Born and raised in Alberta and if you disagree with conservatives you are a traitor in their eyes... you are branded an anti-albertan. Its very authoritarion type of politics. If you dont have different opinions you are not a democracy. but in Alberta if you have a differnt opinion you are a traitor. We voted in Alberta to go irresponsibly long all in on black and no one wants to admit we shot ourselves in the foot... when the bleeding starts Alberta screams out in pain "LIBERALS!!!!!!!!!"
We preach personaly responsibility for thee but not for me. We in Alberta have screwed ourselves more than any Federal party has and refuse to take personal responsibilty for the perdicatable consqeunces of our actions.
Premier Smith was extremely angry at Ms. Joly's comments about oil and gas being potentially cut off in the potential trade dispute. As international trade is federal jurisdiction, Albertans will have to cede to that authority in the event things go badly. During my career our motto was criticise in private, praise in public. This was demonstrated I am sure by other Premiers who support a collective action. Ms. Smith needs to reflect on her actions that illustrate weakness in Canada's negotiating position. She must also think about other Alberta industries that will be impacted as well. I can understand her lack of faith in a federal government that is rudderless especially the past few years, but there is always a time and place to close ranks.
Come on, Joly's comments were idiotic and just put Joly's lack of knowledge on full display. A repeat of her performance at the International Security Forum. The federal government has lost the plot- the issues are the border. 40 drones and 2 helicopters (regardless of colour) doesn't cut it. The feds and ford are getting way ahead of themselves by threatening retaliation tariffs etc.
This didn't age well. The information along with several levels of corroboration show, the border was never the issue.
Everyone thinks they (or their favourite politician) could do better but there's no evidence of that. No alternate plan that deviates materially from what the feds have done. Other than the capitulation option. That, the evidence shows, only emboldens Trump and leads to more bigger demands. And, if one is following the plot, we can also clearly see Canadians would not stand for that.
Thanks for the eastsplanation. Given the disproportionate share of federal revenue extracted from Alberta's GDP, hypothetical compensation from the Feds would be coming disproportionately from Alberta.
The Feds reap what they sow. The five decades of negative political capital that the Feds have built-up in Alberta, particularly under Liberal governments and especially those with a Trudeau at the helm have consequences.
Have any federal government politicians suggested export limits or taxes on electricity?
It’s slightly disproportionate per-capita, but Alberta is far from the largest contributor in absolute terms. We’re the third biggest contributor with BC barely behind us, and only a third of Ontario.
In real terms, Trump’s tariffs are going to hurt other provinces more than us, and any response is going to hurt them disproportionately more than us
Frankly, we’d be doing a lot better if we stopped thinking of ourselves as the main character, started working with the rest of the country, and solving our own problems
When was the last time that the rest of the country tried to solve one of AB's problems? AB and SK took one for the team yet again when China retaliated against canola due to motor vehicle tariffs. I don't need to raise the issues around pipelines.
Canada has never been there for Alberta and shouldn't be surprised at the unwillingness to sacrifice its interest another time
Wow! Another totally ignorant Maple MAGAT who doesn’t have a single clue how the Equalization program works but sure did suck up all those lies fro t he Right as absolute gospel! FUCK OFF YOU TRAITOROUS PIECES OF SHIT AND GROW A FUCKING BRAIN!
To put your “disproportionate” comment in context, AB taxpayers, which represent around 11% of Canada’s total population, contribute around 14% of total federal income taxes and GST.
The potential for export limits or taxes on O&G was raised in response to Smith’s lobbying efforts to have AB’s O&G exports excluded from the threatened US import tariffs. To my knowledge the lobbying efforts of the federal government and all other Premiers have instead been focused on discouraging the imposition of US import tariffs on ANY Canadian exports, not just on electricity or on any other category of export that may be of particular importance to a Premier’s own Province.
