Big Oil not kidding about pulling out of Alberta

Financial Post Published: Thursday, October 04, 2007

Excerpts:

Canada's largest oil companies warned yesterday they are not making idle threats in the aftermath of public-opinion surveys showing Albertans think the sector is posturing when it says it will shift billions if the government imposes higher taxes and royalties.

The oil industry's push to sway public opinion has escalated in the wake of polls showing 88% of Albertans believe they are not getting "a fair share" from oil and gas royalties and that 66% of those polled want Ed Stelmach, Alberta's Premier, to fully adopt the contents of a controversial report from a provincial panel two weeks ago urging a 20% boost in government take from the oil sector, or $2-billion a year.

Another poll out today suggests that 62% of Albertans believe a royalty increase will have a positive impact on their family through improved government spending on programs or infrastructure. Conversely, 41% fear that a rate increase will have a negative effect, either through work or through investment.

"I don't think these are idle threats," CEO Ron Brenneman, told reporters in a conference call. "I think these companies are being honest, having looked at their budgets and understood what the implications would be of these higher royalties. It's a simple statement of fact on their part."

I find those poll numbers mind-numbing. Either the polls are completely manipulated or Albertans are far, far more stupid and susceptible to government propaganda than I ever tho0ught.

They are certainly different from the Ispsos-Reid polls presented by CAPP and discussed disdainfully in the Royalty Review Report.

Remember too that poll results mean NOTHING ABOUT WHAT IS RIGHT. Polls prior to the invasion of Iraq showed overwhelming popular support for the action, which has been slowly eroding to become mass unpopularity. A massive government propaganda campaign essentially misled the US to entering the war against a small country that meant the US no harm. People eventually figured out the truth and now the poll numbers reflect the war as being extraordinarily unpopular.

Polls are interesting; but decisions must be made on what is right. Interesting how the poll numbers have changed after the public was propagandized with "fairness".