So, after the outcome of the recent federal election, I was looking for some solace out west, mostly in Alberta and Saskatchewan as we seemed to somehow end up as the whipping boys of the federal government in one of the most useless elections in Canadian history. We live in a region where less than 10% of the voter eligible population cast a vote for the national governing party that set a new low bar for national support at 32%. It seems we have no voice as it relates to influencing national policy, and by extension protecting our own interests, and little prospect of finding it any time in the near future.
While it may be of little consolation right now, it is perhaps good to take stock, consider the long game and see if you can’t find some promise in a future considered differently. While it is always dangerous to compare apples and oranges an idea came to me while on one of the never-ending Zoom calls where someone from the country of Norway was defining a future path for themselves. They spoke of the transition from oil and how they were using their riches to move in new ways to chart a bright future for themselves. I thought, geez, lucky them, they actually have the power to chart their own future. When I noticed their population, a surprisingly low 5.4 Million souls, I thought why not pick 10 random parameters and see how the two provinces of Saskatchewan and Alberta stack up against one of the most admired countries on the planet, economically, socially and by just about every measure one can conceive of. I have to say the exercise itself gave me a boost. We are perhaps too hard on ourselves and feeling helpless all the time in our geography, worrying about the big bad east with all their “vote richness” and population and clout. I think we need to remind ourselves as provinces, we are only about 115 years old, mere children on virtually any scale. We are blessed with people and resources that most other jurisdictions on the planet can only dream about. If we really want to chart a different course, we only have to have the courage to put our hand on the wheel and begin moving our boat in a different direction. I think we might find the wind is much more to our back than in our faces. So, in no particular order lets take a dive into comparing Norway to SK/AB and see what we see. I think you will see we are better, bigger, and stronger than we give ourselves credit for. Of course, the first and simplest comparison is population, I found this surprising, our two provinces have about 100,000 more citizens than Norway or 2% bigger at 5.5 Million. Now we don’t win on every measure, who ever does, so this will go back and forth a bit. Norway does have a larger GDP than SK/AB, but they are a whole country, and we are 15% of the Canadian population. Norway’s 2020 GDP was $500 Billion in CDN $ and we are about 415 Billion or 17% smaller, I think we could make that up pretty quick freed of the constraints of the federal government. We both rely heavily on oil production and here again I was surprised given all we hear about Norway’s vaunted oil producing capacity and their giant fund. They produce about 2.1 Million barrels of oil per day compared to our 3.5 Million barrels, we are producing 40% more oil than they are. Further there is no comparison in reserves, we have about 170 Billion barrels in reserve, compared to Norway’s 5 Billion, a 97% larger pool! Well, so many will say, that’s yesterday’s news, sorry but we will be pumping oil over the next 5 decades and every drop can be used to enrich and prepare ourselves for whatever comes next. Again, we only need to be freed of the political constraints of a federal government in the grips of an ideological frenzy. What about debt levels then? They are closer than you might think. Norway carries a national debt of about $217 Billion (CDN) and here we are more indebted when the share of Canadian national debt is included in SK/AB at $284 Billion, remove the national share and our current debt falls to $75 Billion. Nonetheless we would have to carry forward our share of the national debt so we might as well plan on having that milestone around our neck. I don’t personally find that too alarming if we move to a position where we are in control of both revenues and spending. So how does average annual income stack up, a pretty big measure for all of us personally. Again, closer than I would have thought. Norway is at about $104,000, we come in at $99,000 about a 5% difference. I mentioned the dramatic difference in oil reserves, there is another advantage we have that makes all the difference. Norway has 1 Million hectares of arable land, combined SK and AB have 26 Million hectares, a 96% advantage. In a hungry world we are literally in the catbirds seat, and as they say, you can't move land and they ain't making any more of it. But we are not smart enough or healthy enough you say to move out of our parent’s basement. Think again. We actually have a larger percentage of the population with a university degree than Norway does, at over 25%, our life expectancy is almost identical at 81 and 82 years respectively. We outrank our Norwegian cousins in another key measure though, besides being generally better educated, we are younger as well, a full two years on average. This all adds up to a life satisfaction index that scores higher in Canada than Norway, 8.1/10 versus 7.6/10 across the pond. Imagine how that might shot up were we to get our own place, so to speak. We shouldn’t hang our heads, we have much to be proud of and the brightest of bright futures. We are a hard working, fun loving, ethical, moral and happy people. We perhaps lack courage and confidence to take the reigns, but again there is no shame in this. People who find themselves in a dysfunctional relationship often find they have to first convince themselves of their own worth and build the esteem necessary to take the bold first steps. When that happens, everything else comes so much easier. So lets tell ourselves, the time for acrimony, anger and resentment has now passed. The time for confidence, boldness and forward thinking is upon us. We will never be beaten, we cannot lose, and if we look closely at the cards we have been dealt we hold the winning hand in whatever game we choose to play! Below are the numbers I gathered in a chart format. If you don’t believe me go look them up yourself, that’s what I did.
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I grew up as part of a big family on a big mixed farm on the Prairies of Canada. All my opinions are my own. I have an Ag degree from Saskatoon and an MBA from New Brunswick. I am happily married with four children. I love my work, my family and my community and will guard them all ferociously. I try to bring critical thought to all I do and all I say. Leadership through example is the best way forward. |