I grew up there, still in the west and BC also gives large funds to feds for distribution. So when AB gets funds for Healthcare back, exactly how do they spend it? Show me. I’ve never had a reply to that. I know doctors in AB so quit fudging on that. I know that many left. Some actually came to BC rather than live under AHS. Secondly, where is the Heritage Fund I paid into for decades? Hmmm? Where is it? No pro Smith Albertan seems able to answer this as it was long gone before Rachel Notley (still have family and ties to AB so don’t even try to obfuscate). Wow, you may have supported 3% more than “you” think you owe in some individual’s study. I lived in AB when they received payments in the 1980s. Get over yourself and join Canada or decide what and where you want to live. Albertan born Canadian is tired of Albertan whinging. I know my family who (no joking, despises Trudeau unequivocally), but equally are disappointed in your lacklustre premiere.
Evan. Good article, and I am in full agreement. BUT I have to say, please do not use the term Newfies. It is a diminutive, and it is not proper. Proper is Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. "Newf" is acceptable in friendly conversation. "Newfie" is patronizing and disrespectful. We are are not quaint clichés. We are Canadians and we do not live in Newfieland.
Her actions do not indicate she is doing anything other than putting Danielle Smith first. Not Canada. Not Albertans. Not her riding. Maybe she will get a job at MaraLago.
Andrew Leach has built his academic non-partisan-ness into a whole performative routine, and he sticks to it even if it requires him to have the memory of a goldfish.
It’s pretty typical for an event to occur and a bunch of commenters to say “I bet the UCP/Smith is going behave badly again”. Then Leach will fly in with “you can’t just assume that ahead of time, that’s partisan”. Then when the UCP/Smith behaves badly he’s shocked, shocked! Never sees it coming.
His personal code of ethics apparently precludes things like object permanence and using past behavior to predict future behavior.
Smart, smart guy for statistics and economic analysis, but best ignored outside of that
The fact is that a critical mass of Albertans just do not trust the motives of Ottawa and Central Canada. The trust hasn't been earned. Albertans wonder why Ottawa (and Central Canada) has the audacity to think it deserves the benefit of the doubt from Alberta. Danielle Smith represents that and she is just doing what she explicitly was elected to do, represent Alberta first.
When Quebec demands sacrifice from the rest of Canada using national unity as a tool, that is seen as normal. When Alberta does it, it's loyalties are questioned. All Alberta wants is exactly whatever Quebec gets. If Quebec can control whole industries in Canada, using the rest of Canada as a captive market to rip off (dairy), or block free trade within Canada, why can't Alberta at least get it's product to market and a renegotiated equalization regime?
If the rest of Canada thinks Alberta is too disloyal for the rest of Canada, too "American" kick out Alberta. We dare you, but we know Canadians don't have the balls to make hard decisions. It wouldn't be polite.
She was not elected to go south to give Orange Caesar a hand job. Nor does she or you represent all Albertans (me). Since you claim Canadians don’t have the balls to make hard decisions, you must be referring to Albertans. The last time I looked, we were still part of Canada. I was born and raised in this province and I reject your divisive horsesh*t. Try not to act like Smith and her two puppets who are working to enrich only themselves.
I don't want to defend Smith who I disagree with on most issues. However, Canadians should really think about whether counter-tariffs are the right tool. Our dollar is low and under US tariffs it would probably go lower. American importers might not be as inconvenienced by the tariffs as we think. Counter tariffs might result in investors no longer seeing Canada as a good place. In addition, oil, in particular crude oil, is not a rare commodity in the US. American refineries could simple switch to domestic sources (half the country is frakking itself). Granted that would be a cost and an effort for them, but once they switched, they wouldn't want to switch back. I would like to see our leaders think a little deeper on this problem. It is easy to have a fierce and patriotic response - that also will win them votes - but is it really best for Canada in the long term?
Did Smith meet with Trump, O'Leary, and Peterson to expedite a mega project in northern Alberta?
Some kind of exchange for an oil carve out from US tariffs?
The proposed massive electricity "data centre" (read: crypto) will use cheap natural gas power and abundant water for cooling.
This project is near Peterson's hometown.
