Challenging the perception of Alberta

[WiltonRanch]

Alberta is flatter than piss on a plate. Anyone who says otherwise is retarded or has their head shoved so far up their ass. Went to bc for a holiday, first time there. Lots of real estate for sale and unfinished houses through the valley through Kimberley to invermere. Was a lot of Alberta people coming in and building but now a lot hasn't moved for over a year. I don't foresee it getting better because if oil stays in the 40 to 60 range probably half isn't worth producing. $100+ oil caused a virtual gold rush which encouraged an influx of people for which there are no jobs now. My home city of lloydminster was hovering at 19% unemployment. Over 6000 people have left the city. Another point to consider how many out of province residents lost their Alberta jobs and are at home collecting pogie. We haven't seen the worst of it. When the foreigners start moving out you will know it's bad.

[boarderbloke]

http://www.therebel.media/statscan_alberta_ndp_adds_47_000_government_jobs

[helmsdale]

Hobby, of course it doesnt match the most recent messages youve been hearing out of alberta. The article was written DECEMBER 2015! While the diversity of the labour market info is still relevant, the labour, and in particular the unemployment rate is not. AB currently stands at 7.9%, a full 1% and then some above the national avg.

If you want to see the extent of the downturn, check out http://economicdashboard.alberta.ca and click on each indicator for a full breakdown or multi year comparison.

[WiltonRanch]

Yep, any Albertan will tell you that the engine is sputtering. Statistics can be massaged and manipulated to say whatever one wants. Notley is walking a tightrope just like a lot of farmers. SK is not far behind, bet Wall would like the money back that he wasted on carbon capture and stadium.

Dont kick carbon capture in the nuts until you learn about its potential for increased secondary oil recovery. That said though was it a govt boondoggle? You bet! Would of been better and cheaper to give Husky an incentive to develop their co2 projects. That football stadium what a flipping waste. I'm biased though cause I could care less about football. Put it into roads, education, social services. Put taxes to where they're meant to go.

[mcfarms]

Last year I bought some rebar for a project 9.85 for a piece, bought some week a ago from UFA for 5.95.

Rebar is a surprisingly good indication of the health of an economy.

[perfecho]

Visited a friend who sells houses in newly developed areas in south Edmonton....was somewhat slow in spring, but now they say they are quite busy. Friend listed her house in Edmonton and had offer in 10 days...for way more than I thought it was worth.
Heard of foreclosures in Redwater, and quite a number of them...not sure , only rumor.
Have a nephew, who must be a great hand, because they are keeping him working on rigs, yeah , he has to shuffle around a bit, but they are keeping him working. Had some workers here this summer, as I had a bunch of stuff to catch up on, and the guys I had, seemed to have a rough time finding a job....and I now know why...they are no longer here.
Some things are rolling along decently, others suck....not as easy for some as it used to be, but I still think a reshuffle was needed. Yeah, its gonna hurt, but it is needed.
Problem was, money came too easy....and we got used to it.

[Guest]

can't argue with that , some govt people actually think they earned their EDO every fourth friday

[Hamloc]

I have a cousin who is a framer. Last year built lots of houses in Red deer. This year no work in Red deer. He has kept busy building decks and doing some tile jobs. I have 3 friends worked in oil 30 years. One is still working good hours, the other 2 are working about 20% of last year and have taken a 25% wage cut. My son does concrete, last year most jobs were for younger 25-40, this year all but 1 job clients were over 50 and well established. Neighbor sells free range chicken, business is down 30-40%. Alberta is hurting and NDP policies are not helping. Anti business higher taxes very sad.

[Hamloc]

Grassfarmer one point that you made that is correct. Under the much maligned PC's the province had diversified its economy.

[BFW]

Would agree with Perfecho. Money was to easy in Alberta for people and government included and therefore much was wasted. Its painful but necessary and stupid NDP policies only add to the troubles.