Although I am concerned about the environment, I feel that not utilizing the assets of Alberta is a mistake. I was pleased that we bought the Trans Mountain Pipeline and I do not want it sold back to anyone outside of this country - it must remain the property of Canada. The First Nations expressed an interest in it and I am very supportive of that and they are deeply devoted to their country. I also want to see the Eastern Pipeline happen and I see the Bloc is coming out against pipelines in Quebec. Since most of northern Quebec belongs to the First Nations I think we need to hear from them in that regard as they are interested in oil and gas elsewhere and their support for the Eastern Pipeline to bring our oil from Alberta to the Ontario/Quebec/Maritimes would be most helpful. We can refine it ourselves and the money made (at the moment we sell it at a discount to the United States and they sell it back to us refined for three times the price) would go a long way to paying down the debt. Canadian debt is shared by all the provinces and territories so paying it off is to the advantage of every province/territory.
In some ways I think this election is about the baby boomers and the present day youth (this clinging to tax reduction promises is being made by all but someone has to pay the taxes - a nickle here and there is meaningless really but it adds up when a huge section of this population is retired). Pierre Poilievre represents youth and Mark Carney represents the baby boomers (many of them retired now). Americans chose baby boomers to run their country but is it the right choice for us? Does youth do a better job in times like this when decisions are being made that will affect them far more than baby boomers? I belong to the so-called Silent Generation born between the war babies and the baby boomers. We got to observe that smaller group ahead of us (and progressing ahead in school I was with the war babies throughout most of my schooling) and that much larger group that swamped us as we went through school, work and now retirement. That may be the big ballot box question this year at the federal election level. Do the baby boomers continue to hold on to that power they have swayed from childhood or do we progress to a more measured response with regard to progress. Because progress is what we need; not dependence created during the baby boomer era. When we should have been aggressively seeking markets around the world baby boomers chose to link us ever more tightly to the United States (in 1988 a weaker link but strengthened in the late 1990s when Mexico joined NAFTA). I will give Prime Minister Harper credit in that regard; he organized many many trade missions around the world during his time in office bringing company leaders with him. That is what we need plus breaking down the barriers between the provinces/territories where trade is concerned. We need to retrieve our lost industries (out competed and bought out by American industry which then took it offshore which is the big problem that the United States is trying to resolve; we are just an easy target for their tariffs) which happened during NAFTA and rebuild them (baby boomers can help the youth do that as many of them are trained in specific trades). The old can help the young in many ways. Housing although at a premium keeps young families with their parents and that isn't actually a bad thing - babysitting!
I need to know that the Liberal Party is going to engage with the Pipelines and I do not really see enough on that. It is a very important part of this campaign as far as I am concerned. I was very disappointed when the EU came to check up on NORAD bases and the discussion on gas for sale did not get sufficient support from the then Prime Minister. I believe in caring for the environment but we are one of the smallest polluters in the world and we use great care in our industries. Zero emissions is probably not going to happen in the 20s or the 30s but perhaps by the 40s or 50s.
The NDP is down in the polls because they really live in a rosy world of people thinking the government is their piggy bank but fortunately a lot of people are seeing that these days. The government isn't a piggy bank and it will not be. If you need money you may have to work in your old age; my grandfather retired at 65 and then turned around and supported my father in his business until the end of his life. He found it rewarding and interesting. My sympathy is short on this possibly because I spend eight hours on a computer most days writing books/working on family history and in this case it is the Blake and Pencombe books but there are more planned. They are free to people although these books will be more selective as they are meant to be family books whereas Siderfin was published and available all across the world so doing the same seemed to be a good plan. Working to me doesn't seem to be a big deal I have to admit. I actually miss it in some ways; not so much the people, I am not a people person, but more the feeling of being involved in a useful way that supports my country but my books do do that for me. Plus coming from a family of nine people that also went through a bankruptcy I can live pretty cheaply for sure but likely I am just a penny pincher except it is nickles now I guess!
We have skirted a heavy ice storm here it appears and into temperatures rising now and the new snow will disappear as the ground is softening. I haven't seen any sign of the spring flowers which is actually late given the secluded area where they normally grow. But that ground is really frozen so it maybe a little while yet before they bloom.
Prayers continuing for those trapped by the earthquakes in Myanamar and Thailand; prayers for the souls of the dead over 1700 now. How sad. Mostly working men in the building I take it although the news is still scant.
Cleaning today and it is the basement and I have to get ready for the water meter replacement so will clear that area right away in preparation for that.
Time to make tea; I am late today.