The local First Nation has not yet been consulted but is worried.
And is Poilievre involved?
A few days ago, he was asked about Musk's endorsements of him on X. Poilievre replied, Wouldn't it be nice if Musk set up a factory in Canada and created thousands of jobs?
OLeary's Wonder Valley project is 2oo km from Petersen's hometown of Fairview. As the Wonder Valley proposal would be located in an industrial park on private land, no indigenous consultation would be required. The project can be approved by arm's length municipal regulators, so no special favors are required from Smith or any other Provincial politician. Your theory is in search of a conspiracy.
I'm not suggesting a conspiracy, just wondering about expedited access where the benefits are unclear and the potential effects on water already concern the local Indigenous community.
Cui bono?
Maybe mere coincidence, sure.
But it's not easy to just trust Smith and UCP govt contracts right now...
The municipality has already approved the industrial park and has full authority to approve the data center so no expedited access is required. Only in activist infested Canada has the public been mislead to believe that all potentially controversial projects require indigenous consultation, or that ambitious projects can only proceed with government deal making. Got to knock down those tall poppies.
An advantage to Alberta's cold climate is reduced artificial cooling for data centers. If the municipality requires more water, it can seek additional license from the arms length regulator just like any other municipality outside the license contained South Saskatchewan Basin. Several large data centers are proposed in Alberta, for example https://www.datacenterdynamics.com/en/news/new-company-plans-data-center-campuses-totaling-12gw-in-alberta-canada/. Why aren't they attracting similar concern?
Maybe Smith has already sold Alberta's water to the US and O Leary's data center is cover. I also heard that Trump's grandfather conspired with Big Cotton to criminalize marijuana.
Most will use behind the fence generation, meaning they will not draw grid power. Current AESO peak load is about 10,000 MW, so just the proposal south of Calgary will draw the equivalent of 10% of existing peak. Besides cold weather, Alberta's deregulated power market allowing customers to contract directly with generators, is appealing. Finally the activists that have blocked pipelines and LNG facilities have stranded so much gas in Alberta that transforming it into data makes economic sense, probably not an outcome they foresaw.
Why is the number of direct jobs created of concern? Data centers are mostly constructed offsite and require few people to maintain. This will help the gas industry and more importantly, set the stage for some difficult to predict spin offs from daat centers. Innovation is the only thing that drives living standards. Innovation is impossible to predict and certainly cannot be planned by technocrats.
Well, I gotta admit it's pretty funny to watch Marlaina fawn over Trump, along with the other stooges-- Kevin O'Leary, Jordan Peterson.
She must live in a tight echo chamber not to have any sense of how ridiculous she looks.
Most Albertans I know are mortified by her MAGA displaying.
Moreover, all the other industries in AB are freaking out -- agriculture, forestry, etc.
Dani must be stashing her own oil royalties somewhere...
Aha! Now we know that Smith's stash is in Panama, with its non-taxed foreign income.
Alongside her friend and Panama neighbour, Sam Mraiche, of Turkish Tylenol infamy.
Turns out Danielle is much more of a player than even her critics thought.
Born and raised in Alberta and if you disagree with conservatives you are a traitor in their eyes... you are branded an anti-albertan. Its very authoritarion type of politics. If you dont have different opinions you are not a democracy. but in Alberta if you have a differnt opinion you are a traitor. We voted in Alberta to go irresponsibly long all in on black and no one wants to admit we shot ourselves in the foot... when the bleeding starts Alberta screams out in pain "LIBERALS!!!!!!!!!"
We preach personaly responsibility for thee but not for me. We in Alberta have screwed ourselves more than any Federal party has and refuse to take personal responsibilty for the perdicatable consqeunces of our actions.
Heritage fund squandering being case in point. AIMCo more recently.
