I have a workable solution to the current pipeline dilemma. B.C. takes in more than $5 billion per year in PST payments. Alberta’s population is only slightly less than B.C.’s, so if Alberta were to implement a sales tax, it should expect to collect about $5 billion per year, as well.
It could use this money to build one bitumen upgrader every two years until there is enough capacity to treat all of the bitumen intended to go into the Kinder Morgan pipeline expansion. This would provide lots of construction jobs and permanent employment for the province, and move Canada in the direction of adding value to our resources rather than exporting them.
What’s wrong with this idea? Well, it’s probably political suicide for the Alberta NDP or any other Alberta party, because who can expect Albertans to pay the same as the rest of Canadians to support their way of life?
I know it’s naïve, but it would be nice to see politicians show some backbone to make the right decisions for the country rather than for their own political fortunes.
Alan Newell
Chemainus
