Abstract
There was certainly something intoxicating at the turn of the twentieth century about the prospect of Alberta joining the fledgling Canadian Confederation. For one thing, Alberta would be a part of a federal union wherein it would, theoretically, have some important areas of jurisdiction - over its own resources, for example - and would have some (seemingly) meaningful spending power. To elaborate on the prerogatives the province could reasonably expect to receive, consider for a moment Section 92 of the British North America Act, 1867. Under this section, the province would have the power of direct taxation (within the province); would be able to borrow money on the sole credit of the province; could establish provincial offices and grant tenure for these offices; could manage and sell public lands belonging to it; could grant licenses; and could exercise control over local works and undertakings. That sort of arrangement surely had some appeal for individuals troubled by the prospect of Alberta losing autonomy over local affairs to a distant (almost alien) government in far-away Ontario.

From the Paper
Should Alberta Join Confederation? A Look at both Sides of the Debate There was certainly something intoxicating at the turn of the twentieth century about the prospect of Alberta joining the fledgling Canadian Confederation. For one thing, Alberta would be a part of a federal union wherein it would, theoretically, have some important areas of jurisdiction - over its own resources, for example - and would have some (seemingly) meaningful spending power. To elaborate on the prerogatives the province could reasonably expect to receive, consider for a moment Section 92 of the British North America Act, 1867. Under this section, the province would have the power of direct taxation (within the province); would be

Tags:confederation, debate, alberta

Abstract
This paper describes the potential use of Alberta's oil sands, which may potentially be converted into an upgraded crude oil. The paper further notes that until recently, Alberta's bitumen deposits were known as tar sands but are now referred to as oil sands. The bitumen deposits are a thick, sticky form of crude oil, so heavy and viscous that it will not flow properly unless it is heated or diluted with lighter hydrocarbons.

From the Paper
"Alberta's oil sands consist of deposits of bitumen, which is a black viscous oil that must be properly treated to convert it into an upgraded crude oil before it can be used by refineries to produce gasoline and diesel fuels. Until recently, Alberta's bitumen deposits were known as tar sands but are now referred to as oil sands. Bitumen is best described as a..."

Tags:alberta, oil, sands

Abstract
This paper discusses how the vast resources of Alberta created a public impression of their limitless supply, and the economic benefit of the timber and petroleum industries are valuable to the politicians. The paper contends that the current state of forestry management is not in step with the best practices, and with the need to concentrate on sustainabitity, the current form of the Forest Act is still trying to manage the forest for the maximum economic benefit.

Tags:alberta, forest, management

Abstract
This paper gives a literature review on the Alberta tar sands project in order to ascertain its environmental impact on Canada. It also addresses whether this impact can be off-set by the financial gains emerging from the project. First, the provides a brief history of the tar sands project. Then it highlights the environmental concerns raised in some of the literature finally considering the strengths/weaknesses of the views articulated by the authors noted in the paper. The paper concludes that the damage being inflicted is outweighing the financial gains.

From the Paper
"The purpose of this paper is to look at some of the available literature and to ascertain what impact the Alberta tar sands project is having environmentally upon Canada - and whether this impact can be off-set (or is presently being off-set) by the financial gains emerging from the project. The paper is organized as follows: it provides a brief history of the tar sands project from the first time that aggressive industrial efforts were made to develop the region; it highlights the environmental concerns raised in some of the literature (specifically looking at such..."

Tags:environment, issues, alberta

Abstract
The paper relates that Alberta's oil boom impacted the province's relationship with the federal government in the sense that Alberta now has the resources to monopolize areas of public service - most notably pensions - that would once have relied upon federal dollars for their survival. The paper discusses how at the same time, the oil boom creates a greater belief in the viability of Alberta "going it alone" as an independent state. The paper also discusses how with Alberta turning into a "have" province thanks to a booming economy, it becomes a target of a federal government eager to tax its natural resources and increasingly affluent population so that money can be pumped back into the nation's have-not provinces; this sense of being targeted means that Alberta is quite determined to see to it that it drives a hard bargain with Ottawa when it comes to how the equalization payment structure will be carried out.

From the Paper
"Alberta's oil boom impacted the province's relationship with the federal government in the sense that Alberta now has the resources to monopolize areas of public service - most notably pensions - that would once have relied upon federal dollars for their survival. At the same time, the oil boom creates (or did create, insofar as the boom times appear over for the moment) a greater belief in the viability of Alberta "going it alone" as an independent state. Finally, with Alberta turning into a "have" province thanks to a booming economy, it becomes a target of a federal government..."

