Alberta in Grit sightsNEP architect Marc Lalonde new Quebec co-chair
By Ezra Levant
Paul Martin has appointed Marc Lalonde to be the Quebec co-chair of the Liberal party's re-election campaign, expected in the spring.
Lalonde was Pierre Trudeau's energy minister who enacted the National Energy Program that brought Alberta to its knees. The Liberal party has never recanted or apologized for the NEP. Martin's rehabilitation of Lalonde shows that, if anything, the NEP and its abusive taxes and regulations are still considered morally valid by Liberals.
The NEP was never really about energy -- it was about taking Alberta down a notch. That's what Lalonde himself said. "The major factor behind the NEP wasn't Canadianization or getting more from the industry or even self-sufficiency," said Lalonde, quoted in David Kilgour's book, Uneasy Patriots.
"The determinant factor was the fiscal imbalance between the provinces and the federal government. ... Our proposal was to increase Ottawa's share appreciably, so that the share of the producing provinces would decline significantly and the industry's share would decline somewhat."
Mission accomplished. Alberta and the oil patch were trashed and, according to economist Robert Mansell, Ottawa grabbed $60-billion in extra taxes. That's well over $100-billion in today's dollars.
This isn't a history lesson, though. This is a warning about the near future.
Lalonde is back, chosen by Martin, the same Martin who told Parliament that not only did he favour the Kyoto Protocol, but he thought it was only the first step.
Don't get distracted, though. This isn't about the environment or some foreign treaty. This is still about what Lalonde said it was the first time around: Keeping Alberta in its place. Kyoto is the excuse.
There is a rumble from Ontario and Quebec Liberals, and their chorus at large central Canadian newspapers, to take on Alberta. It's a combination of economic jealousy and ideological vengeance. These newspapers have run screaming headlines about the price of gasoline -- and all have studiously ignored or underplayed the role of taxes, which make up nearly half the price at the pumps.
Again don't get distracted. This isn't about high prices for consumers. This is about Alberta.
Last week, an Eastern newspaper reported Ontario wants Alberta to pay more tax, but they'd prefer their federal Liberal cousins to lead the charge because "it would have the least effect if it came from Ontario."
The next day Martin was happy to oblige. "Let Alberta be a beacon for the best and brightest," said Martin, "on the condition that Canada as a whole is as well."
"On the condition ... ?" What does that mean? That Alberta's success is conditional on what other provinces do? That Albertans' ability to work and earn and keep their own wealth is subject to other provinces' jealousy? And that Martin will be the judge and enforcer of that veto?
Martin now has Lalonde for advice and another Quebecer, Stephane Dion, for action. Last month, Dion reclassified harmless carbon dioxide in the same regulatory category as toxic waste, so Ottawa now has jurisdiction over CO2. Soon, oil companies will have to pay a "technology investment fund" tax, now planned for $200/ton for CO2. This is a carbon tax.
We know who: Paul Martin, Marc Lalonde and Stephane Dion. We know why: To put Alberta back in its place. And we know how: A carbon tax. What we don't know is whether Premier Ralph Klein gives a damn.
By Ezra Levant
Paul Martin has appointed Marc Lalonde to be the Quebec co-chair of the Liberal party's re-election campaign, expected in the spring.
Lalonde was Pierre Trudeau's energy minister who enacted the National Energy Program that brought Alberta to its knees. The Liberal party has never recanted or apologized for the NEP. Martin's rehabilitation of Lalonde shows that, if anything, the NEP and its abusive taxes and regulations are still considered morally valid by Liberals.
The NEP was never really about energy -- it was about taking Alberta down a notch. That's what Lalonde himself said. "The major factor behind the NEP wasn't Canadianization or getting more from the industry or even self-sufficiency," said Lalonde, quoted in David Kilgour's book, Uneasy Patriots.
"The determinant factor was the fiscal imbalance between the provinces and the federal government. ... Our proposal was to increase Ottawa's share appreciably, so that the share of the producing provinces would decline significantly and the industry's share would decline somewhat."
Mission accomplished. Alberta and the oil patch were trashed and, according to economist Robert Mansell, Ottawa grabbed $60-billion in extra taxes. That's well over $100-billion in today's dollars.
This isn't a history lesson, though. This is a warning about the near future.
Lalonde is back, chosen by Martin, the same Martin who told Parliament that not only did he favour the Kyoto Protocol, but he thought it was only the first step.
Don't get distracted, though. This isn't about the environment or some foreign treaty. This is still about what Lalonde said it was the first time around: Keeping Alberta in its place. Kyoto is the excuse.
There is a rumble from Ontario and Quebec Liberals, and their chorus at large central Canadian newspapers, to take on Alberta. It's a combination of economic jealousy and ideological vengeance. These newspapers have run screaming headlines about the price of gasoline -- and all have studiously ignored or underplayed the role of taxes, which make up nearly half the price at the pumps.
Again don't get distracted. This isn't about high prices for consumers. This is about Alberta.
Last week, an Eastern newspaper reported Ontario wants Alberta to pay more tax, but they'd prefer their federal Liberal cousins to lead the charge because "it would have the least effect if it came from Ontario."
The next day Martin was happy to oblige. "Let Alberta be a beacon for the best and brightest," said Martin, "on the condition that Canada as a whole is as well."
"On the condition ... ?" What does that mean? That Alberta's success is conditional on what other provinces do? That Albertans' ability to work and earn and keep their own wealth is subject to other provinces' jealousy? And that Martin will be the judge and enforcer of that veto?
Martin now has Lalonde for advice and another Quebecer, Stephane Dion, for action. Last month, Dion reclassified harmless carbon dioxide in the same regulatory category as toxic waste, so Ottawa now has jurisdiction over CO2. Soon, oil companies will have to pay a "technology investment fund" tax, now planned for $200/ton for CO2. This is a carbon tax.
We know who: Paul Martin, Marc Lalonde and Stephane Dion. We know why: To put Alberta back in its place. And we know how: A carbon tax. What we don't know is whether Premier Ralph Klein gives a damn.
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