Canada Shines in a Sea of Dispair

Smoky Lake Signal Article No 225 (June 13, 2012) Whispering in the Wind Builderberg Conference Every year, since 1954 about 100 of the world’s most powerful political, financial thinkers gather for “informal, private” discussions on issues that are deemed relevant for the time. The 2012 sessions were held in Chantilly, Virginia and Premier Alison Redford was invited (which is an honor in itself) and “Good for Alberta” “Good for Canada,” she went. Premier Redford’s invitation to the Builderberg Conference (and her subsequent attendance) to me indicates that there is international recognition by the world’s business / government elite that Alberta, with its massive oil sands reserves, will be playing an ever increasing role in international development affairs. What I found surprising (if not astounding) was the reaction by Wildrose Party leader, Danielle Smith. Danielle Smith suggested that the premier attended the Conference with only one motive and that her attendance was strictly a personal networking event that would only be used by the Alberta’s premier after she left politics – and because of that singular, personal motive she should pay for the cost of her attendance – if that’s Danielle Smith’s view of Premier Redford’s motives than I don’t think the Leader of the Official Opposition has a clue on how local or provincial politics works, never mind how international politics works. To me, Danielle Smith is attacking rather than supporting a sincere effort to advance Alberta’s interests. For me, Danielle Smith has gone way over the top with her confusing logic and misdirected conclusions. Harper’s Plea in Europe Last week Prime Minister Harper urged leaders in the European Union to move aggressively and “decisively” on the obvious financial crisis in Europe. Mr. Harper offered his “public plea” after a meeting with France’s new president, Francois Hollande who has politically rejected the austerity measures recommended by the international community. In my view it is quite unusual for the head of one nation state to comment on the economic affairs of another nation state (or group of nation states) but Prime Minister Harper is rightly suggesting dire consequences to the global economic framework should the eurozone states not get their act together. In Mr. Harper’s view the 17 member eurozone and the 27 member European Union lack the “strong institutional structures” that are necessary and associated with a monetary union, indicating that “it’s a half-done project” and Europe needs the tools necessary to deal with crises. Mr. Harper did acknowledge that crisis will not be an easily fixed “but we don’t have years to fix this problem,” and “There has to be a plan” to restore confidence in Europe and the euro. Unfortunately there was not a lot of detail on how to fix the dire situation in Europe. Canada, in Good Shape, but …… I don’t think there is any doubt; the world is not in good economic shape. Much of the world’s financial sector in chaos, largely due to globalization and an unregulated international banking system, causing economic instability around the world – Europe is already on a financial precipice with about a half dozen European countries on the verge of economic collapse – the United States is in deep, deep debt with really no solutions other than printing more money and that means inflation – China is slowing significantly because of internal corruption and their international markets contracting. Canada is actually in pretty good shape with its stronger, better regulated banking system (nevertheless Canadian banks are still vulnerable) and its aggressive resource development strategies, BUT if the dominos start to fall, things could get ugly – the Prime Minister has already indicated that Canada is starting to do some “contingency” planning.