The primary roadblock to an export tax being a long-term winner in our fight against Trump is Danielle Smith. If only Alberta had a leader who put country above party. https://wallsandbridges.substack.com/p/an-export-tax-on-canadian-oil-and
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Ben Atkinson, PhD
@BenAtkinsonPhD@econtwitter.net
mastodon 4.7.2PhD Economics with 25+ years in public, private, and academic sectors. Currently with MBA Research and Deciduous Corp. Primary expertise in International Economics and Industrial Organization, including transport and retail gasoline.
201 Followers
204 Following
50 Posts
Joined November 21, 2022
Substack#1: "Ride On: The Drive for Better Transportation Systems":
Substack #2: "Walls and Bridges: Creating Connections in a Chaotic World":
This is just a warning shot to Albertans who think separation is the answer to our problems. This guy thought so, and it led his customers to separate from his business. https://wallsandbridges.substack.com/p/separatist-cafe-owners-cold-lake
With Danielle Smith holding a lighter near an oily rag while making threats about creating a “national unity crisis” if she does not get everything she wants, I understand Carney not cutting oil exports, but his official excuse is bullshit. Cutting exports to the U.S. has nothing to do with *our* dependability; it has everything to do with *their* dependability. https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/carney-rules-out-cutting-oil-exports-to-hit-back-at-u-s-tariffs
The separatists have officially begun campaigning for their cause, so I want to ramp up my use of this space to spread as much truth and accuracy on the subject as I can. https://wallsandbridges.substack.com/p/recommended-readings-and-podcasts
WestJet is the latest airline to face the threat of a strike by employees who want to be paid for *all* of the work they do, not just when they are in flight. https://wallsandbridges.substack.com/p/if-you-plan-to-travel-by-westjet
If Danielle Smith was a South Park character, it would be Kyle's mom. https://wallsandbridges.substack.com/p/danielle-smith-is-exhibit-a-in-the
“There is simply no reason to cave on the prohibition of U.S. alcohol in response to Trump’s latest intransigence. It would be a show of weakness, which would only encourage...more random pressure tactics. Trump sometimes tries to justify his tariffs for economic reasons, but he’s also threatened them over illegal migration, fentanyl, and, most recently, smoke from fires. Will he wake up tomorrow and declare that beavers or moose or Canada geese are a scourge...?” https://nationalpost.com/opinion/scott-stinson-of-course-we-should-not-put-u-s-alcohol-back-on-our-shelves
Articles on evacuee experiences, governments' share of blame, a reality check for Trump, and other lessons from experts on forecasting smoke, measuring air pollution, and health consequences. https://wallsandbridges.substack.com/p/recommended-readings-on-the-wildfires
I have over 30 years experience using Statistics Canada data, and I have complete faith in its willingness and ability to protect our data, and to also be independent of political influence. https://wallsandbridges.substack.com/p/ignore-the-cranks-there-is-no-good
It will not happen, of course, but any private business would be open to accusations of anti-competitive behaviour for doing what the White House is doing. https://wallsandbridges.substack.com/p/the-white-house-should-be-investigated
“As extreme heat blankets Southern Ontario, the possibility of derailments has disrupted train travel across the region. Metrolinx put out a notice...advising that regional GO trains would be late and others...cancelled."
...
“‘The impacts of climate change have particularly exacerbated the likelihood of these kinks happening, with climate scientists predicting even more severe weather events like heatwaves in the years ahead,’ reads a portion of Metrolinx’s website.“ https://www.nationalobserver.com/2026/07/02/news/extreme-heat-alters-tracks-slows-down-train-service-ontario
“The labour dispute between WestJet and its flight attendants continues after the union representing them said on July 15 that its members had overwhelmingly voted in favour of a strike.
“Here’s what you need to know about the potential WestJet strike and what it could mean for you.” https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-when-is-the-westjet-flight-attendant-strike/
Replying to
@NMBA@mstdn.ca Doug Ford wants an export tax, so if he is willing to face the consequences, then so am I. As for Quebec, they regularly say they do not want our oil anyway.
