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Frederick Cedoz, AO columnist and chronicler of Washington’s goings-on, shares his notes on the rising importance of environmental issues in American politics. (more…)

Scales Capitol Hill

The largest trade delegation in Alberta history visited Washington in mid-January, with public policy events on Capitol Hill and a business session at the historic Mayflower Hotel. The delegates sought to advance cross-border trade ties and highlight the mutual benefits of the long-standing economic relationship between Canada’s fastest growing province and its largest foreign trading partner. (more…)

Fallout from the royalty review’s “unintended consequences”

Contrary to a popular misconception, the conventional industry in Alberta is now natural gas, not oil. A perfect storm of negative factors may be buffeting this mainstay industry with high labour and material costs, a strong dollar and low gas prices. However – as Paul Ziff, CEO of Ziff Energy Group, points out – the most significant cause for dramatically declining natural gas drilling activity is “Made in Alberta” and warns against the adoption of the new royalty review regime while gas prices are low. (more…)

Birthrights Don’t Last Forever

The 2007 Alberta royalty review was arguably the most important economic event in Canada last year. Whereas comments from Alberta Oil readers show a general acceptance for a periodic re-evaluation of the province’s oil and gas royalty regime, they also point towards an antipathy for the very process by which this recent review was conducted. Contributing editor and historian David Finch illuminates this contentious issue by reflecting on its many lessons in the light of reviews past. (more…)

AO reports on the region’s political instability and how it is affecting their energy industry

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