Oil Expansion Once Again Triggering Tension Between Canadian Provinces

[Economy 53,090]

https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/business/politics/2025/11/21/they-dont-know-what-theyre-talking-about-bc-premier-takes-aim-at-smith-moe/

 

British Columbia and Alberta are once again facing tensions as Alberta looks to expand its oil pipeline infrastructure further to reduce reliance on US refineries and try to eliminate steep discounts it faces selling to US refineries

 

British Columbia (along with Quebec) have traditionally always been Canada's most green and left leaning Provinces. They are also the only 2 Provinces in Canada that currently have EV rates in the double digits

 

Alberta being Canadas Energy Capital is the exact opposite politically often creating clashes with its Neighbour. Alberta needs access to tide water since it is LandLocked to export its energy products, typically BC is against allowing further pipelines on its land. This usually results in court challanges in which either the Courts or Federal Government must mediate if a project will go forward or not.

Edited November 21, 2025 by Economy

[BeyonkaAte 982]

as a Quebecois, f*ck oil and f*ck Alberta

Edited November 21, 2025 by BeyonkaAte

[LaLa 19,909]

Alberta never beating the worst province allegations 

[Economy 53,090]

6 hours ago, BeyonkaAte said:

as a Quebecois, f*ck oil and f*ck Alberta

Not speaking of you as an individual...

 

But Quebec as a Province as a whole has no issue receiving more equalization payment funding than any other Province (of which Alberta is the biggest net contributer, and why does Alberta have that money? Oil). Just sayin

[Economy 53,090]

@Bronco u said u were a bit of an international politics geek. Whats ur take on these mini civil political wars on very decentralized Countries?

[Bronco 27,624]

7 hours ago, Economy said:

@Bronco u said u were a bit of an international politics geek. Whats ur take on these mini civil political wars on very decentralized Countries?

I think its a fundamental flaw in quasi-federalised systems. Almost always these systems fail to adequately establish centralised control over key national industries and priorities. It makes internal division more likely and entrenches existing internal division.

I think a decision like this should begin in federal government and end in the federal government rather than essentially being a turf war between provinces mediated by the federal system. 

I'm very much in favour of clearly defined devolution/federalisation - but certain areas which are vital to national security like energy infrastructure etc should be way less devolved than they often end up being in systems like Canada. 

Its similar to the devolution of healthcare policy in the UK, which has a comparable devolved system, the inquiry into the COVID pandemic reported on Thursday that all 4 governments failed to work together and as a result it led to the chaos the UK saw in 2020/21. 

Federalised systems need far more rigorously defined division of power

[BeyonkaAte 982]

On 11/21/2025 at 6:47 PM, Economy said:

Not speaking of you as an individual...

 

But Quebec as a Province as a whole has no issue receiving more equalization payment funding than any other Province (of which Alberta is the biggest net contributer, and why does Alberta have that money? Oil). Just sayin

Albertans always trot out this outdated non-fact every time someone brings up their nasty industry LMFAOOO pls we really dgaf first of all, and second, this has not been the case since at least 2021. just sayin 

[Economy 53,090]

2 hours ago, BeyonkaAte said:

Albertans always trot out this outdated non-fact every time someone brings up their nasty industry LMFAOOO pls we really dgaf first of all, and second, this has not been the case since at least 2021. just sayin 

Im curious now on what changed and what im not aware of...

 

So is Alberta no longer a net tax contributer? I know it used to be big time