Regardless, I expect Trump would back off before cutting off oil through Line 5, just like he backed off from Minneapolis and Greenland when they responded aggressively to him. Responding diplomatically to him just invites more aggression, as he proved once again when he tariffed us after we conceded to him on the bridge.
Threats to national security are additional negative externalities of relying on free markets and personal choices to solve problems in Northern and remote communities. https://wallsandbridges.substack.com/p/infrastructure-gaps-in-northern-indigenous
This is a great move in the right direction for creating the conditions for more competition in grocery markets. Now if only governments will stop going out of their way to reverse that momentum. https://wallsandbridges.substack.com/p/good-news-the-competition-bureau
Canada and its *true* allies need to abandon this "Gold Standard" and work toward greater stability and prosperity without it. https://wallsandbridges.substack.com/p/the-us-is-still-the-gold-standard
Some things are "better" to tax than others when governments need to generate revenues to finance public programs. https://wallsandbridges.substack.com/p/an-introduction-to-the-economics-c6e
Politicians put their resources into where they can get the most votes, so voters in large urban areas need to put pressure on them to care about the people forced to plead for government support. https://wallsandbridges.substack.com/p/governments-will-not-care-enough
Emma Zhao: “A northern Alberta county has declared a state of agricultural disaster due to flooding on farmland caused by extreme rainfall.” https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/thorhild-county-agricultural-disaster-flooding-9.7278945
"Might have you scared but they can’t make you run/Stand tall, stick to your guns/Show them what you’re made of". https://wallsandbridges.substack.com/p/canada-can-survive-both-donald-trump
Even if Alberta did not become a U.S. state or "Puerto Rico of the North", separation would likely give the U.S. more market power over it, thus worsening the oil price discount. https://wallsandbridges.substack.com/p/why-alberta-independence-would-likely
He will attack us no matter what we do, so our dominant strategy is to go "grim", thus signaling to the rest of the rational world that we stand on principle and will not be pushed around. https://wallsandbridges.substack.com/p/i-still-advocate-for-a-grim-trigger
No matter what Canadian governments say or do, and no matter how much we try to appease him with flattery and concessions, he will always find an excuse for attacking us. It is past time we accept it. https://wallsandbridges.substack.com/p/donald-trump-hits-canada-with-more
A reminder we *do* have leaders in Alberta who are not beholden to separatists and xenophobes. https://wallsandbridges.substack.com/p/while-danielle-smith-dishes-out-her
Their version of carbon taxes is to charge their own people for pollution in another country, but nobody's perfect, right? https://wallsandbridges.substack.com/p/it-turns-out-trump-and-his-republicans
The process is still ongoing, but more slowly than many people either hoped or anticipated because provinces apparently cannot get over their "us vs. them" mentalities within the federation. https://wallsandbridges.substack.com/p/how-is-the-elimination-of-those-interprovincial
And best of all, you can get your piece of the beef pie without giving all of your personal information to scammers. Danielle Smith could learn something from them. https://wallsandbridges.substack.com/p/wheres-the-beef-here-is-how-canadians
Danielle Smith's approach to governing continues to harm the Albertans she is supposed to represent. https://wallsandbridges.substack.com/p/the-alberta-energy-rebate-creates
When it comes to pipelines, inaction from private interests might not indicate much in terms of their preferences, because the Alberta government will always be their bumbling head cheerleader. https://wallsandbridges.substack.com/p/on-pipelines-and-politics-when-the
The Bank of Canada actually *does* have financial independence from the federal government. https://wallsandbridges.substack.com/p/a-correction-to-yesterdays-article
It is far from perfect, and it sometimes seems provinces are too keen to treat each other like foreign countries, but a centralized approach to policymaking would be even worse. https://wallsandbridges.substack.com/p/our-decentralized-federation-is-another
One of the many things I love about Canada is our ability to laugh at ourselves. https://wallsandbridges.substack.com/p/happy-canada-day-eh
Driving within city limits is usually not so fun, but when travelling long distances on the open road, it is my favourite. https://wallsandbridges.substack.com/p/one-reason-i-love-canada-is-its-geography
