“Index” in “Alberta Oil and the Decline of Democracy in Canada”
Index
Aboriginal peoples: and bitumen oil production, 98–100, 108n8, 195, 198, 199, 200–203, 209
democratic consultation with, 210–11, 219n10
effect of neoliberalism on, 195, 196
and employment, 14–15, 200, 201
in Fort Chipewyan, 197–98
and land claims, 162, 195, 198, 199, 201, 216, 218n2
and neostaples economy, 14–15
and regulatory capture, 215–17
relations with big oil through art, 342–43, 349–50
relations with Canadian government, 86n7, 103, 198–99
and traditional knowledge, 209–10
use of courts to secure rights, 211–12, 213–14
use of political opportunity structures, 93–94, 96–100
use of transnational advocacy, 90, 106–7, 202–3
access to information, 372–74, 377–78
accountability: and access to information, 372–74, 377–78
of Alberta administration, 367–68, 370–72, 375–77, 384
Alberta government record of, 364, 369–71, 383–84
and corruption, 365–66
defined, 366–67
and conflict-of-interest investigation, 379–82
and financial crisis of 2008-9, 363–64, 383
and government-corporate ties, 374–75, 386n7
importance of, 363
and whistle-blowing legislation, 378–79, 386n8
agriculture, 234–35
Alberta democracy: and Aboriginal peoples, 216
and access to information, 372–74
and bitumen oil production, 93, 114, 196
effect of inequality on, 10
effect of migrant workers on, 255–56, 264–66, 397–98
effect of neoliberalism on, 79, 80, 119–20, 188–89, 394–96, 399
enforcement of workplace safety rules, 225–26, 228, 229–30
and conflict-of-interest investigation, 379–82
extent of citizen engagement in, 54–55, 84, 120, 295, 309, 310, 385n5
and functional representation, 17–18
government attitude toward consultation, 212–13
government control of postsecondary education, 377–78
and homlessness, 329–30
international effect of, 3–4
lack of workers’ rights in, 230–34, 240–41
one-party rule, 3, 16, 72, 76, 368–69
and the public interest, 383–84
quasi-party system, 16–17
range of future policy options for government on, 309–10
roll of culture in, 12, 333–34, 345–53
whistle-blowing legislation, 378–79
Alberta economy (see also oil-dependent economies): compared to Venezuela, 143–45
dependence on oil, 18–20, 24n9, 76–77, 78, 81–84, 119, 235, 305–6, 392
importance of bitumen to, 52–53, 140–41, 149–51
inequality in, 403
and interprovincial migrant workers, 253–54, 257
and migrant workers, 249, 253–55, 257
under Social Credit, 75–76
and Venezuelan oil workers, 159–60
Alberta politics (see also New Democratic Party (Alberta); Progressive Conservative government (Alberta); Social Credit Party; Wild Rose Alliance Party of Alberta): anti-union bias of, 231–34
attitude toward federal government, 101
and “business government,” 117, 131, 364, 368–71, 384, 395
compared to Iran, 173–74
electoral history of, 368–69, 385n3
growth of its characteristic culture, 72–74
influence of in Canada, 19
progressive left in, 71–73, 75, 76, 78–81
and the public interest, 370
quasi-party political system, 3, 16–17, 72, 234
religion in, 74–75
rise of populism, 17–18
role of culture and arts in, 336, 337–39
role of taxes in, 120
roots of distrust of government, 117
and social transformation, 186–88
stability of, 141–42
theories on right wing turn of, 72–75, 302–5
think tanks and, 303
Alberta’s Public Interest Disclosure Act, 378–79
Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation (ACFN), 197–99, 200, 213–14
Australia, 404–5
Bell, Shawn, 203
Berger, Evan, 380–81
Bill C-50, 130
bitumen oil production: and Aboriginal peoples, 98–100, 108n8, 195, 199, 200–203, 209
arranging lives around work of, 281–84
art critical of, 338–40, 346–50, 352
attacked by environmentalists, 99–100, 124–26