Premier Smith was extremely angry at Ms. Joly's comments about oil and gas being potentially cut off in the potential trade dispute. As international trade is federal jurisdiction, Albertans will have to cede to that authority in the event things go badly. During my career our motto was criticise in private, praise in public. This was demonstrated I am sure by other Premiers who support a collective action. Ms. Smith needs to reflect on her actions that illustrate weakness in Canada's negotiating position. She must also think about other Alberta industries that will be impacted as well. I can understand her lack of faith in a federal government that is rudderless especially the past few years, but there is always a time and place to close ranks.
Come on, Joly's comments were idiotic and just put Joly's lack of knowledge on full display. A repeat of her performance at the International Security Forum. The federal government has lost the plot- the issues are the border. 40 drones and 2 helicopters (regardless of colour) doesn't cut it. The feds and ford are getting way ahead of themselves by threatening retaliation tariffs etc.
This didn't age well. The information along with several levels of corroboration show, the border was never the issue.
Everyone thinks they (or their favourite politician) could do better but there's no evidence of that. No alternate plan that deviates materially from what the feds have done. Other than the capitulation option. That, the evidence shows, only emboldens Trump and leads to more bigger demands. And, if one is following the plot, we can also clearly see Canadians would not stand for that.
Thanks for the eastsplanation. Given the disproportionate share of federal revenue extracted from Alberta's GDP, hypothetical compensation from the Feds would be coming disproportionately from Alberta.
The Feds reap what they sow. The five decades of negative political capital that the Feds have built-up in Alberta, particularly under Liberal governments and especially those with a Trudeau at the helm have consequences.
Have any federal government politicians suggested export limits or taxes on electricity?
It’s slightly disproportionate per-capita, but Alberta is far from the largest contributor in absolute terms. We’re the third biggest contributor with BC barely behind us, and only a third of Ontario.
In real terms, Trump’s tariffs are going to hurt other provinces more than us, and any response is going to hurt them disproportionately more than us
Frankly, we’d be doing a lot better if we stopped thinking of ourselves as the main character, started working with the rest of the country, and solving our own problems
Per capita is what matters, and these figure suggest the AB's net contribution is by far the greatest: https://lop.parl.ca/sites/PublicWebsite/default/en_CA/ResearchPublications/201701E
How would tariffs hurt other provinces more when crude, natural gas and petroleum products are by far the largest export to the US?
https://thoughtleadership.rbc.com/canadian-industries-and-provinces-most-exposed-to-u-s-tariff-threat/#:~:text=Energy%20exports%20(%24166%20billion,dependence%20on%20the%20U.S.%20market.
When was the last time that the rest of the country tried to solve one of AB's problems? AB and SK took one for the team yet again when China retaliated against canola due to motor vehicle tariffs. I don't need to raise the issues around pipelines.
Canada has never been there for Alberta and shouldn't be surprised at the unwillingness to sacrifice its interest another time
Canada just finished paying for a $35 billion TMX pipeline upgrade. Pretty handy, when it comes to sending somewhere besides South.
exactly.
Well said. I have lived for more than a decade in Ontario, BC, Alberta . They are all my homes. I know and love people in each of these provinces .
Wow! Another totally ignorant Maple MAGAT who doesn’t have a single clue how the Equalization program works but sure did suck up all those lies fro t he Right as absolute gospel! FUCK OFF YOU TRAITOROUS PIECES OF SHIT AND GROW A FUCKING BRAIN!
To put your “disproportionate” comment in context, AB taxpayers, which represent around 11% of Canada’s total population, contribute around 14% of total federal income taxes and GST.
The potential for export limits or taxes on O&G was raised in response to Smith’s lobbying efforts to have AB’s O&G exports excluded from the threatened US import tariffs. To my knowledge the lobbying efforts of the federal government and all other Premiers have instead been focused on discouraging the imposition of US import tariffs on ANY Canadian exports, not just on electricity or on any other category of export that may be of particular importance to a Premier’s own Province.
