B.C. Premier on a Rampage

Smoky Lake Signal Article No. 230 (August 1, 2012) Whispering in the Wind An interesting thing happened to me while writing this article, the power went off and my plans had to change abruptly. I had to quickly learn my wife’s portable, battery operated computer system and at 71 that wasn’t easy. Hopefully this re-write will make it through the system before the copy deadline. B.C. Premier on a Rampage – Wants More Money! Premier Christy Clark of British Columbia threw a monkey wrench into federal-provincial and inter-provincial relations last week when Ms. Clark demanded more “benefit” and less risk from the construction and operation of the proposed Northern Gateway Pipeline; a $5.5 billion project that would ship bitumen from Alberta’s oil sands to Kitimat B.C. and then onward to Asian markets. According to some research done by the B.C. government; 8.2 per cent of the Northern Gateway’s projected $81 billion tax revenue would go to B.C. over a 30 year period. Said another way: $6.7 billion for B.C.; $4 billion for Saskatchewan; $32 billion for Alberta; and Ottawa would take in $36 billion. Premier Clark carefully states that if the Province of British Columbia doesn’t receive more “benefit” (from Alberta’s royalty levy) there will be no pipeline project. In one sense, Premier Clark has outlined her version of a National Energy Strategy, specifically as it relates to oil sands development in Alberta, in the meantime Premier Redford is moving forward on her version of a National Energy Strategy with the support of nine premiers and the territorial leaders (apparently without the participation of the Premier of British Columbia). To sum up, I think Premier Clark’s demands are ridiculous and divisive – and most important; extremely dangerous for the country – leads me to think that she has other motives. B.C. Premier of a Rampage – Wants to Get Re-elected! In early June of this year a poll was taken on Canada’s provincial premiers and their approval rankings – Saskatchewan’s premier, Brad Wall raked first with a 67 percent approval; second was Alberta’s premier, Alison Redford; and the premiers of Manitoba and Newfoundland / Labrador tied for third. The poll put Liberal leader and premier of British Columbia, Christy Clark’s rating at 30 per cent, a drop of 3 per cent from a similar poll taken in March of 2012 – only the Nova Scotia premier had a worse showing. Relevant is the ranking of British Columbia’s opposition leader, NDPs Adrian Dix, who ranked second most popular opposition leader in the poll with an approval rating of 58 per cent. To repeat, the poll was taken in early June, 2012 and the pollsters at that time indicated that if Christy Clark wants to hang on to power, she and the Liberals will have to find a way to close the gap before the next election (the election must be held in less than a year). Well, Christy Clark found a way to gain positive attention in British Columbia, the Northern Gateway Pipeline project. One pollster has already indicated that Christy Clark’s actions and rhetoric is going over well in British Columbia and could mean an approval boost of 10 or more points. Ten or more points is critical when fighting in an election – looking forward to an election in the early fall in British Columbia and a lot more Alberta bashing.