“bitumen bubble” of 2013, 52–53
and colonialism, 200
companies that control, 149–51
in competition with shale oil, 50–51
creation of monitoring panel, 208–9
“dirty oil” v. “ethical oil” debate, 6, 11, 12, 113–14, 124, 126–27, 132–33
effect on democracy, 93, 114, 196
environmental damage caused by, 20, 124, 125, 134n11, 195, 204, 205–10
extent of, 204–5
extent of Venezuela resources of, 140–41
and gendered practices, 276–78, 279–80, 288–89
Harper government support for, 102–4, 105–6, 113, 122, 133n1
health consequences of, 201–3
importance of to Alberta, 52–53, 140–41, 149–51
and inequality, 46
lack of markets for, 95–96
monitoring of water quality, 208
and national security, 114, 115–16
and NDP Alberta government, 105
in 1980s, 78
in 1990s, 82
“oil sands” v. “tar sands” battle, 11, 94, 139–40, 159
as part of visual culture, 337
PC Alberta government lobbying for, 93, 101, 104–5, 339–40
and pipeline trouble, 105, 107, 125–26
protest against, 99–100, 114, 124–26, 132
role in 2012 Alberta election, 146–48
Bolivarian circles, 157
boomerang effect, 96
Braid, Don, 380–82
Canada (see also Harper government): colonialism in, 22
compared to Iran, 173–80
compared to Venezuela, 142–45
control of oil industry in, 90, 116–17, 140, 148–49, 152–53, 161, 163n3
creation of bitumen oil monitoring panel, 208
development of neoliberalism in, 6, 114–16
economism in, 40–41
gender equality in, 180, 181–83
implications of future energy policy, 132–33
importance of oil sector to, 34, 47, 52, 53, 54, 95
inequality in, 38, 40, 57n1, 402–3
influence of Alberta in, 19
lack of civic engagement in, 54–55
consultations with Aboriginal peoples, 86n7, 103, 198–99
qualities of a petro-state of, 53–54, 392
and shale oil, 404
and staples theory, 13–14, 44–45
and think tanks, 301–2
trade ties to US, 49, 52, 123–24
Canadian Policy Research Network (CPRN): the “diversity model,” 211
Canadian Taxpayers Federation, 373
Chávez, Hugo, 141, 145–46, 156
child care, 280–81, 282–83, 285–87, 289
child labour, 230, 234, 236, 258, 265
climate change, 206. See also environment
Clinton, Hillary, 126
colonialism, 11, 22, 160, 200, 253
comprador capitalist elite, in Venezuela, 149, 155–56
contentious politics, 89, 90, 92–94, 105–7
“space of flows,” 89
Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF), 71, 74, 75, 76. See also NDP (Alberta); NDP (federal)
corruption, 365–66, 381, 385n2
Decore, Laurence, 79, 86n8, 303–4
Deranger, Eriel, 213
developmental liberalism, 9, 33–34, 117, 391–92, 405–6
differential exclusion, 252–53, 265–66
disallowance, 86n5
Dobbin, Murray, critic of right-wing think tanks, 298
Dutch disease, 4–5
economism, 33, 35–37, 40–41, 55–57
employment: and Aboriginal peoples, 14–15, 200, 201
in Fort McMurray, 279–88
and funding education, 342
related to energy sector, 19, 24n9, 57n4
employment-related geographic mobility (E-RGM), 250–51, 253–54, 257
Enbridge: criticized on digital media, 351, 354n8
and new NDP government, 162
and Northern Gateway pipeline, 96, 108n8
share of oil industry, 147
support of the arts, 341, 342–43, 349
environment: Alberta’s regulatory body, 208–9
audit of nonprofit groups, 129
Bill C-45 protest, 107
bitumen oil production damage to, 20, 124, 125, 134n11, 195, 204, 205–10
Harper government attack on protection of, 126, 127–28, 214–15
and health consequences of bitumen oil, 201–3
and NDP Alberta government, 105
Progressive Conservative government attack on protection of, 128–29
environmental groups: and protest against bitumen oil production, 99–100, 124–26
Syncrude funding of, 342
use of art to fight oil industry, 345–46
use of political opportunity structures, 93–94
work with Aboriginal groups, 99
