Some cautionary words from Canada on the precarious state of the energy industry in Alberta:
It became even more abundantly evident that something must be done to help Canada’s energy industry after oil hit negative prices on Monday [April 20]. As the requests for help mount, so do the objections from those who say they don’t want taxpayer dollars going towards helping the oil patch. They shouldn’t worry so much. The $15 billion to $30 billion of backstopped credit Premier Jason Kenney is asking for — to help the energy industry survive an unprecedented perfect storm of events — largely comes from the energy industry, to begin with.
The pure numbers of just how much Alberta has contributed to the country tell both a compelling and troubling story. If the patch dries up, this country is in serious trouble.
That's even more true in the U.S., of course: oil and gas, whether they may replaced at some date in the indefinite future by unicorn farts and fossilized politicians, remain the lifeblood of an industrial society, and the things that separate the First World from everybody else. If the oil industry collapses, we are in for some very long and cold and stationary winters.
It's not just the taxes the industry and its some 800,000 Canadian workers chip in to the treasury. It's the stabilizing effect it has had on the Canadian economy:
Back in 2009, when the world was suffering through the global financial crisis, Canada fared much better than most countries, largely thanks to the energy industry.In 2012, Alberta Finance revealed that in 2009 Alberta was the only net contributor to confederation. In that year alone, it was estimated that Alberta sent $16 billion more to the federal government than it got back in federal transfers.
Put another way, it was estimated that in 2009 Albertans — including individuals and corporations — paid $36 billion gross in taxes to the federal government (including income tax from individuals and corporations, GST and EI), and received $20 billion back in transfers from the federal government (in EI benefits, Old Age Security, transfers to the province and other expenditures.) That means, the rest of Canada got to keep $16 billion net from Alberta that difficult year. On a per-capita basis that amounted to $4,356 for every man, woman and child in Alberta.
Those who object to helping the oil and gas industry need to understand that without energy sector tax revenues flowing into federal and provincial coffers — this country would be either an economic basket case or Canadians would have a much lower standard of living in virtually every aspect, including health care, education, infrastructure, pensions — everything.
Article tags: Alberta, Energy, Oil and Gas
