Once upon a time in Alberta, there was a very concerned individual. It looked like things were going to get difficult. It was not unusual for costs to rise. It had been going on for the many years he had lived in the prairie province. Utilities costs had been slowly rising for decades. Telephone, heating, and electricity never went down. Good planning and budgeting had allowed him to continue to grow. He had been able to try new endeavors – to expand his horizon. Now that there was money to be made in Alberta, the future looked very good. He finally would be able to buy the things he needed. Projects he had once dreamed of were no longer confined to paper. It was time to take his share of the Alberta Advantage.
As in every tale with a hero, there is trouble lurking for our Albertan. His ideas, his property, and even himself required a place to exist. The people in charge of this place want their fair share. There is talk of raising the cost of staying in his current residence. This fundamental cost of living has been low when compared to other parts of Canada, and even the world. A couple of decades ago, this low price allowed the individual freedom in his budget to still explore, to diversify his interests, and to build. No amount of creative budgeting was going to solve his problem. The news suggested that the rise in expenses was going to be double or triple the regular increases. The hero of the story resorts to the only weapon he has left. He makes an appeal to the government.
The ending to this Albertan fairy tale depends on who you put in the place of the hero. Two very different types of people are currently lobbying the Alberta government for a fair cost increase. The first type of Albertan has called on others in similar circumstances to stand at the Legislature and ask for help. They would like the cost of rent for homes and apartments be controlled. Currently, the government has not been interested in placing any limits on rent increases. The second type has been having meetings with government officials in rooms and conference centres. The oil exploration executives are trying to convince the government not to raise their ‘rent’ in the form of royality payments. Such increased costs would surely limit their ability to create wealth and to continue to operate in our fine province. Traditionally, the government has heard this plea and kept costs of working in Alberta low.
It is a difficult balance to achieve. Who is allowed to make the money? How much money should each person, or company, be allowed to make? Who, if allowed to profit, will return the most back to the rest of Alberta? When is government control of the market appropriate? It all depends on who your hero is.