equality and democracy, 328–29. See also gender equality; inequality
European Fuel Quality Directive, 99, 100, 102, 103, 105
European Union (EU), 93, 99, 105
Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), 365–66
Federal Accountability Initiative for Reform (FAIR), 379
financial crisis of 2008-9: and accountability, 363–64, 383
and role of state in economy, 33–34
and shrinking middle class, 55
and US Glass-Steagall Act, 133n4
first-contract arbitration (FCA), 232
First Nations. See Aboriginal peoples
lexibilization, 281–84
Fordism, 24n8
Fort Chipewyan, 197–98
and high rates of cancer, 201–2
Fort McMurray: arranging work around lives in, 281–84
chasing the good life in, 284–85
child care in, 277, 280–81, 282–83, 285–87, 289
nannies in, 285–87
negative image of, 276
service workers in, 287–88
fracking. See also hydraulic fracturing, shale oil
Fraser Institute, 127, 175, 298, 301–2, 303, 304
free, prior and informed consent (FPIC), 97–98
Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy (FOIP), 373–74, 378
gendered practices, 276–78, 279–80, 284–87, 288–89
gender equality: in Alberta, 180–81, 183–84, 188–89, 190n2
comparison of Canada and Iran, 176
lack of in Fort McMurray wages, 279–80
models used to define, 172–73
in oil-dependent economies, 174–75, 176, 183–84, 189, 190, 398
Progressive Conservative government and, 180–81, 183–84
and reaction to liberalism in Iran, 185–86
globalization, 89, 93–94, 288–89
Great Canadian Oilsands Company (now Suncor), 199. See also Suncor
Harper government: actions against nonprofit groups, 103–4, 129
agenda of, in 2006, 122
Alberta’s influence on, 19
arts funding, 351
attacks environmental protection laws, 126, 127–28, 214–15
attitude towards consultation, 214–15, 219n10
and Bill C-45, 107, 128, 214–15
and closer ties to US, 123–24
and gender equity, 182
support for bitumen production, 102–4, 105–6, 113, 122, 133n1
and Temporary Foreign Worker Program, 251–52, 264
homelessness: Alberta’s response to, 313–14, 396–97
and body lice, 402–3
implications of Alberta’s policy shift on, 329–30
range of discourse on, 327–28
types of statements about, 317–27
household debt, 39–40
Houston, Stan, 402–3
Husky Energy, 150–52
hydraulic fracturing, 403–4. See also shale oil
impact and benefit agreements (IBAs), 195, 200, 201, 212–13
Imperial Oil, 149
Indigenous Environmental Network (IEN), 99–100
Indigenous peoples (see also Aboriginal peoples): Article 32 of the UN Declaration, 97–98
Indigenous Environmental Network (IEN), 99–100
Zapatistas of Mexico, 106
inequality: and bitumen oil production, 46
in Canada, 38, 40, 57n1, 402–3
effect of financialization on, 39–40
and financial crisis of 2008-9, 33–34
health effects, 402–3
link with efficiency, 56–57
and neoliberalism, 181–82, 400
social movements fight against, 31, 32–33
as threat to liberal democracy, 10, 31–33, 328–29
in United States, 57n1, 400–402
Keystone XL pipeline, 50, 98, 105, 125–26, 346
Klein, Ralph, 79–81, 82, 119–20, 303–5, 377
liberal democracy (see also Alberta democracy): and arts policy, 335
conflict between civil and social rights within, 226–28
and corruption, 365–66
and economism, 35–36
effect of losing control of economy on, 55–57
effect of migrant workers on, 249–50, 252–53, 264–66
effect of neoliberalism on, 56–57, 91–92, 130, 393–94
and globalization, 288–89
hope for the future, 405–6
and importance of accountability, 363
limitations in assessing, 9–12
measure of in Norway, 43
and oil dependence, 4–5, 70, 406–7
Polity scheme for judging, 41–42
and protection of minorities, 196, 211–12, 216–17
rift between capitalism and developmental liberalism in, 391–92
and separation of government and administration, 367–68
and think tanks, 297–98, 301–2