We cannot change the minds of regular Albertans who are either separatists or separation-curious if we do not both understand and show respect for their points of view. https://wallsandbridges.substack.com/p/why-the-separatist-message-resonates
You know, I learned something (from David Moscrop) today... https://wallsandbridges.substack.com/p/property-controls-have-been-found
This is not about identifying the *perfect* system. It is about why universal healthcare, in some form, is *economically* better than the more free-market alternatives. https://wallsandbridges.substack.com/p/why-universal-healthcare-is-an-economic-dad
My dad taught me the values of hard work, making sacrifices for the greater good, and wasting nothing. He always put the needs of others ahead of his own, even if they were strangers. https://wallsandbridges.substack.com/p/a-brief-tribute-to-my-dad-on-fathers
Based on what I know right now, the Alberta Energy Rebate appears to be far superior both economically and environmentally to simply slashing gas taxes. https://wallsandbridges.substack.com/p/dani-dollars-are-coming-and-i-think
Constantly looking at improving public transit in an intelligent, well-researched way has a critical impact in many people’s lives. https://wallsandbridges.substack.com/p/relationships-between-public-transit
Looking at the following directive, does this mean Canadian unity only works if *he* becomes PM? What signal does this send to separatists who cry about Liberals winning elections before Alberta votes are counted?
“He also directs Lloyd to remind Albertans that a Conservative government would repeal unpopular Liberal resource and gun control policies.” https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/alberta-mp-dane-lloyd-leads-conservative-unity-campaign
If Alberta revenues are flowing to other provinces via equalization, then it appears we are receiving a great return on our investment. https://wallsandbridges.substack.com/p/it-looks-like-alberta-disproportionately
Calgary Chamber of Commerce: “The Brexit referendum serves as a reminder that constitutional referendums are not opinion polls. They are powerful political instruments capable of reshaping expectations and influencing economic behaviour. For Alberta’s business community, the central lesson is simple: markets price risk, not intentions.“ https://calgarychamber.com/whats-new/lessons-from-brexit-the-economic-risks-of-using-referendums-to-send-a-message-policy/
Promise a measly $100 as an energy rebate and then make it near-impossible for people to claim it. Thank you, Danielle Smith! substack.com/@wallsandbridges/note/c-286948697
YES! YES! YES!
Andrew Coyne: “Past a certain point, ignoring context becomes culpable; past another, it becomes willful obtuseness; past a third, it is suggestive of misplaced loyalties, and it would be no less obtuse to deny it.“ https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/article-its-not-disloyal-to-criticize-the-governments-handling-of-a-trade-war/
As I recommended in my recent Walls and Bridges article, all pro-Canada Albertans are encouraged to contact their MLAs to grill them on whether they will vote for Canada in the upcoming referendum.
On that note, the following is a good site where you can find some indicators of their support for Canada, as well as contact info for them. https://albertawatch.ca/en
It is nice to find out there are enough pro-Canadians in Cold Lake to actually drive a separatist out of business. They did a good job exercising their freedom of choice and freedom of expression.
The cafe in Cold Lake is just a warning shot. He thinks separation is the answer, so customers separated from his business. https://www.ctvnews.ca/edmonton/article/alberta-cafe-owner-closes-business-after-losing-customers-over-separatist-events/
If Canada is “dependable” for anything right now, it is for caving to Donald Trump whenever he snaps his stubby little fingers. (Emphasis added)
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Adrian Morrow, Marieke Walsh, and Matthew Scace: “Mr. Carney’s government is also planning to scrap a tax on online streaming services such as Netflix and Amazon Prime, the latest in a series of concessions to U.S. trade demands *for which Canada has not received anything in return*.” https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-carney-energy-bargaining-chip-us-trade-talks/
A public service announcement to Alberta separatists that one of your key influencers is a convicted criminal. https://www.ctvnews.ca/calgary/article/seppy-pushes-aside-criminal-history-rallies-for-alberta-independence/
"A WestJet flight attendant strike at the peak of travel and tourist season is one step closer after the union representing the 4,400 workers issued its 72-hour strike notice early Thursday morning." https://nationalpost.com/news/westjet-flight-attendants-strike-notice