The NEP did not predate the Global crash. It was enacted in March 1980 and took time after that to take effect. Both unemployment and interest rates were high already because of the oil crisis that was the root of that recession.
Do you believe that PET and the policy advisers sat down in the first weekend in March, 1980 and drafted, the program? Maybe instituted it a week later?
It was announced a couple of years prior what the program was about and the intentions. Foreign monies dried-up at an increasing rate up to 1980 and at one point, the Trudeau gvt was forced to buy crude supplies from Venezuela for - and you guessed it - globally traded prices.
The NEP did not lead to the mass movement of rigs from Alberta as was claimed. They were on the move everywhere and into mothballs since the slowdown was continent wide.
That 'slow down' occurred far in advance in Canada due to PET's program... And yes, those rigs did move South of the border as the demand for E&P activities was still very high.
I am not getting into the NEP since it seems to draw out the inherent irrationality and hostility of Westerners to even point out, as Lougheed said, that it was a "win/win situation for Alberta and Canada."
It's funny when a third-party individual, such as yourself, seeks to apply broad generalizations on an issue to which you know very little about. Did you ever, for even a nanosecond, stop and wonder why Westerners were (and remain) so upset about this issue?
As for equalization being parasitic and the idea that it should be short term, that is arrant nonsense. Why would any province want to be part of a country that requires that if be in perpetual penury and not have the services that more (temporarily( fortunate provinces have.
Ah yes, the anthem of the entitled... I'll bet that you'll be referencing your inalienable rights to the aforementioned.
IT is a fundamental Right of ala citizens that they do have an equal level of services.
... And there ya have it -
"I'm entitled to my entitlements". You should change your CC handle to David Dingwall.
Regardless, here are some other interesting rights that you have:
You have the right to demand that others support you - which generally leads to:
- Your right to remain ignorant.
- Your right to live in substandard dwellings.
- Your right to go hungry.
- Your right to be cold.
Anyways, I gotta a question for ya: Seeing how you're talking about people's rights: Does anyone have the right NOT to be obligated to support another?
Just a thought
It strains credulity that intelligent Westerners say this when, in the past, they have been beneficiaries and there was no suggestion that it be short term or that they were "parasites." The discovery of oil does not change that ideal.
When Albertan's were on the receiving end of equalization, they were, in fact, parasites... Same can be said for a number of provinces.... The interesting consideration here is "what have the recipient provinces (current and historic) done to improve their economic situation that lead them to require assistance in the first place?
For your consideration; Saskatchewan was at one point on the receiving end. Their economy was in shambles, but the province made a plan, took action, and here they are for the last number of years - a net contributor with a roaring economy that has diversified itself into new sectors.
So, how is it that Sask can manage this kind of turn around in a relatively short span, whereas other jurisdictions are into multiple decades of dependence (or as you suggest - entitlement) with no blue sky in sight?