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Anyone hoping that China will once again come to the rescue with a renewed surge in demand will be disappointed, the agency says, as Beijing – driven by horrific pollution problems — moves away from heavy industry to consumer-led growth, and strives to become a world leader in electric vehicle production.

Alberta’s NDP government introduced the biggest deficit budget in provincial history last month, with similar shortfalls anticipated for years into the future. President Barack Obama’s rejection of the Keystone XL pipeline, and public opposition to pipelines running through British Columbia to the Pacific Coast, leave oil producers increasingly dependent on the 4,600-km Energy East project that would ship crude from Alberta and Saskatchewan to refineries in the east for export. But Energy East faces opposition from Liberal governments in Ontario and Quebec. TransCanada Corp. recently cancelled plans for a marine export terminal in Quebec as part of the project, following protests over the impact on calving sites for beluga whales. Without the terminal and the jobs it would provide, said Premier Philippe Couillard, calculating the benefits to Quebec becomes “more complicated.”

“It remains to be seen whether this project is a good project for Quebec,” added energy minister Pierre Arcand.

In the past, western Canadians were accustomed to calculations of Confederation that amounted to “what’s in it for us?”

In the past, western Canadians were accustomed to calculations of Confederation that amounted to “what’s in it for us?” Western concerns could be tolerated as long as the oil industry thrived and eastern provinces drew billions of dollars in side benefits. It was the migration of tens of thousands of eastern Canadians in search of jobs and opportunity that changed the Alberta culture to such a degree that an NDP government could be elected in place of the 43-year Tory rein. Many may soon be heading back east: office vacancy rates have soared and rental rates plummeted in Calgary, and even liquor stores are struggling: Liquor Stores N.A. Ltd. reported a drop in year-on-year sales last week due to a sharp decline in sales in oilpatch areas.