and threat of growing inequality, 10, 31–33, 328–29
worldwide growth of, 55
Lougheed, Peter, 76–78, 117–18, 299–300, 302
Manning, Ernest, 75
Manning, Preston, 86n4
manufacturing, 52
maternal mortality, 144–45
May, Howard, 218n6
media, 146, 351, 354n8, 373–74
migrant workers: conditions of, 250–53
Conservative government support for, 260–64
effect of on democracy, 264–66, 397–98
implications of, 249–50, 266–67
numbers of, in Alberta, 253–55
why they are hired, 256–59
Mikisew Cree First Nation (MCFN), 197–98, 199, 200, 202–3, 214, 216
Mulcair, Thomas, 139–40
nannies, 285–87
National Energy Board (NEB), 103, 104
National Energy Program (NEP), 115, 118, 303
national security: and Bill C-51, 130, 396
and closer Canada-US ties, 123–24
effect of September 11th on, 121–22
as factor in bitumen oil debate, 114, 115–16
proposed Alberta bill for, 129
Navigable Waters Protection Act, 214
New Democratic Party (NDP) (Alberta): future policy options of, 310
and oil industry, 105, 162, 309, 396
as opposition party, 78–79, 300–301, 304
reaction of Conservative supporters to, 376
and 2015 election, 85, 365, 383, 385n4
New Democratic Party (NDP) (federal), 132
neoliberalism: and accountability, 363–64, 371–72, 383–84
in Alberta, 79, 80, 119–20, 188–89, 394–96, 399
and anti-democratic beliefs, 130, 196, 395–96
and bitumen oil production, 46
in comparison to nation-building agenda, 131
development of in Canada, 6, 114–16
and economism, 35–37
and effect of financialization, 38–40
effect on Aboriginal land claims, 195
effect on liberal democracies, 56–57, 91–92, 130, 393–94
emphasis on security in, 92, 114, 123, 124
and gendered practices, 278–79, 288–89
and Harper government, 122, 399
and patriarchy, 398–99
as political ideology, 6, 37–38
and Progressive Conservative government, 6, 79, 115–16, 394–95
restricting democratic rights over resource projects, 215–16, 217
and rise of think tanks, 297–98, 308, 309–10
view of culture, 335, 338, 340, 341, 345
view of education, 377–78
neostaples economy, 14–15, 57, 201
new public management (NPM), 371–72
Nikiforuk, Andrew, on neoliberalism in petro-states, 298
nongovernmental organization (NGOs), 96–100, 103–4, 129
Non-Partisan League (NPL), 72, 73
North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), 95, 107, 163n3
Northern Gateway pipeline, 104, 105, 108n8
Notley, Rachel: as MLA, 208, 209, 210, 380
and 2015 election victory, 85
occupational health and safety (OHS), 225–26, 228–30, 236–39, 255–56
Bloody Lucky campaign, 239
O’Connor, John, 201–2, 218n6, 386n8
oil-dependent economies (see also Alberta economy): and accountability, 365
and arts funding, 341
defined, 392
and democratic challenges, 406–7
and developmental liberalism, 34, 391–92
difficulties in assessing, 12–13
effect on liberal democracy, 4–5, 70, 406–7
evidence of Alberta as, 76–78, 81–82, 84, 305–6
and gendered employment, 280
and gender equality, 174–75, 176, 183–84, 189, 190, 398
and Iran-Alberta political comparison, 173–74
and lack of civic engagement in Alberta, 54–55
and Norwegian example, 20–21
Polity scheme for judging democracy of, 41–42
and problem of great wealth, 34
and staples theory, 13–14, 46–47, 405–6
use of migrant workers in, 250, 262
and workers’ rights, 240–41
oil industry (see also bitumen oil production; oil-dependent economies): attitude toward consultation on projects, 212–14, 219n10
control of, in Canada, 90, 116–17, 140, 148–49, 152–53, 161, 163n3
and corruption, 385n2
criticism of by the arts, 336, 343, 345–52
discovery of oil in Alberta, 75–76
effect of September 11th on, 121–22
effect on citizenship, 12, 384
“ethical” v. “dirty oil” debate, 6, 11, 12
funding of visual arts, 334, 340–43
