By The Canadian Press

Ottawa ‘on a different economic planet:’ Alberta finance minister

Nov 22, 2018 | 5:16 AM

CALGARY – Alberta’s finance minister says the latest federal economic statement shows Ottawa is living on a different planet from his province.

Joe Ceci says there was nothing to help Alberta producers weather a crushing price discount for their product.

The price gap between Alberta heavy crude and U.S. light oil has been around a whopping $45 recently.

Ceci says Alberta crude needs to find a way to get to markets besides the United States.

But the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion to the B.C. coast is in limbo.

In the meantime, Alberta Premier Rachel Notely has asked Ottawa to invest in moving oil to market on rail cars.

Ceci says he would have liked to see a mention of crude-by-rail in the fall economic statement.

He’s expecting there will be some news on that front soon.

Ceci says he was pleased the update included measures to allow manufacturers to immediately write off capital costs.

(The Canadian Press)

by The Canadian Press