Thomas Mulcair disease: Canada’s would-be PM slips on the oilsands
Prime-minister-in-waiting Thomas Mulcair is sounding downright paranoid in defending his theory the oilsands are inflating the Canadian dollar and hollowing out the country’s manufacturing sector.
Never mind that Jason Myers, president of the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters Association, disagreed with this argument back when Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty first made it in February.
“Frankly, the big problem over the last three or four years has not been the high dollar because companies can adjust to (it),” Myers told the Globe and Mail. “The big problem has been the collapse of demand in the United States, which is our major market.”
Alberta Premier Alison Redford was diplomatic, but noted anyone who aspires to be PM, as does the federal NDP leader, needs to appreciate the importance of the oilsands to Canada’s economy.
B.C. Premier Christy Clark told the CBC Mulcair’s ideas were “goofy,” adding “the NDP talk their gobbledygook, but really … they want less economic development. We all know it’s a recipe for disaster.”
Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall called Mulcair’s comments “facile” and “divisive,” adding his “economics are wrong” and display a “lack of recognition … that the resource strength (of) Western Canada is a strength for the whole country.”
Former Liberal leader Stephane Dion also criticized Mulcair for being divisive, noting he rejected political advice to adapt a similar strategy on the oilsands when he ran for PM.
A new study by the Institute for Research on Public Policy titled Dutch Disease or Failure to Compete? also disagrees with Mulcair. (The NDP leader called the oilsands Canada’s version of “Dutch Disease,” referring to a downturn in the Netherlands’ manufacturing sector after the discovery of large natural gas reserves in 1959).
Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney told the CBC’s Evan Solomon he doesn’t subscribe to Dutch Disease theory. The major problem, Carney said, is that, “We’ve been focused on slow-growing markets. That’s not just the U.S. … 85% of our exports go to slow-growth advanced economies. Only 8% … are targeted at the fast-growing emerging markets. That’s something that needs to change …”
The Conservatives piled on, with Finance Minister Jim Flaherty arguing Mulcair’s “logic is off and doesn’t make sense,” but that was predictable since they don’t take kindly to criticism. Ever.
What’s more interesting is Mulcair’s response. On Tuesday, he told Postmedia News the premiers of Alberta, B.C. and Saskatchewan (and presumably everybody else, including that notorious Stephen Harper sycophant, Stephane Dion) are merely acting as Harper’s “messengers,” that he (Mulcair) is right, they’re wrong, and he won’t respond to mere premiers since his fight is with Harper.
That prompted Paul Wells of Macleans.ca to humourously observe the idea of premiers Wall, Clark and especially Redford waiting by the “Harperphone” for instructions could only come from Mulcair, who believes anyone who disagrees with him must be part of a conspiracy. (If Mulcair starts twirling ball bearings and musing about who stole his quart of strawberries, run!)
I like Mulcair’s ideas about refining more oil here instead of shipping it to the U.S. But not his strategy of pitting western Canada’s natural resources against eastern Canada’s manufacturing base, because he sees more potential NDP votes in Ontario and the party’s new stronghold in Quebec.
A prime minister needs a bigger vision of Canada than that.
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WE HAVE THE 3RD BEST ECONOMY IN THE WORLD BECAUSE OF THE OIL SANDS, YET THIS YOYO THINKS IT'S HURTING CANADA..
Lower our dollar he says so we can Americans can buy our products.. ya fukking Libtard, the US economy has failed, they can't buy the TP to wipe their asses with..
PLEASE!! Please someone put a bullet in this A-Hole!!
Typical French, will never be happy until the rest of Canada is as miserable as Quebec.
