Yeah, Alberta used to have a much more varied economy. But every boom, things move more into oil and gas, and every bust, they barely move away. People are quick to follow the easy money and so reluctant to do anything else when it goes away, knowing it’ll be temporary, even if temporary means years. As it wanes, the booms will be shorter and less pronounced, and the busts will be longer and more pronounced. Eventually, there will be a tipping point, even at the current reluctant pace people have for turning away from it. But it would be so nice if more people saw the writing on the wall sooner.

I don’t exactly wish them anything bad, but their whole “My oil, my money!” stance is pretty disappointing, and probably why many feel the way you do. They alone with their oil money have the opportunity to help the have not provinces with Canada’s equalization program. But the conservative mentality took hold there which is all about keeping your money to yourself and give s few bucks to charity if you feel like being kind or want to buy yourself a good conscience. (This is very popular with Christians apparently.)

With OPEC just opening the taps, it’s already happening.