This and That

Alberta keeps edge as Venezuela's oil reserves surge - "On the industry-accepted Oil & Gas Journal list, Saudi Arabia comes first, with 264 billion barrels of largely easy flowing crude, followed by Canada's 175 billion barrels of oil, mostly from the oilsands. With 99 billion barrels, Venezuela trails Iran, Iraq and Kuwait.

"It all depends on how you count your reserves, and in Canada our data are open, transparent and reviewable. You can even look at the drilling logs and core samples," Greg Stringham, vice-president of the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers

"The situation in Venezuela is significantly different than Alberta, given the political environment and the uncertainty there, so that also suggests that, while there may be more oil there than some people had thought, there's a big, big leap from there actually being more oil to having more oil produced. That is, at the end of the day, what really matters."

Canada still ranks as number 2 in the world for oil reserves. We are THE safest place to get oil in the world.

Economic revival sweeping western Canada - “The West is on fire,” said Adam Waterous, Scotia Capital's Calgary-based head of global investment banking. “It's fantastic news for the country. These are big, big projects that are going to get developed. And there's no question that the West is going to lead the country out of the recession.”

Bring it on! We are ready to ride out of the recession Alberta style!

Olympic games no golden economic opportunity - "Closer to home, here in Alberta, the Games have already produced some notable economic winners. The biggest of all is Edmonton-based PCL Construction, the lead contractor on the $900-million expansion of the Vancouver Convention Centre.

The sprawling waterfront structure on Burrard Inlet, next to Canada Place, will serve as the international media centre during the Games, and home base for some 8,000 journalists.

The closing ceremonies for the Games will take place at B.C. Place, where PCL, once again, will oversee another huge project. Although it won't start until after the Games end, the $458-million scheme to install a new retractable roof on the stadium, home of the B.C. Lions football team, will rank among the largest construction jobs in Western Canada this year."

The Olympics are a fantastic celebration of excellence but they may not sell your home.