It appears that Quebec speaks out of both sides of their mouths. They condemn Alberta oil sands in one breath at Copenhagen and in the next, they send a big delegation to Alberta looking for lucrative contracts.
But while the Quebec Premier is spewing hot air and smoke about his concern for the environment, his bureaucracy back home is working hard to benefit from the energy sector.
Next week, for instance, the Quebec Ministry of Economic Development, Innovation and Export will organize an economic mission to Edmonton "to seize all the business opportunities" in the "recovery of oil sand development projects in Alberta".
Bureaucrats are also busy in the Quebec Ministry of Finance, preparing their 2010-2011 budget, which includes income of $8.5-billion in transfer payments, much of it from Alberta's oil fields. Similarly, the Caisse de depot et de placement du Quebec, which manages Quebec's pension plans, is also trying to recover from last year's historical loss by investing massively in the petroleum industry. Actually, according to its latest annual report, one quarter of the Caisse's most important stocks are in petroleum companies, including Canadian Natural Ressources Ltd, Chevron, Exxon Mobil, ENI (Agip), Shell, PetroChina and Petroleo Brasileiro. It is, in fact, the most important sector of investment of the Caisse's portfolio.
Funny that, Alberta is bad, until they want our money, then they take it without so much as a thank you.
Chantal Hebert gets that it is a Quebec versus Alberta fight. Too bad she doesn't mention that 10 seats in Quebec means nothing politically anymore. Quebec has lost it's political power, they are not needed for a majority, and they can thank the Bloc for that. Keep voting Bloc separatists, and see your power diminish even more.
This time, the issue is not the Constitution but climate change, and, in a reversal from the Mulroney dynamics, the Harper government is sending clear signals that it is willing to risk its small beachhead in Quebec to preserve its larger Alberta base.
The lengths to which the Conservatives are willing to go to do so were on exhibit Monday when Environment Minister Jim Prentice attacked Quebec's aggressive climate-change approach.
Too bad even columnists like Chantal, who I like, are still trumpeting the bogus climate change horn. So much for the sophisticated Quebec voters. If climate change is such an issue for Quebec, maybe they shouldn't come to Alberta looking for contracts, and maybe they should vote Green next election. Right, I thought not, somehow jobs are more important, right Quebec?
Here's the deal Quebec, you don't buy our oilsands oil, and we won't send you the 8 BILLION in equalization payments, we will call it a fair and square deal!
15 comments:
Let's hope Alberta gets real support from Ontario and other provinces who have been feeding the imbalance of transfer of wealth.
Quebec is our Greece and they must fix their own books.
As an Ontario resident Ontario has been sending money to Quebec as long as Alberta and very little progress has been made in fixing the labour mobility issues.
It is time to lower the barriers between provinces for all Canadians so we can move, work and purchase from each other without unfair burdens/costs.
Quebec unfortunately; is like that spoiled rotten little bastard from down the street who causes all kinds of trouble but when the rubber hits the road and is asked to put up or shut up only whines and cries about how miss understood and how badly they are treated by everyone, so typical....Steve
One condition I would put on any contracts with Quebec, would be-English only.
Et tu EsQue!
Heart meet Wallet
The more money the ROC sends to Quebec, the more money they spend on social programs too pricey for any other province.
$7 child care,
and now line up for your invetro fertilization...
Oh, and just how is it Quebec can afford to buy NB Power?
Right, they finance $5B which means they get even a bigger share in equalization.
I notice that S Trou de Queue is absent, today. Do you think he may have found another blog to troll? Nah. Probably too cowardly to show his 'face'.
Conservatives...taking whining to a new level...
Funny EofE, just when you mentioned it, s/he showed up!
I often notice that s/he will not comment on Quebec issues. Wonder why? You think they would be very upset with my supposed Quebec bashing. Guess they understand that it is Quebec who is bashing Alberta and trying to pick a fight. Oh well, never take a knife to a gun battle.
He was waiting for his equalization cheque from Alberta.
He ran to store to buy his smokes and booze and fresh bagel so he can return to his little studio and paint self portraits.
He truly believes his views should be funded.
And the point of this exercise, outside of thumbing your nose at Quebec, is what, that the Conservatives could stand to lose 10 seats and Quebec and the loss would be meaningless, nothing to concern yourself with.
Perhaps not a significant numerical loss, but it would be significant in another sense, for a Party which seeks to constitute a national government and govern the entire country. It would be akin to the Liberals having no representation in Alberta and perhaps slightly more significant, dealing with representation of one of the two major cultural components in this country, not simply another Newfoundland.
Charest is fair game on his environmental policies, but I suspect with the flak he is receiving on the construction industry enquiries in Quebec he won't be picking too many arguments with Stelmach or Prentice anytime soon.
As a general comment, I could pick any region of Canada which held some significance to me at some point in my life, say Prince Albert, Sask., as my handle, but it would mean no more than that, and then if you disliked my comments you would what - dump all over the people of Prince Albert as "rubes" and say, "guess that showed them".
I don't know why you would want to bait the Cynic's crowd, when they do show up you complain about how they're rude and impolite ... but if you seek to bait the Cynic's crowd, use a different bait than Quebec. They're not exactly keen on Quebec issues and debates on Quebec if you peruse the Cynic's blog .. no real consensus on perspective there ...
and the only thing you'll achieve with this Quebec baiting ... other than not drawing the Cynic and his crew out .. is to get Heritage Minister James Moore and your own Conservative MP to shake their heads and pretend ... I don't know those people...
Dupmar, I could care less about what Cynic is doing or saying, I never go there, it's a very slimy place as far as I can tell by the people who come over here from his place.
If you read my post, you would actually see that I am saying that Quebec should be Alberta's firend but they keep bashing us, and we need to respond.
You might live and breath Cynics foul air, but I do not write my post for him. Get over yourself.
hunter
read back over the contributions to this discussion.
Some of your contributors were hoping derogatory comments directed towards Quebec would draw out the Cynic's crowd
good sport if they showed up, "cowardly" if they don't... but then don't complain when they do show up and don't behave themselves ...
as for my point .. Quebec bashing won't draw them out .. not really high on their list of priorities ... it will however draw out critical comment from Conservative supporters who feel this does little to enhance the Conservative image or Conservative support ...
The word for welfare in Quebec is bien-etre social...or, as most people call it: B-S. Seriously, that is the common abbreviation for bien-etre social. Appropriate, oui?
La prononciation est comme 'bay ess'. In either language, BS is BS.
Quebec is not being attacked.
The financial constraints of our country must be respected.
If the Equalization Program has been proven to be a crutch for provinces in becoming self-reliant it should be examined and eliminated.
If the current provincial government wants to fund invitro, daycare and other programs they should be able to fund it through their own citizens.
I live in Ontario, support each province pay for their own social programs and pet projects.
If Toronto wants to build an opera house or another subway fund it in your backyard.
In Oakville we are being asked to fund $ 200 million for a new hospital through our Mill rate.
Let each city, province make their own priorities and be accountable.
Send 'em home empty-handed.
Thank you for coming, we heard what you had to say at Copenhagen -- now goodbye.
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