
Given that Western Canada will absorb the majority of the commodity plunge in Canada, now is the perfect time to get to work approving nation-building and nation-improving infrastructure. It is not lost on Western Canada’s collective memory that the last time things were this bad, Ottawa made things worse - much worse - and under the same party that is governing today. The 1982 job losses were the result of a recession, on top of which Ottawa imposed the crushing National Energy Program.

To put this into context, it is the highest job loss since 1982, when Alberta lost 45,000 jobs. Statistics Canada recently released revised figures showing that Alberta had a net loss of 19,600 jobs in 2015. And there may be no better time to build pipelines given the hit commodity-rich provinces are experiencing from the global decline in prices. We need efficient highways and border crossings every bit as much as we need more pipelines. Which is why building and improving the infrastructure needed for those goods is also in the national interest. And this goes for all of Canada’s natural resources, as well as its manufactured goods. And, of course, it fills federal and provincial coffers to pay for programs we need and depend on, including equalization.Īll Canadians lose if we can’t find a way to get the highest price for our oil. It generates more wealth and opportunity for all of us by creating jobs in energy, construction, financial services and in other supporting industries from coast to coast. Getting the best price for our oil is in every Canadians’ interest. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
