Wouldn’t it be nice if solving big problems were as simple as making one good decision?
Want to build more in Canada? Speed up project approvals! Except now we need to figure out where all the skilled workers will come from.
Want Canadians to benefit more from our natural resources? Increase what governments collect! But could changing the rules also change how much gets invested here in the first place?
Want to protect Indigenous rights? Pass legislation! But what happens if we haven’t figured out how it fits with laws already in place?
All worthwhile goals. But every decision affects other things, and sometimes the consequences don’t show up for years.
That’s what connects the stories that caught my attention this week. It’s not enough to have a good idea. We have to think through what happens when we put it into practice.
And that’s hard work. But doing nothing has consequences, too.
WHAT HAD MY ATTENTION
Who’s Going To Build All This Stuff?
We’re talking about building a whole lot of things in Canada right now. Pipelines, mines, power plants, housing, ports. And I love it, so Let’s build!
A big question however, who’s going to do the building?
Last week, the federal government announced more than $430 million over five years for apprenticeship training, facilities, and equipment. And federal projections suggest Canada could have more than 1.4 million skilled trades job openings between 2024 and 2033.
That’s a lot of people we need to train!
For years, we’ve encouraged young people toward university, often treating skilled trades as a second choice. I saw that when I was teaching more than 20 years ago, and I don’t think we’ve changed it nearly enough.
And even when someone chooses a trade, getting qualified isn’t necessarily easy.
THE SMART ENOUGH QUESTION:
If we’re serious about building more in Canada, are we doing enough to encourage young people into the trades and help them finish their training?
THE SMART ENOUGH TAKE:
We can speed up approvals and announce exciting projects, but none of that means much if we don’t have the people to build them. Employers need to train, young people need opportunities, and the rest of us need to rethink how we value these careers.
We should be just as proud of a young person who wants to be an electrician as one who wants to be an engineer.
Because the people who build our future are every bit as important as the projects themselves.
WORTH YOUR WHILE
A look at why so many Canadian apprentices never make it through to certification. We're talking about building more pipelines, mines, power plants, and housing, and that’s great. But are we doing enough to help the people training to build them?
Oil Companies Are Making More Money. So What?
I read an article last week about oil sands companies getting closer to paying off their investments. The focus was on what that means for the companies and shareholders.
And I can almost hear the reaction. “Great, Lynn. So oil companies are getting richer. Why should I care?”
Fair question! But there’s a bigger story.
Under Alberta’s royalty system, companies pay a relatively small royalty while recovering their original investment. Once those costs have been recovered, the government’s share increases significantly.
Alberta is now forecasting roughly $18 billion in bitumen royalties for 2026–27, compared with about $9.7 billion in its original budget. And beyond royalties, there are taxes, Canadian pension investments, jobs, and business opportunities across the country.
THE SMART ENOUGH QUESTION:
If oil companies are making enormous profits, should governments simply take a bigger share? And what happens to the rest of the system if they do?
THE SMART ENOUGH TAKE:
It’s tempting to look at corporate profits and think governments should just take more. But companies and investors have choices about where they put their money.
Change the economics too much and some of those future investments could go elsewhere, along with the jobs, taxes, royalties, and opportunities they would have created here.
That doesn’t mean governments shouldn’t collect a fair share. They should! But I think Alberta’s royalty system is an interesting example of balancing the needs of investors and the public over time.
The goal isn’t just collecting as much as possible today. It’s creating the conditions for investments that benefit Canadians for generations.
That’s a much bigger conversation than how much an oil company made this quarter.
WHAT I’M WATCHING
Good Intentions Aren’t Enough
I’ve been following a Federal Court of Appeal decision involving Canada’s legislation to implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).
The declaration sets out principles for recognizing and protecting Indigenous rights. Canada passed legislation in 2021 to help bring our laws into alignment with those principles. But exactly how that legislation works alongside existing Canadian laws has been a big question from the beginning.
And now the courts are helping sort it out.
You can agree with the principles behind a law. But if we haven’t thought through how it will work alongside existing laws, we can create a whole new set of problems, including for the people the legislation was intended to help.
That’s why I think greater clarity is a good thing, regardless of where you stand on the issues.
Good intentions matter. But good policy has to work in practice.
This is a deeper dive than usual, but a very interesting take
SMART ENOUGH IN 90 SECONDS
Who Benefits When Oil Companies Pay Off Their Investments
When you hear about oil companies making more money, it’s easy to think the biggest winners are executives and shareholders.
But under Alberta’s royalty system, the government’s share increases significantly once companies recover their original investments. And that means more public revenue, on top of the taxes, jobs, and business opportunities these projects create.
Even if you don’t own a single oil stock, you probably have a stake in how these investments perform.
ONE LYNNIE THOUGHT
I’ve been thinking a lot about the tragedy at CFB Wainwright this weekend. Four soldiers lost their lives, and others were injured.
I can’t imagine what their families, friends, and fellow soldiers are going through right now.
It’s also had me thinking about how much we ask of the people who serve in our military, including the risks they take even when they’re training here at home.
I’m grateful for their service, and terribly sad for the families whose lives have changed forever.
Not much more to say, really. Just something that’s been on my mind.
See you next week!
Lynn