- Nucker101

They have to get past the 1st round of this season's playoffs before I concede a modicum of success.

If they simply imposed a provincial sales tax they wouldn’t have a deficit. I think BC’s PST brought in around 7 billion in revenue last year.
- Pacificgem

They pay half the tax rate of people in living in Quebec.

They pay half the tax rate of people in living in Quebec.
- golfingsince

They have half the culture.

They have half the culture.
- Marwood

Ouch.

He was a first time GM taking over a mess with an antsy owner. Some mistakes were inevitable but I’ll concede that some were just flat out stupid like the Sbisa contract and overpaying in trades.

His arch has been very anti-Gillis. Benning started off as a joke but over the past year or 2 he’s been solid. That’s more encouraging than a GM who comes in like Midas and then ends up doubling down on his core of old losers.
- Nucker101

True, true. But boy o boy did Gillis come close. How different it would be if they had won one more game...

Another L for #TeamWhiner