Alberta thrived for decades because of an abundance of low-cost capital and human talent. It was an attractive place to live and invest. Not because of the climate, and not because of the mountains. Because it was flanked on both sides with bad governments implementing bad policies. Capital and human talent from Saskatchewan and BC fled those provinces and moved to Alberta.
Not so much these days. The tide has reversed. Saskatchewan holds the fiscal and policy high ground and Alberta is only neutral with BC in terms of a race to the political and policy bottom.
As we look at Canada, we should realize that the same capital and talent dynamic is at play internationally. Against all odds a United States run by Obama and followed by Trump is looking better for capital and human talent than a Canada lead by Trudeau the Younger.
Policies matter, a lot.