reports
Taming the Tempest
An Alternate Development Strategy for Alberta
With over $169 billion in large scale construction projects on the horizon, Alberta’s already overheated economy is only going to get worse.
Selling the Family Silver
Oil and Gas Royalties, Corporate Profits, and the Disregarded Public
The world of oil and gas is split between industrialized consumer countries and their oil corporations, and less developed producer countries, many of which are former colonies. Canada is somewhat unique, as a relatively wealthy country in a close relationship of dependency with the United States, which consumes the majority of our production, and whose oil companies dominate our industry.
Fiscal Surplus, Democratic Deficit
Budgeting and Government Finance in Alberta
The Alberta government's formal budgeting process leaves a great deal to be desired in terms of accountability and democracy.
Fuelling Fortress America
A Report on the Athabasca Tar Sands and U.S. Demands for Canada's Energy
The Athabasca tar sands of northern Alberta contain an estimated 175 to 200 billion barrels of recoverable oil — the largest known hydrocarbon deposit ever discovered. This estimate is based on using existing technologies. Using newer technologies, as much as 2.5 trillion barrels of oil might be recovered — but the costs would be enormous.
Toward an Energy Security Strategy for Canada
A Discussion Paper
This paper is aimed at promoting discussion on the development of an energy security strategy. It is a made-in-Alberta initiative, in partnership with Canadians from energy producing and energy consuming regions.
EPCOR
A Study of Ownership, Accountability, and the Public Interest
EPCOR is a unique organization, one with many contradictions. These contradictions raise the issue of EPCOR’s accountability. And at a time when the City of Edmonton is considering handing over its drainage system to EPCOR, consideration of accountability is urgent.
Back to Hewers of Wood and Drawers of Water
Energy, Trade, and the Demise of Petrochemicals in Alberta
Canadians are questioning the logic of having traded away our energy sovereignty with NAFTA, the North American Free Trade Agreement.
From Rhetoric to Reality
Protecting Whistleblowers in Alberta
In recent years, increasing attention has been paid to instances in which employees may be in a position to report on wrongdoing within their workplace. Employees who report on wrongdoing in the workplace have come to be known as whistleblowers.
A Time for Vision
A Sustainable and Equitable Economy
The April 2005 Alberta budget will be the first since the province declared the debt eliminated. It’s time for a bold vision, and this budget should lay the fiscal foundations for realizing that vision. The 2005 Throne Speech promises that All Albertans will share in the Alberta Advantage. To ensure this, we must collectively commit to building a socially sustainable and equitable economy
Public Remedies, Not Private Payments
Quality Health Care in Alberta
Why does the government keep telling us our health care system is unsustainable and more private health care will save it from collapse? In this report we identify the underlying reasons to be ideological, not fiscal.