Elbows up, everyone! Canada is about to take on the largest economy in the world and, David-like, smite the orange monster Goliath with one smooth stone, then remove its head with a mighty swing of our legendary sword. Oh yeah ... and some by-elections are coming up.What a foolish people we have become! I do hope that Mr. Carney will prove me wrong by demonstrating, with evidence, how the Americans killed the deal and not our elbozo masters. I am not confident, but nor am I in despair. In great silliness lies great opportunity.The US government tipped its hand — it wants another pipeline to deliver Canada’s oil sands production to the continental US. This is very good news, made even better by the fact that the 2010 Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity OC-56 remains in effect for the Canadian portion of the Keystone XL pipeline. If Mr. Trump guarantees that his end will be approved, then the pipeline can be built, and our premier can awaken from her ambrosian dream of a West Coast pipeline. This is the perfect time to “decouple” from the madness of King Carney. First, a few contextual premises. It is not clear that Canadian crude producers make a higher netback (profit) from selling oil in the Far East than in the US Gulf Coast. When all of the additional transportation costs are factored in, does their profit increase? I cannot find any data to support or refute that contention. My assumption is that, at best, selling to Asia is break-even with selling to Houston or the American Midwest.The Americans are not ripping off Alberta producers with their pricing of Western Select crude oil. The spread between Western Select and West Texas Intermediate crudes is dictated by quality differences between the two oil composites and transportation costs. The changes in the spread are due to the changing demand for asphalt in the United States. Heavy crudes command a premium when roads are being paved. Arbitrage speculation by Canadian and US traders can sometimes create very large spreads, but there are effective and rapid fixes for such speculation..The current governments in Ottawa and British Columbia offer no hope of a pipeline to the west coast. If you think I am wrong, then please tell me how much the BC government will toll Alberta oil passing through that province. The BC First Nations are being gifted millions of dollars in land by the BC government. How much will they charge the pipeline to pass through their lands, their lands being defined as all of the non-treaty land in the province of British Columbia?I would prefer Alberta to declare its independence, but at the least, it is time for our Premier to wake up and get back to the “sovereign province in a united Canada” game. Madam Premier, you are disappointed with the outcome of the Canada-US trade negotiations because you hitched your wagon to a nag instead of a horse. It is Sovereignty Act time. Get thee hence to Washington and capture the Keystone XL pipeline. If Mr. Carney feels that he is in a trade war, then let him fight his war alone. Alberta needn't participate in such sterile diplomacy.End the MOU with the federal government on the basis that it was negotiated in bad faith. When protection of Quebec dairy cartels (or a slight to Brookfield or whatever bothers Mr. Carney) is more important than the Alberta oil and gas production which underwrites the Canadian economy, then you are not dealing with good-faith people. Ditch them.With the end of the MOU, fight the carbon taxes by establishing a Revenue Ministry to collect all federal and provincial taxes within the province of Alberta..End the brain fart called carbon sequestration. Maybe it is the best technology known to man, but let industry prove this to be so. If you think Albertans are on your side of this debate, then put it to a referendum — that seems to be the thing to do these days. Until that time — end all talk of matching ephemeral pipelines to unproven CCS schemes.Finally, Madam Premier, you have been accused of being a Liberal federalist, with your motivations maligned as pro-Ottawa. They say that you have lost your nerve and, as with Mr. Prentice, you are becoming dependent upon Mr. Carney. You now have an opportunity to show the courage of your convictions once again by re-establishing the verve and "fire in the belly" which brought you to power.On the eve of the Battle of Agincourt, it is reported that King Henry V of England rallied his sick, dejected, and unbelieving troops, and hours later they defeated a French army three times their size. They won because they believed in King Harry.Be King Harry. This may be your last chance to reinvigorate Albertans to your side.