I grew up there, still in the west and BC also gives large funds to feds for distribution. So when AB gets funds for Healthcare back, exactly how do they spend it? Show me. I’ve never had a reply to that. I know doctors in AB so quit fudging on that. I know that many left. Some actually came to BC rather than live under AHS. Secondly, where is the Heritage Fund I paid into for decades? Hmmm? Where is it? No pro Smith Albertan seems able to answer this as it was long gone before Rachel Notley (still have family and ties to AB so don’t even try to obfuscate). Wow, you may have supported 3% more than “you” think you owe in some individual’s study. I lived in AB when they received payments in the 1980s. Get over yourself and join Canada or decide what and where you want to live. Albertan born Canadian is tired of Albertan whinging. I know my family who (no joking, despises Trudeau unequivocally), but equally are disappointed in your lacklustre premiere.
Health transfers from the Feds have been per capita since around 2009.
The Heritage Fund is valued at around $25B: https://www.alberta.ca/heritage-savings-trust-fund#jumplinks-0. If you feel that accounting is fraudulent, you should provide evidence to the Auditor General and RCMP.
Ypur link doesn’t work. It just disappears….
Evan. Good article, and I am in full agreement. BUT I have to say, please do not use the term Newfies. It is a diminutive, and it is not proper. Proper is Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. "Newf" is acceptable in friendly conversation. "Newfie" is patronizing and disrespectful. We are are not quaint clichés. We are Canadians and we do not live in Newfieland.
Thank you for your attention.
Her actions do not indicate she is doing anything other than putting Danielle Smith first. Not Canada. Not Albertans. Not her riding. Maybe she will get a job at MaraLago.
Read this multiple times because it's truly cathartic. Thank you for calling her out so concisely and putting the whole claim in context.
Oh puleeese Evan.
Alberta is Not the west. Quit it.
BC is.
And we are as different as chalk and cheese.
Andrew Leach has built his academic non-partisan-ness into a whole performative routine, and he sticks to it even if it requires him to have the memory of a goldfish.
It’s pretty typical for an event to occur and a bunch of commenters to say “I bet the UCP/Smith is going behave badly again”. Then Leach will fly in with “you can’t just assume that ahead of time, that’s partisan”. Then when the UCP/Smith behaves badly he’s shocked, shocked! Never sees it coming.
His personal code of ethics apparently precludes things like object permanence and using past behavior to predict future behavior.
Smart, smart guy for statistics and economic analysis, but best ignored outside of that
Thank you.
The fact is that a critical mass of Albertans just do not trust the motives of Ottawa and Central Canada. The trust hasn't been earned. Albertans wonder why Ottawa (and Central Canada) has the audacity to think it deserves the benefit of the doubt from Alberta. Danielle Smith represents that and she is just doing what she explicitly was elected to do, represent Alberta first.
When Quebec demands sacrifice from the rest of Canada using national unity as a tool, that is seen as normal. When Alberta does it, it's loyalties are questioned. All Alberta wants is exactly whatever Quebec gets. If Quebec can control whole industries in Canada, using the rest of Canada as a captive market to rip off (dairy), or block free trade within Canada, why can't Alberta at least get it's product to market and a renegotiated equalization regime?
If the rest of Canada thinks Alberta is too disloyal for the rest of Canada, too "American" kick out Alberta. We dare you, but we know Canadians don't have the balls to make hard decisions. It wouldn't be polite.
She was not elected to go south to give Orange Caesar a hand job. Nor does she or you represent all Albertans (me). Since you claim Canadians don’t have the balls to make hard decisions, you must be referring to Albertans. The last time I looked, we were still part of Canada. I was born and raised in this province and I reject your divisive horsesh*t. Try not to act like Smith and her two puppets who are working to enrich only themselves.
Scrimbag, I think you may be on truedoughs payoff list, Canada first ?????? It's always been truedough first and his corrupt minions.
Why? Good feelings? Inertia? What's in it for Alberta?
Danielle Smith is paid by Alberta and she is Alberta first. What is so hard to understand about this.
This reminds me of the former Yugoslavia in the late 80s. Its eventually just didn't make financial sense.
True. Just concerned with who benefits... if these centres don't create many new jobs, that's not a great industry, is It?
