The Alberta Government’s scientists contention that the oilsands are not polluting the Athabasca River has been refuted by an independent study conducted by University of Alberta scientists. I am surprised that anyone feels it is even necessary to address this issue. Do they really think that the methods we are using to extract that oil can be used without consequence? In all of this Ed Stelmach continues to try and convey an image of being open minded and unprejudiced. Again I have to ask, does anyone really think that he does not have a stake in keeping the oilsands running, no matter the cost?
Alberta has been the richest province in Canada for decades. We have been raking in the royalties off of oil revenue that have been filling the provincial coffers as well as creating the Heritage Trust Fund - our province’s insurance plan for Alberta’s future. After over thirty years of living the high life, we find our economy, and ourselves, still completely dependent upon oil revenue. We haven’t diversified one iota and in fact we have become even more dependent upon oil revenue. Thirty years of interest income from the Heritage Trust Fund continues to be spent as fast as it accumulates as part of our provincial budgetary strategy.
Today we find ourselves in a situation where our Premier cannot lead the province without the oil companies. Ed Stelmach may be the Premier but make no mistake, it is the oil companies that are running the province and dictating government policy. If we want to change government policy, our beef is with the corporations and the corporations are only a reflection of our spending habits. Change is up to us.
“I see in the near future a crisis approaching that unnerves me and causes me to tremble for the safety of my country. ... corporations have been enthroned and an era of corruption in high places will follow, and the money power of the country will endeavor to prolong its reign by working upon the prejudices of the people until all wealth is aggregated in a few hands and the Republic is destroyed.” - Abraham Lincoln (1809 - 1865)
1 comment:
Very true, and the technology to clean up after the processes used in the oilsands is available and used in other parts of Canada. Yet our government is so afraid of upsetting these oil companies they refuse to push them to operate more responsiblty, after all that would affect the price of production and impact the wealth of our province. Do they not recognize that cleaning up this mess is going to be even more expensive? It makes you wonder alright.
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