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Alberta

Pocklington is Gone But Feelings Remain

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Pocklington is Gone But Feelings Remain

Conflict decorates every yard of the sports world’s journey these days. If you can find an easy yes or no on such issues as relaxing COVID-19 precautions and finding agreement on matters like schedules and salary levels that happen year after year, you’re much smarter than I am.

Given the size of this emotional upheaval, this is the perfect time for Peter Pocklington and all the controversial memories tied to his name to remind all of us. yes again, that there probably would no National Hockey League team in Edmonton but for him, and the brilliance shown by the 1980 Edmonton Oilers would not be part of this city’s, or this province’s remarkable hockey history.

All it took to get the old fires burning was a simple public letter in which Peter Puck congratulated captain/coach/general manager Kevin Lowe on his induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

In less than a day, this familiar question was raised in my hearing at least once: does Pocklington also belong in the Hall that welcomed Lowe, Oilers general manager Ken Holland and four others earlier this week?

Without the slightest doubt, many in and around Alberta believe his act of buying the Oilers when they were in the old World Hockey Association and later becoming an owner in the WHA and part of the 1979-80 National Hockey League expansion. The team’s massive record for much of the next decade provides strong unspoken testimony in his behalf.

Had Wayne Gretzky not been part of the WHA’s expansion package, it’s fair to argue the expansion might never have happened. Slim and young, the budding superstar was an Oiler only because of Pocklington’s transaction with old friend Nelson Skalbania, who lost ample amounts while operating the Indianapolis Racers, who never became part of any expansion talk.

Ultimately, as the record shows, Pocklington’s instincts and diminishing financial stability led to loss of team control after years of operating on a line of credit with Alberta Treasury Branches. Money was exchanged, in addition to players, in the vast majority of trades under the control of Pocklington and Glen Sather.

Gretzky brought about $15 million from the Los Angeles Kings. “I was not traded,” Wayne said. “I was sold.”

Promising centre Jimmy Carson came to Alberta as part of the swap and later netted $5 million when he went to the Detroit Red Wings. Mark Messier, Jari Kurri and Paul Coffey also brought cash when they were moved.

David Cruise, co-author of a later book on hockey’s finances, summed things up, “The picture’s clear; the Oilers trade their assets for money.” A parallel was drawn between athletes and automobiles: “Buy the car, get as much mileage out of it as you can, then you sell it just before the block breaks.”

Many parallels have been drawn between Pocklington, found guilty in more than a few financial free-for-alls outside of hockey, and former Toronto Maple Leafs president Harold Ballard, the team’s alternate governor when the Leafs won Stanley Cups in 1962, 1963 and 1967 – the last time the Leafs have taken home the championship.

Ballard also spent time in jail, convicted on up to 47 charges of fraud. He embarrassed many Leaf greats, notably Darryl Sittler, Lanny MacDonald and Dave Keon, as well as respected coach Roger Neilson. In addition, Pal Hal defied NHL president John Ziegler on many resolutions – once refusing to put players names on jerseys.

But Ballard is in the Hockey Hall of Fame. Pocklington is on the outside. According to numerous critics, that’s where he belongs. It seems reasonable to bet the debate will rise again. Probably next year, at Hall of Fame selection time.

Door opening for fan increase for minor-sports?

Alberta

Big win for Alberta and Canada: Statement from Premier Smith

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Premier Danielle Smith issued the following statement on the April 2, 2025 U.S. tariff announcement:

“Today was an important win for Canada and Alberta, as it appears the United States has decided to uphold the majority of the free trade agreement (CUSMA) between our two nations. It also appears this will continue to be the case until after the Canadian federal election has concluded and the newly elected Canadian government is able to renegotiate CUSMA with the U.S. administration.

“This is precisely what I have been advocating for from the U.S. administration for months.

“It means that the majority of goods sold into the United States from Canada will have no tariffs applied to them, including zero per cent tariffs on energy, minerals, agricultural products, uranium, seafood, potash and host of other Canadian goods.