and gender equality, 398
history of control in Venezuela, 153–59
impact on Alberta economy, 18–20, 24n9, 76–77, 78, 81–84, 119, 235, 305–6, 392
importance of in Canadian economy, 52, 54
influence on Canadian government, 53, 129
influence over Alberta citizens, 84
international effect of, 3–4
and Klein government, 119, 305
and Lougheed government, 118, 299–300
and migrant workers, 250, 262, 267
in 1980s Alberta, 78, 119, 302
reaction to NDP government, 105, 162, 309, 396
and regulatory capture, 215–17
role in Alberta government accountability, 364
role in Alberta’s social transformation, 187–88
role of in 2012 Alberta election, 146–48
role of in modern Iranian politics, 177, 178, 180
and royalty review in Alberta, 81–82, 85, 118, 123, 302, 305, 306–8
and shale oil boom, 49–50, 403–4
tie to PC Alberta governments, 82, 83–84, 104–5, 160–61, 187–88, 236, 262–63, 295, 299–300, 306–8
types of crude oil, 47–48
and unions, 235–36
use of visual arts for branding, 344, 349
Venezuelan workers move to Alberta, 159–60
and Wild Rose Alliance, 83, 307
oil sands, 11, 94. See also bitumen oil production
oil shale, 58n6
Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), 118
organized labour. See trade unions
Overton window: definition of, 296
Pahlevi, Reza Shah, 177–78
paradox of plenty. See resource curse
Parkland Institute, 80–81, 306
patriarchy, 172, 188–90, 398–99
Petróleos de Venezuela, S. A. (PDVSA), 154–60
petro-states, 53–54, 84, 333, 336. See also oil-dependent economies
pipelines (see also Keystone XL pipeline, Northern Gateway pipeline): and Bill C-38
pluralist theory, 69–70
Poitras, George, 202–3
political opportunity structures (POSs), 92, 93–94, 96–100, 102–4, 105–7
Polity scheme of judging democracy, 41–42
postsecondary education: cutbacks to funding, 375, 377–78
post-staples economy, 45–46
Powell, Lewis F., 296–97
Pratt, Larry, 161
private sector (see also bitumen oil production; oil industry): and control over immigration, 265
and homelessness, 323–25
negotiation on behalf of government, 212–13
and right-wing think tanks, 297–98, 301–3
ties to Alberta Conservative government, 374–75
and transparency, 365–66
privatization, 371–72
Progressive Conservative government (Alberta): and access to information, 372–74
anti-union bias of, 231–34, 259
attacks environmental protection laws, 128–29
and illegal campaign donations, 374–75
and conflict-of-interest bodies, 375–82
creation of bitumen oil monitoring panel, 208–9
and defending bitumen internationally, 101, 104–5
and enforcement of workplace safety rules, 229–30
and gender equality, 180–81, 183–84
government support for migrant workers, 260–64
and homelessness, 314
influence of oil industry on, 82, 83–84, 104–5, 160–61, 187–88, 236, 262–63, 295, 299–300, 306–8
and international oil politics, 90
under Klein, 79–81, 82, 119–20, 303–5
lobbying for bitumen oil production, 93, 101, 104–5, 339–40
under Lougheed, 76–78, 117–18, 299–300, 302
and neoliberalism, 6, 79, 115–16, 394–95
and postsecondary education, 375, 377–78
under Redford, 83, 84–85, 104–5, 145–46, 381–82
regulatory capture of occupational health and safety, 236–39
response to critical art, 337–39
under Stelmach, 82, 83, 120, 123, 306–7
and 2012 election, 145–48
and 2015 election loss, 84–85, 365, 382, 383
public interest, 81, 370, 383–84
Redford, Alison: on arts funding, 339
becomes premier, 83
political style, 104–5
and Tobaccogate, 381–82
and 2012 election, 145–46
regulatory capture: and accountability, 363, 367–68, 384
of energy industry, 129
enforcement of Occupational Health and Safety laws, 225–26, 236–39, 240
of oil development, 212–13, 215–17, 397
religion, 74–75
rentier state, 4, 23n1, 42, 76
