[Canada] Canadian Politics Redux

[Jacob]

China Pivots From US to Canada for More Oil as Trade War Worsens

(Bloomberg) -- Chinese refiners are importing record amounts of Canadian crude after slashing purchases of US oil by roughly 90% amid escalating trade tensions.

A pipeline expansion in Western Canada that opened less than a year ago has presented China and other East Asian oil importers with expanded access to the vast crude reserves in Alberta's oilsands region.

Chinese crude imports from the port at the pipeline terminus near Vancouver soared to an unprecedented 7.3 million barrels in March and are on pace to exceed that figure this month, according to data from Vortexa Ltd., which tracks waterborne oil and natural-gas shipments. Meanwhile, Chinese imports of US oil have collapsed to 3 million barrels a month from a peak of 29 million in June.

The shift in North American crude flows to China — the world's biggest crude importer — is yet another example of the economic and strategic disruptions engendered by US President Donald Trump's moves to reshape global trade relations.

To be clear, China's appetite for Canadian crude began to grow when the Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion known as TMX began funneling Albertan oil to British Columbia's Pacific coast in May. The trend only accelerated after Trump took office with a declared intent to impose tariffs on China and others.

"Given the trade war, its unlikely for China to import more US oil," Wenran Jiang, president of the Canada-China Energy & Environment Forum, said in a telephone interview. "They are not going to bank on Russian alone or Middle Eastern alone. Anything from Canada will be welcome news."

Although Chinese oil imports from North America are dwarfed by those the Middle East and Russia, Canada's oil sands provide one of the few sources of relatively cheap, dense, high-sulfur grades of crude that many of China's most-advanced refineries are equipped to process.

For Asian refiners, Middle East crude with similar characteristics — such as Iraq's Basrah Heavy — are expensive relative to Alberta oil given the strength in the region's Dubai benchmark.

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/china-pivots-us-canada-more-174633437.html

The pipeline is, as I understand it, a Crown Corporation after the federal government bought it from Kinder Morgan to keep the project alive. I guess it's working out okay right now.

[Jacob]

Honest Government (Australian satire channel) on the Canadian election

Not unbiased.

[Grey Fox]

 

[crazy canuck]

 

Hilarious

[Bauer]

So any opinions of the French debate ?

[Grey Fox]

Habs won.

[Bauer]

I like what habs have been doing on that rebuild very much.  Wish the Canucks did that approach 8 years ago, alas we had Benning.

[Grey Fox]

@Josephus You watching the debut of the NSL? I like having a new soccer league to watch.

[Barrister]

Habs won.

You guys are going to force me to bring it up, aren't you...

[Valmy]

Habs won.

The Caps will see you soon

[HVC]

Leafs at the top of the Atlantic division, second in the east after the caps. Which means they'll crash out of the first round of the playoffs. Tradition!

[crazy canuck]

I like what habs have been doing on that rebuild very much.  Wish the Canucks did that approach 8 years ago, alas we had Benning.

And Linden left the organization

[crazy canuck]

The Globe did an article describing the scrum after the debate. This part regarding what PP said is relevant to our discussion about the Conservative's treatment of the media during the campaign.

He said his party is the only one willing to protect the freedom of the press, that he stands for free speech and respects the right of Canadians to have access to the media they choose.

Poilievre's availability to media during the election campaign has come under scrutiny. Reporters have been able to ask few questions, with members of his team choosing who can ask them.

So long as party faithful in the Conservative ranks are willing to support Trumpist tactics, we are in for a lot more of this over the coming years.  Even if they don't win this time around.

[viper37]

The Globe did an article describing the scrum after the debate. This part regarding what PP said is relevant to our discussion about the Conservative's treatment of the media during the campaign.

He said his party is the only one willing to protect the freedom of the press, that he stands for free speech and respects the right of Canadians to have access to the media they choose.

Poilievre's availability to media during the election campaign has come under scrutiny. Reporters have been able to ask few questions, with members of his team choosing who can ask them.

So long as party faithful in the Conservative ranks are willing to support Trumpist tactics, we are in for a lot more of this over the coming years.  Even if they don't win this time around.

Rebel News was funded by Peter Thiel.
Rebel News gives money to an organization that then sends money to the Conservative Party of Canada.

Free speech my ass.

[viper37]

Peter Guthrie, former Alberta infrastructure minister booted from UCP Caucus, says health minister 'deliberately misled' cabinet 


Interesting.  Given the links between UCP and the CCP, doubly so and worrying.