Finance minister Bill Morneau was in Calgary yesterday as part of his pre-budget consultations, and while listening to the questions during his televised press conference after the meeting, I am forced to wonder if Albertans aren’t trying to be Confederation’s biggest drama queens about their current economic woes (and yes, I say this as a former Albertan). You’d think that the province was actually disintegrating, but if you look at their numbers, their unemployment rates are only now reaching the national average (around 7 percent), and those that are employed (being the vast majority) are making more money in those jobs than the national averages. Yes, their provincial budget has a huge hole blown through it with the fall in oil revenues, but it’s nothing compared to what Newfoundland & Labrador’s budget hole is looking like with their own oil shock. Meanwhile, I don’t hear the pundit class bemoaning the job losses in that province, or people threatening their premier (though he’s been on the job only a couple of months). People were asking Morneau about extraordinary funding mechanisms outside of equalisation, and while he demurred on answering most of it, I am reminded of the usual Twitter snark of some economists like Mike Moffatt, who quite rightly point out that nobody would have even contemplated the kinds of bailouts for southwestern Ontario when their manufacturing centre crashed the way you hear about what they’re demanding for Alberta. The other problem that the loudest of critics (especially Kevin O’Leary) can’t seem to grasp is that there is a global supply problem with oil – there’s too much in the market, which has depressed prices. What exactly can Alberta’s provincial government do to prop up the sector when there’s already too much supply in the market? Even getting that oil to tidewater would just be adding even more to the global supply chain, which one would imagine wouldn’t help with the depressed prices. Supply and demand, and all of that. Yes, it’s a challenge, and it’s a long-term one that’s rearing its head now. Yes, there is a need for some bigger transformation initiatives, and the provincial government is looking to make changes, and I’m sure the federal government will try to get in on that action, but transitions are difficult things. There are going to be hard periods ahead, but simply demanding federal handouts and calling for Rachel Notley’s head aren’t helping matters.

Good reads:

• The Supreme Court gave the government four more months to come up with an assisted dying law. Emmett Macfarlane has harsh words about the decision.
• On Sunday, cabinet starts a three-day retreat in New Brunswick, but they block-booked the hotel so journalists can’t stay there.
• Justin Trudeau is talking about open and secure cyberspace as the key to future prosperity.
• Natural resources minister Jim Carr says they need the right process to get resources to tidewater, and the NEB currently suffers from an image problem.
• Here’s a lengthy profile of Matt Mendelsohn, the new guy in PCO in charge of “delivery” of the government agenda.
• Kady O’Malley previews the Senate’s agenda once they return (and underestimated the debates on internal reform happening).
• Rona Ambrose says she’s been in touch with Kevin O’Leary about his leadership ambitions.
• The Canadian Press’ Baloney Meter™ checks the Conservative statement that the Liberals want Full Preferential Ballots to ensure perpetual wins.
• Scott Reid thinks that Kevin O’Leary should join the Conservative leadership race if only to make the other candidates take it seriously.
• Susan Delacourt weighs in on the vitriol being hurled at Rachel Notley by the likes of O’Leary and others.

Odds and ends:

Here’s the Citizen’s write-up of the premiere of I Lost My Talk, and the video from the Art & Reconciliation panel discussion.

The NDP has lost $3 million in caucus funds after losing all of those seats.

Former NDP MP Peter Stoffer is helping launch a new veterans legal assistance fund.

https://twitter.com/lraitt/status/688102955636031488