Alberta’s fire-sale prices on its natural gas, oil, petroleum, are leaving its money pool shallow. Insisting on remaining “competitive,” Alberta’s below-reasonable royalty rates and cheap selling prices are cutting an estimated $42 billion of potential government revenue. How much of a disservice can a government do to its population? Clearly a large one. Albertans only see about one fifth the value of the oil-related product their province sells; on top of that, Alberta’s keeping the pie from which Albertan’s slice is cut small in itself. What gives? I understand there’s the election coming up, and no party wants to be under the microscope of their respective oil purchasers, but that’s no justifications for the past 40 years; Alberta is dropping the ball here. If the government wants to rebuild Alberta’s Heritage Savings Trust and Sustainability Funds and ensure the stability of Alberta’s future, being more assertive in its demanded royalties and selling price sure wouldn’t hurt. I think Alberta is going to have to show oil companies some tough love- after all, extra money in a province seems like it will be put to better use than in a sector where retailers are basically swimming in excess profits. It’s time to stop being nice to the guy with 100 apples by giving him one of your two.

(http://canadiandimension.com/articles/4523/)