So, there’s been controversy over the yellow vest convoy, partly due to the rhetoric. Recently, someone commented succinctly, “disgusted and angry people say a lot of things.”
When it seems there is no way to get at the other person (political party, boss, colleague, spouse, etc.), to get their attention, to impress them with just how serious the situation is, or to have our way, that’s when anger takes wing and vitriolic words spew forth.
I’ve never seen the West so worked up. Have you? Maybe I wasn’t watching closely in 1980 when Pierre Trudeau launched the national Energy Program.
Speaking with oil industry people from Alberta recently has been an eye opener for me. Yes, there is a crisis in Alberta beyond the cyclical slow down, as I understand it. People are scared.
Global news reported in September, 2018, “Calgary has second highest unemployment rate in Canada.” In November, “according to StatsCan, there were 2,300 jobs added in the agriculture sector, and over 4,000 added in manufacturing,” in Alberta. But still high unemployment, at 6.3 per cent.
Compare it to Manitoba’s economy – we are west of centre too. According to Manitoba’s economic highlights, (www.gov.mb.ca/finance) preliminary annual estimates for 2018 show, Manitoba’s unemployment rate averaged 6.0 per cent, fourth among provinces and above the 5.8 per cent national average.
CBC’s digital journal of Nov. 23 reported “Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the current low price of Canadian oil is a "crisis" for Alberta,” but he had no answers, www.digitaljournal.com.
Environmental concerns for running pipe through beautiful B.C.’s mountains are real. But pipeline technology and monitoring have come a very long way as I found out when touring the Enbridge Line 3 construction last fall. Where there’s a will, pipeline transport is the safest means of moving it.
Prime Minister Trudeau has taken the expected political approach to address greenhouse gas and environmental issues - legislation and taxation.
So low prices, concern for the environment and for jobs leaves me with simple questions.
What about new technology in refining processes? Why aren’t we putting our effort and energy toward building more refineries and manufacturing in Canada?
We are sending our oil to China so they can employ their masses cheaply, create products to ship all the way back here and pollute the globe in the process.
How can it be environmentally sustainable to constantly ship containers from China to Canada?
Just asking.
