Isn't Alberta Alaska's Canary In The Coal Mine?

Alaska Headlamp 

"Wrong every step of the way."

Bill Walker, Alaska Governor, Reserves Tax, Failure, Alaska Journal of Commerce, AkHeadlamp, Morning Headlamp, Alliance, Photo by Dave HarbourIn the wake of the latest self-inflicted challenge for the AKLNG project, the Alaska Journal of Commerce published an editorial chronicling Gov. Bill Walker's (NGP Photo) failings and hypocrisies dating back to his time on the campaign trail.

Commentary:

This is a time of low energy prices and severe industry cost cutting, right? 

Why, under these circumstances, would Alberta's new Premier be attacking carbon on her way to the Paris Climate Change Conference?  

*Why would the Governor of Alaska have recently threatened investors interested in monetizing Alaska's vast gas reserves with a 'reserves tax'? 

Indeed, why wouldn't these leaders be taking extra steps to provide an inviting investment climate for those who sustain the very government that attacks them?

Yes, these are rhetorical questions, answers to which diminish one's confidence in one's government.  Alaska's governor has demonstrated a visceral dislike for industry and a desire to take control of the means, allocation and distribution of production.  Alberta's premier is going, "all in" with the global warming agenda whose real objective is to, "destroy capitalism".

*No, we don't give Alaska's governor a 'pass' on this one solely because he later rescinded / postponed the gas reserves tax threat.  First, he's not expressed any remorse for initiating the threat, implying that the threat is ongoing.  Second, the mere threat of a new tax in a low price environment when investors are considering a $45-65 billion investment either pollutes the investment climate intentionally, or stupidly.  

In either case, the result is the same: a governor and a premier — charged with husbanding vast resource wealth and protecting the public interest — acting in ways that will increase consumer utility / energy costs, while diminishing investment, employment, economic vitality, and government royalty/tax income.    

Alaska's industry layoffs have not yet taken hold in force.  But absent wiser gubernatorial leadership, an economic recession could be just around the corner.  After all, Alaska's government and economy are much more dependent on oil income than Alberta is, and the ultimate pain in the 49th state could be much worse.   -dh 

 
 
Group layoffs in Alberta surge past 18000 workers

“Of the 18,006 employees impacted this year, approximately 78 per cent are related to layoffs by the oil and gas sector