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Comparing apples to oranges

I often see an inaccurate comparison of Alberta and Norway in the news. Norway is a country, Alberta is a province. Norway built a trillion dollar savings account from its resource sector. Alberta, by most estimates, is responsible for about $300 billion of the federal equalization payment system. That money over the past 40 or 50 years would be well over a trillion dollars even with simple interest. Norway has plenty of access to tide water and Alberta does not. There aren’t any significant pipeline protests in Norway, no problems building pipelines. Alberta, or Canada, can’t seem to build a pipeline.

Please come up with a better argument as to why we can’t diversify because this is simply stoking the fires of western alienation.

Dan Petryk, Calgary

Walk the talk

Re: Attacks on pensions lazy, misinformed, Letter, May 2

D’Arcy Lanovaz, CUPE Local 38 president, extols the virtues of the city’s pension plan. He points out that it is fair, economical due to scale, mitigates financial risk to the City and is generally a great pension plan. People are just misinformed.

Rather than pleading that the plans are under attack, I would think he would wholeheartedly support a review to clearly demonstrate the above virtues to the misinformed people. Seemingly, he doesn’t want this to occur.

R.J. Cargo, Calgary

Much to be grateful for

I do not like those who encourage tribalism (creating us against “them”) and conflict. I get upset when people create false information, fear and divisions. All of us, especially politicians need to work for the common good.

Underneath all the scandals and hunger and violence, the Earth keeps turning, carrying all of us. This small blue jewel floating in the solar system may be getting tired. What will our grandchildren wish we had done?

As Canadians, be helpful to neighbours, work for health and well-being. When I see and hear what is happening in other countries, I am grateful to be a Canadian.

Ray Hamm, Neubergthal MB