Canada - Targetted?

Smoky Lake Signal Article No. 234 (August 29, 2012) Whispering in the Wind Over the past five years I have written “Whispering in the Wind” with one important objective in mind: to have the reader think about politics and react to the assessments and opinions offered in the column; whether they are positive or negative. I get e-mails and have been stopped on the streets in Smoky Lake with encouraging remarks and suggestions – I have also been told that my views are “out to lunch” and I wage biased “battles” opposite politicians and how political issues are being handled – keep the comments coming. China is Awash in Money For those that have forgotten, the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) is a communist country – forty years ago the so called “western” nations voiced distain on the PRC and its repressive, undemocratic society. Today, the PRC is simply called China, it is still repressive and undemocratic but it has grown to be the world’s consumer goods manufacturing center – thanks to many global corporations moving into China to take advantage of its cheap labor environment. China has also become the holder of much of the United States’ debt so China is now awash in US debt-money. As a result of its wealth it now appears that China is starting another phase in its world presence – imperialism. China has not only has proved itself to be an astute player at the game of capitalism, China has now become imperialistic and could it be that one of its targets is Canada? Is Canada a Target? China’s National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) recently put in a $15.1 billion bid for the takeover of the Canadian, Nexen Inc. – it is the biggest takeover bid of a Canadian company by a Chinese state owned entity. Also Talisman Energy Inc. wants to sell a 49 percent interest in its North Sea operation to Sinopec for $1.5 billion – last year, Sinopec bought Daylight Energy Ltd for $2.1 billion and that purchase was the first successful bid by a Chinese state owned company for a North American energy company. In 2012, PetroChina was successful it its bid for the purchase of Athabasca Oils Sands Corp. making PetroChina the full owner of that oil sands project. It is also estimated that in the future there could be tens of thousands of Chinese workers stationed in the Fort McMurray area under what is called the temporary foreign workers program – there are already a number of serious labor charges that the Chinese workers are not being treated in accordance to Canadian, Alberta labor and safety standards. Both the Nexen and the Talisman deals are still pending with the final decisions awaiting a ruling by the federal government as to the “likely” net benefits accruing to Canada. From my perspective, Canadian resources should be developed and traded on the international markets and that is why the pipelines going to the west coast and into the US are so important; but CANADA IS NOT FOR SALE! Secondly, it’s time that the federal government gave its full support for the development of a national energy strategy.