Read between the lines on Prentice's speeches . . . .

[(ಠ_ಠ)]

— CP — Dec 9 2014


Premier Jim Prentice says low oil prices punch $6-$7B hole in Alberta budget


Premier Jim Prentice says his government will be dealing with a $6-billion to
$7-billion hole in Alberta’s $40-billion provincial budget if low oil prices
persist.

Prentice says that means all Albertans will feel the consequences.

But he says fixing the problem is not as simple as making deep across-the-board
cuts in government spending.

The premier says the government will limit spending to below the rate of
growth, plus inflation, and focus on core services.
_______________________________

So, what we hear is: "not as simple as making deep cuts in government spending".
So what ELSE is necessary?

Any Albertans want to venture some guesses?

[The Doctor]

— CP — Dec 9 2014
Premier Jim Prentice says low oil prices punch $6-$7B hole in Alberta budget
Premier Jim Prentice says his government will be dealing with a $6-billion to
$7-billion hole in Alberta’s $40-billion provincial budget if low oil prices
persist.
Prentice says that means all Albertans will feel the consequences.
But he says fixing the problem is not as simple as making deep across-the-board
cuts in government spending.
The premier says the government will limit spending to below the rate of
growth, plus inflation, and focus on core services.
_______________________________
So, what we hear is: "not as simple as making deep cuts in government spending".
So what ELSE is necessary?
Any Albertans want to venture some guesses?

BTW thank you for the thread of serious discussion.
It breaks the flaming monotony.

[Barry Bruyea]

Post by The Doctor

Post by (ಠ_ಠ)
— CP — Dec 9 2014
Premier Jim Prentice says low oil prices punch $6-$7B hole in Alberta budget
Premier Jim Prentice says his government will be dealing with a $6-billion to
$7-billion hole in Alberta’s $40-billion provincial budget if low oil prices
persist.
Prentice says that means all Albertans will feel the consequences.
But he says fixing the problem is not as simple as making deep across-the-board
cuts in government spending.
The premier says the government will limit spending to below the rate of
growth, plus inflation, and focus on core services.
_______________________________
So, what we hear is: "not as simple as making deep cuts in government spending".
So what ELSE is necessary?
Any Albertans want to venture some guesses?

BTW thank you for the thread of serious discussion.
It breaks the flaming monotony.

When the hell have you ever engaged in serious discussion about
anything? The extent of your posts are usually idiotic one liners.

[(ಠ_ಠ)]

Most likely our magnanimous government will open up even more "Trade Offices" in order to sell even more of our cheap natural resources to the world.

Two problems with that:
1. There's a glut of oil out there now, and the prospective customers that
Harper & Alberta had their eyes on are closer to alternative sources like Saudi
Arabia and Iran and Iraq. As soon as the dust clears, you can bet China and
India and Pakistan will be buying their oil from middle east countries - not
Canada or the U.S.
And the opposition to pipelines in Canada is growing - not just on the west
coast anymore, but in Ontario, Quebec and even in the maritimes.

2. The Harper government just promised Alberta $2.27 Billion from the Federal
Gas Tax Fund - 'to help with infrastructure that will enable resource exports'.
That's tax dollars from every Canadian in this country towards Alberta's
fracking up more earth to sell oil tar to fuel-hungry countries. Talk about
abuse of Canadian tax monies.


CURRENT STATUS OF INTERNATIONAL OFFICES
Alberta established its first international office in London in the early 1900s
to encourage immigration and trade. That important
effort saw the expansion of our province with the arrival of tens of thousands
of families who, generations later, still contribute to the
province’s success.

Since then, the London office and the international office program as a whole
has gone through numerous changes.
In the 1970s a network of high profile international offices was developed in
key markets, including London, Hong Kong, Tokyo,
New York and Los Angeles. These offices had a broad economic, political and
social mandate, and offered a range of programs
and services. In the 1990s, the international office program was restructured.
Some offices were closed and others rebuilt as
smaller offices in key economic markets. The offices were given a mandate to
promote Alberta’s economic interests. That mandate
remains today.

Locations
Today Alberta’s international offices are located in:

Hong Kong
Beijing
Shanghai
Taipei
Tokyo
Seoul
London
Munich
Mexico City
Washington, D.C.

Of the ten offices, eight are co-located in an embassy or consulate to benefit
from the resources and profile of the Canadian
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade. Tokyo and Hong Kong
function as stand-alone officices.

http://www.calgaryherald.com/Prentice+calls+full+review+Alberta+foreign+trade+offices/10141988/story.html

http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/Prentice+shakes+foreign+trade+offices/10211861/story.html