Those new foreign investment rules unveiled by Harper along with the Nexen and Progress Energy decisions will likely have an impact beyond the oil sands – but it’s clear as to how just yet. What it will likely do is involve state-owned enterprises in more joint ventures and having them become minority shareholders to conform to the new rules. Economist Stephen Gordon looks at the economics of investing in the oil sands and why there is a need for foreign investment (and why most of the fears about foreign state-owned enterprises are overblown).

Oh, and those theories that Harper put these markers around state-owned enterprises as a marker for future trade negotiations with China? Paul Wells wonders about the logic of that considering that Canada-China FIPA that’s sitting there, unratified…

On the F-35 file, certain critics say that the promised industrial benefits (currently pegged in the $9 billion range, down from the $12 billion originally stated) aren’t likely to materialise, which is a ticking time bomb for the government. To date those industrial benefits have amounted to less than $500 million.

Jason Kenney unveiled new immigration rules that lower the bar on language requirements for skilled trades, a move the construction industry apparently applauds. Kenney of course then shifted the blame to the provinces for not providing enough vocational training in high schools and community colleges.

In his year-ender interview with PostMedia, Bob Rae takes aim at the level of secrecy that the government operates under, and the ultimate unsustainability of a communications strategy that relies on scripted responses.

While some of the language is a bit torqued, this op-ed demonstrates problems with the way the new Canadian Museum of History Act is written, especially as it removes knowledge creation from the museum’s mandate.

In the court challenge taking aim at six ridings with robocall revelations, the Conservative lawyer called the whole affair “political payback” and tried to cast aspersions on one of the expert witnesses.

Ruh-roh! Alison Redford confirms that Alberta’s books won’t be balanced in the next budget – or rather, as she would say, their operating expenses are balanced, but they need to borrow for capital projects. Yeah, somehow I’m not sure that’ll placate Danielle Smith in the slightest.

Over in the Liberal leadership camp, Justin Trudeau says that he has no interest in opening up the constitution in order to get Quebec to sign it anytime soon, and a certain generation of federalists in Quebec got the vapours.

And here is your recap of last night’s political shows, where there was a valiant effort to get Christian Paradis to explain the Nexen and Progress Energy decisions.