@trevortombe @globeandmail Having now read the piece, I see that some of what I had put in my other thread was related to part of what the opinion writer, Kenneth Whyte, had written.
@trevortombe @globeandmail The question as to whether Conservatives in AB will be able to engage in the broader conversation with other Canadian conservatives is a good one. I think the answer is probably yes, so long as AB conservatives work on both projects at once. 3/N
@trevortombe @globeandmail One outstanding issue for improving returns on Canadian oil is the completion of the Trans Mountain Pipeline. This appears to moving along. This and other pipeline capacity expansions will help reduce the price differential due to congestion. 4/N
@trevortombe @globeandmail The issue of reducing the carbon footprint of AB's oil sector through technology, along with other ways to get towards a net zero carbon footprint for Canada (LNG exports as a credit for reducing coal use in China/India) shows creative thinking toward solving the problem. 5/N
@trevortombe @globeandmail While the exact solution will likely differ from what has been put forward, it shows thinking that is both trying to solve a problem for AB industry, while trying to solve the climate change issue and bring some level of alignment with the rest of Canada. 6/N
@trevortombe @globeandmail We also heard about the AB Premier making some unilateral moves to improve Canada's internal trade (this is something that was suggested in October by @trevortombe). Freer flow of goods, services and labour between Canadian provinces will help Canada overall, and AB. 7/N
@trevortombe @globeandmail Hopefully this furthers further fruit in terms of eliminating, or nearly eliminating the internal barriers to the flow of goods, services and labour that still stand within Canada, so Canadians can all benefit from them. 8/N
@trevortombe @globeandmail Now @trevortombe had earlier suggested improving: internal trade, labour mobility and federal transfers. Bang-on suggestions. How about a new deal FOR Canada | CBC News cbc.ca/news/canada/ca…? 10/N
@trevortombe @globeandmail The part about improving federal transfers needs to be looked at, since this could have made the oil price crash less binding on AB. 11/N
@trevortombe @globeandmail A number of these changes (improving internal trade, labour mobility and federal transfers); the climate issue while adding in export capacity for Canadian oil to the USA and the Rest of the world, while approaching net zero emissions, via exporting LNG vs coal. 12/N
@trevortombe @globeandmail Directly reducing the environmental impact of Canadian oil extraction on a per barrel basis, and a number of other approaches - supply and demand side. These show a willness to engage. So long as creative solutions that offer a win-win are brought to the table, it will help. 13/N
@trevortombe @globeandmail This more nuanced approach to climate change and having a strong petrochemical industry in Canada can be very helpful for forming policy for the broader Conservative movement (and broader Canadian society in general). 14/N
@trevortombe @globeandmail The broader conservative movement, if it wishes to expand itself will need to deal with the social conservative question(s) that seem to have been part of the issue that held back the Conservatives in the latest Federal election. There have been a number of comments on this. 15/N
@trevortombe @globeandmail The question needs to be dealt with in an authentic way, assuaging people of their fears, while bringing together Conservatives on things they agree on. This will likely be one of the harder issues to deal with, and I am no expert on how to do that. 16/N
@trevortombe @globeandmail One other issue for Conservatives is that they need to build bridges with new Canadians in particular, since this is a key and expanding base of support. Eliminating any perception of being anti-immigrant needs to be part of the Conservative party's discussion. 17/N
@trevortombe @globeandmail In terms of economic discussions, practical re-calibration of policy this will contribute to the broader discussion so long as AB and the Federal Govt both try to work towards a long term solution for the betterment of the country, and facilitate the broader conversation. 18/18
@trevortombe @globeandmail My threads are not meant to be partisan, since I try to avoid that; rather a few thoughts on the situation & article.
All federal parties probably will be doing some thinking around these issues, trying to expand their voter bases for the next and future elections.
All federal parties probably will be doing some thinking around these issues, trying to expand their voter bases for the next and future elections.