Saskiw, Shayne, 381
Saudi Arabia, 141
Scott, Don, 378–79
September 11th terrorist attacks, 121–22
shale oil, 49–51, 52, 53, 403–4
as compared to “tight oil,” 58n6
shareholder activism, 97
Shell, 18, 100, 213–14, 345, 349
single-resource economies, 70
Smith, Danielle, 83, 85, 146, 307
Social Credit Party: creation of Ombudsman Office, 369, 371–72
early years of, 17–18, 71, 385n3
favors technocratic solutions, 73
and oil policy, 299
political success of, 75–76
and unions, 231
social movements, 31, 32–33, 39, 93–94, 105–7, 120–21
Occupy movement, 400
People and Planet, 99
social reproduction feminism (SRF) framework, 277
social rights, 226–28
spectacle, 345–47
staples theory: and Alberta government, 384
and developmental liberalism, 392
and market dependency, 95
as method of explaining Canadian economy, 44–47, 161
and neostaples economy, 14–15, 57, 201
and relationship of oil and democracy, 405–6
“staples trap,” 45
Stelmach, Ed, 82, 83, 120, 123, 306–7
Suncor, 148, 150–52, 160, 199, 341
Syncrude: and Aboriginal peoples, 200, 201, 203
and arts funding, 341–43
donation to Keyano College. 342
as early oil developer, 76–77
environmental criticism of, 204
share of Alberta oil industry, 150
tar sands. See bitumen oil production
Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP), 251–52, 257–58, 261
temporary foreign workers: conditions of, 250–53
Conservative government support for, 260–64
effect of on democracy, 264–66, 397–98
in Fort McMurray, 279–80
implications of, 249–50
numbers of, in Alberta, 253–55
rights of, 255–56
why they are hired, 256–59
think tanks, 297–98, 301–2, 303, 308
Tobaccogate, 381–82
trade unions: and migrant workers, 249, 255–56, 259, 263
and neostaples economy, 15
and oil industry, 235–36
and right to strike, 233
and safety partnership model, 237–38
weakness of in Alberta, 230–34, 241n1
traditional knowledge, 209–10
transnational advocacy, 90, 96–100, 105–7, 114, 132, 202–3
transparency, 363, 365–66. See also accountability
Trudeau government, 118
UK Tar Sands Network, 99–100
United Farmers of Alberta (UFA), 72–73
United Nations (UN), 93, 97–99
United States: effect of financialization on, 38, 39–40
focus on security in, 121–22, 123
and homelessness, 324–25
and Keystone XL, 125–26
maternal mortality figures for, 144–45
as prime market for bitumen, 95
role in Alberta oil production, 118–19, 120
role in control of Canadian oil, 148, 149–50, 151
and shale oil boom, 49–50, 51, 403–4
as top oil exporting nation, 47
trade ties to Canada, 49, 52, 123–24
and US Glass-Steagel Act, 133n4
Usten, Olla, 206–7
Venezuela: the Apertura agreement, 154–55
caracazo, 145
compared to Canada, 142–46
extent of bitumen oil resource, 140–41
history of control of oil in, 140, 148, 153–59
move of oil workers to Alberta, 159–60
recent political history of, 141
visual arts: Alberta government response to critical, 337–39
censorship of critical art, 351
challenges and possibilities for, 352–53
democratic role of, 333, 334–35
funded by oil industry, 334, 340–43
oil industry use of, 337, 340, 344, 349
and protest against oil industry, 336, 343, 345–52
response to critical art, 351
Walker, Michael, 301, 302, 308
water: consumption of in bitumen extraction, 108n8, 206–7
monitoring regulatory body, 207–9
whistle-blowing legislation, 378–79, 386n8
Wildrose Alliance Party of Alberta: corporate support for, 374
election of 2012, 145–48
formed, 82–83
and migrant workers, 263
support of oil industry for, 83, 307
in 2015 election, 85
Wilkinson, Neil, 379–82
Wise Wood, Henry, 72–73
Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB), 237, 238
Zapatistas, 106
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