“There is still work to be done, of course. Unfortunately, tariffs previously announced by the United States on Canadian automobiles, steel and aluminum have not been removed. The efforts of premiers and the federal government should therefore shift towards removing or significantly reducing these remaining tariffs as we go forward and ensuring affected workers across Canada are generously supported until the situation is resolved.

“I again call on all involved in our national advocacy efforts to focus on diplomacy and persuasion while avoiding unnecessary escalation. Clearly, this strategy has been the most effective to this point.

“As it appears the worst of this tariff dispute is behind us (though there is still work to be done), it is my sincere hope that we, as Canadians, can abandon the disastrous policies that have made Canada vulnerable to and overly dependent on the United States, fast-track national resource corridors, get out of the way of provincial resource development and turn our country into an independent economic juggernaut and energy superpower.”

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Alberta

Energy sector will fuel Alberta economy and Canada’s exports for many years to come

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From the Fraser Institute

By Jock Finlayson

By any measure, Alberta is an energy powerhouse—within Canada, but also on a global scale. In 2023, it produced 85 per cent of Canada’s oil and three-fifths of the country’s natural gas. Most of Canada’s oil reserves are in Alberta, along with a majority of natural gas reserves. Alberta is the beating heart of the Canadian energy economy. And energy, in turn, accounts for one-quarter of Canada’s international exports.

Consider some key facts about the province’s energy landscape, as noted in the Alberta Energy Regulator’s (AER) 2023 annual report. Oil and natural gas production continued to rise (on a volume basis) in 2023, on the heels of steady increases over the preceding half decade. However, the dollar value of Alberta’s oil and gas production fell in 2023, as the surging prices recorded in 2022 following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine retreated. Capital spending in the province’s energy sector reached $30 billion in 2023, making it the leading driver of private-sector investment. And completion of the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project has opened new offshore export avenues for Canada’s oil industry and should boost Alberta’s energy production and exports going forward.

In a world striving to address climate change, Alberta’s hydrocarbon-heavy energy sector faces challenges. At some point, the world may start to consume less oil and, later, less natural gas (in absolute terms). But such “peak” consumption hasn’t arrived yet, nor does it appear imminent. While the demand for certain refined petroleum products is trending down in some advanced economies, particularly in Europe, we should take a broader global perspective when assessing energy demand and supply trends.

Looking at the worldwide picture, Goldman Sachs’ 2024 global energy forecast predicts that “oil usage will increase through 2034” thanks to strong demand in emerging markets and growing production of petrochemicals that depend on oil as the principal feedstock. Global demand for natural gas (including LNG) will also continue to increase, particularly since natural gas is the least carbon-intensive fossil fuel and more of it is being traded in the form of liquefied natural gas (LNG).

Against this backdrop, there are reasons to be optimistic about the prospects for Alberta’s energy sector, particularly if the federal government dials back some of the economically destructive energy and climate policies adopted by the last government. According to the AER’s “base case” forecast, overall energy output will expand over the next 10 years. Oilsands output is projected to grow modestly; natural gas production will also rise, in part due to greater demand for Alberta’s upstream gas from LNG operators in British Columbia.

The AER’s forecast also points to a positive trajectory for capital spending across the province’s energy sector. The agency sees annual investment rising from almost $30 billion to $40 billion by 2033. Most of this takes place in the oil and gas industry, but “emerging” energy resources and projects aimed at climate mitigation are expected to represent a bigger slice of energy-related capital spending going forward.

Like many other oil and gas producing jurisdictions, Alberta must navigate the bumpy journey to a lower-carbon future. But the world is set to remain dependent on fossil fuels for decades to come. This suggests the energy sector will continue to underpin not only the Alberta economy but also Canada’s export portfolio for the foreseeable future.

Jock Finlayson

Senior Fellow, Fraser Institute
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