Is this another cheap grab of our resources? What's the value added?
I don't want to defend Smith who I disagree with on most issues. However, Canadians should really think about whether counter-tariffs are the right tool. Our dollar is low and under US tariffs it would probably go lower. American importers might not be as inconvenienced by the tariffs as we think. Counter tariffs might result in investors no longer seeing Canada as a good place. In addition, oil, in particular crude oil, is not a rare commodity in the US. American refineries could simple switch to domestic sources (half the country is frakking itself). Granted that would be a cost and an effort for them, but once they switched, they wouldn't want to switch back. I would like to see our leaders think a little deeper on this problem. It is easy to have a fierce and patriotic response - that also will win them votes - but is it really best for Canada in the long term?
Did Smith meet with Trump, O'Leary, and Peterson to expedite a mega project in northern Alberta?
Some kind of exchange for an oil carve out from US tariffs?
The proposed massive electricity "data centre" (read: crypto) will use cheap natural gas power and abundant water for cooling.
This project is near Peterson's hometown.
The local First Nation has not yet been consulted but is worried.
And is Poilievre involved?
A few days ago, he was asked about Musk's endorsements of him on X. Poilievre replied, Wouldn't it be nice if Musk set up a factory in Canada and created thousands of jobs?
Follow the $.
Who benefits from such a deal?
OLeary's Wonder Valley project is 2oo km from Petersen's hometown of Fairview. As the Wonder Valley proposal would be located in an industrial park on private land, no indigenous consultation would be required. The project can be approved by arm's length municipal regulators, so no special favors are required from Smith or any other Provincial politician. Your theory is in search of a conspiracy.
I'm not suggesting a conspiracy, just wondering about expedited access where the benefits are unclear and the potential effects on water already concern the local Indigenous community.
Cui bono?
Maybe mere coincidence, sure.
But it's not easy to just trust Smith and UCP govt contracts right now...
The municipality has already approved the industrial park and has full authority to approve the data center so no expedited access is required. Only in activist infested Canada has the public been mislead to believe that all potentially controversial projects require indigenous consultation, or that ambitious projects can only proceed with government deal making. Got to knock down those tall poppies.
An advantage to Alberta's cold climate is reduced artificial cooling for data centers. If the municipality requires more water, it can seek additional license from the arms length regulator just like any other municipality outside the license contained South Saskatchewan Basin. Several large data centers are proposed in Alberta, for example https://www.datacenterdynamics.com/en/news/new-company-plans-data-center-campuses-totaling-12gw-in-alberta-canada/. Why aren't they attracting similar concern?
Maybe Smith has already sold Alberta's water to the US and O Leary's data center is cover. I also heard that Trump's grandfather conspired with Big Cotton to criminalize marijuana.
*misled
Oh great, many data centres!
Certainly, investors are attracted by the cold climate, abudant water, and cheap power.
Curious about how many jobs these data centres will create, how much pressure they exert on the power grid, and effects on the local environments.
I think these are fair questions for all of these centres.
Most will use behind the fence generation, meaning they will not draw grid power. Current AESO peak load is about 10,000 MW, so just the proposal south of Calgary will draw the equivalent of 10% of existing peak. Besides cold weather, Alberta's deregulated power market allowing customers to contract directly with generators, is appealing. Finally the activists that have blocked pipelines and LNG facilities have stranded so much gas in Alberta that transforming it into data makes economic sense, probably not an outcome they foresaw.
Why is the number of direct jobs created of concern? Data centers are mostly constructed offsite and require few people to maintain. This will help the gas industry and more importantly, set the stage for some difficult to predict spin offs from daat centers. Innovation is the only thing that drives living standards. Innovation is impossible to predict and certainly cannot be planned by technocrats.
Obviously innovation and diversification is much-needed in AB and Canada.
Renewable energy in the sunny and windy prairies would also be a good idea for sustaining our ecomonic future.
Oh wait - that goes against natural gas.
I think I'm starting to get why data centres are so welcome...