Tags:relationship, federal, government

Abstract
This paper examines the Kyoto Accord, an international treaty among signatory countries to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases emitted by their industries if their neighboring countries do likewise. In particular, it looks at how, in 1997, the federal government of Canada signed the Kyoto Accord, which committed it to cutting emissions of greenhouse gases to six percent by 2012 and how the province of Alberta, which produces the majority of Canada's oil and gas, opposed the Treaty, as it would significantly cripple its energy industry and deprive it of billions of dollars.

From the Paper
"Global warming has disturbed nature at an alarming rate and ways. It has already reduced the depth of winter polar ice cap since the 1970s by 40% (Green), which threatens to render polar bears to become extinct if the condition continues. Almost all glaciers are fast retreating, and this accelerates the heating effect. With more heat, there is more energy in the atmosphere, and, therefore, more bad weather. More heat will also redistribute rains. There have been many disasters throughout the world due to inclement weather. Droughts are another consequence of disturbed weather, and droughts have occurred in Canada. Monsoon rains, on which depends Asian agriculture, no longer come regularly because of this imbalance."

Tags:glabal, warming, carbon, dioxide, emissions

Abstract
In this article, the writer discusses Alberta Teaching Association's submission of 1993 regarding changes in education. As reviewed, the writer examines cost-benefit analyses and non-teaching profession input, extrapolation to other provinces where models of teaching professionalism have declined too, in favor of a demoralized, proletarianized teaching occupation that is less valued than before. Various references to Canada are made as well to as other countries whose teachers have experienced the same trends.

Tags:report, professionalism

Abstract
This paper discusses emerging fault lines, specifically the effects of the uneven population growth in Alberta. According to this paper, the provincial government needs to address the problem through subsidizing local governments public services. In fact, the Canadian Health Services Transfer (CHST) is the largest federal transfer program to the provinces and territories. Payments are made under the authority of the Fiscal Arrangements Act and target specific areas: health care, post-secondary education, early childhood development and social assistance and social services.

From the Paper
"The Marxist model of development makes the assumption that every nation "would progress through a sequence of modes of production, with some countries in the lead and others bringing up the rear" (Mitchell). However, what Karl Marx did not anticipate is globalization and its effect on contemporary economic systems, specifically the potential for uneven population growth. When it comes to political agenda in Canada in the 21st century, both federal and provincial governments are paying closer attention to the needs and wants of Canada's major cities."

Tags:fault, lines, population

Abstract
This paper examines the monetary policy of the Bank of Canada (BoC), explaining that it clearly believes in the importance of integrating and managing the Canadian economy vis-a-vis its integrated relationship with the global economic framework. The paper explains that the BoC's policy towards economic and currency management is centered on balancing its internal economic attributes; i.e. inflation, with those of its externally related economic functions; i.e. its exchange rate. The BoC has identified energy, and specifically petroleum, as central to both internal and external economic health and discusses its role in this regard at length.

Tags:monetary, policy, exchange

Abstract
This paper discusses the issue of immigration in Canada and attempts to show that there are differences between the immigration policies of the federal government and the provincial government of Alberta, but that they concur in one important aspect: both place emphasis on the need to attract skilled workers to Canada. The paper continues and relates that both allocate funds in order to attract workers. The paper also highlights the fact that skilled immigrants who come to Canada are unable to find work in their chosen professions, which points out the serious disconnection between the intent of immigration policies at both federal and provincial level. The paper agrees that this is not good for the immigrants nor good for Canada's economy and suggests methods of addressing this disconnection.

From the Paper
"The federal government appears to be trying to find ways to resolve the disconnections. For example, the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, announced the launch of a Foreign Credentials Referral Office on 24th May 2007. In announcing this, Finley noted that she had often heard stories of "the newcomer to Canada, who came with skills and credentials ... and who has had to struggle ever since to get a job in his or her chosen field" (www.cic.gc.ca). Yet at the same time, she notes that "We need skilled newcomers and we need skilled newcomers to work in their chosen field" Hence, the new Foreign Credentials Referral Office will attempt to facilitate the accreditation of these immigrants, so as to resolve the futile disconnection of a country that needs skilled immigrants, on the one hand, and on the other hand, skilled immigrants who are prevented from working just because they cannot get their foreign credentials recognized in Canada."

Tags:Immigration, Canada, Alberta, Citizenship