Another week of perfect Calgary fall weather in the books and here we are, Thanksgiving Weekend. That special time of year where we as Canadians take stock of the (often not so great) hand that has been dealt us and enumerate all the ways we feel thankful for being able to live in what could be the greatest country on earth, if we weren’t so addicted to mediocrity. And also 20 centimetres of snow. Which for my American friends is close to ten feet.

 

But I digress. That is in fact just my own oft-voiced opinion and many people disagree with me, which is fair, since polite disagreement is the foundation for discussion, understanding and compromise. Or something like that. We should of course be thankful that we are able to politely disagree with one another without descending into an abyss of self-destructive partisanship and vilification of others’ opinions… Right? Right?!?! Well, I for one am generally thankful.

 

Which segues conveniently to the theme of this week’s blogging, that most turkey of days – Canadian Thanksgiving – wherein Canadians from coast to coast to coast gather together with family and friends and have a few bevvies, eat a fabulous meal and generally socialize and have a good time unless of course there is a potential new pandemic in Russia or a US election or a referendum or a Quebec election or a trade war or a BC election or whatever terror du jour the media foists upon us, in which case we all huddle in terror, alone in our houses, frightened by the sound of the weakest of coughs, the weirdest pronouncement from an orange person or a ten part ballot of confusion that reads more like a university-level tangled logic midterm than a simple series of yes or no questions.

 

In our case, this year we are mostly at home, our small nuclear family. Having been empty nesters for all of 5 weeks we will be welcoming our Canadian university attending offspring is coming home for what we can only guess is reading week and a change of clothes. The other kid has to go to college football games and class (hopefully) and wait until the American Turkey decides to get cooked before seeing us again.

 

We will be watching CFL and NFL football as is tradition (well, mine anyway). I will make a turkey and mashed potatoes and gravy and stuffing and brussels sprouts with pancetta because that’s what I do. The kid will eat turkey and cranberry sauce, because that’s what they do. We will have many leftovers.

 

And as usual, I have spent a few minutes gathering my thoughts and soberly contemplating my existence and the rather fractious state of the world. And in that cornucopia of discombobulation and studied navel gazing, I have come to the conclusion that while things are bad, weird and just plain bizarre, they could be a lot worse and for that I am thankful.

 

 

Look, I know this is a recycled and hackneyed listicle, but it is a Canadian Thanksgiving tradition in many families to torture the kids (who just want to mainline cranberry sauce) by going around the dinner table before eating anything and requiring everyone to say what they are thankful for.

 

In that spirit, every year I do the same and write about some of the things I am thankful for (and some I’m not). It could also be that unlike the dinner table some will have genuine sentiment, but most will no doubt be decidedly tongue in cheek, if not foot in mouth.

 

Overall, as I look back on the past year or so of TRADE WARS, global aggression (this year, not just Vlad), increasing levels of terrorism in the “first world”, senseless violence perpetrated on innocent civilians and bystanders (this time I’m totally looking at you Vlad), Donald Trump, Insurrections, elections, referendums, pipelines, major projects, tariffs, economic catastrophes unfolding around the world, global warming, global cooling, climate change, energy scarcity, diesel prices, inflation, interest rates, unemployment and, oh my god, another freaking lab leak, I’m pretty darn thankful to live in sleepy old boring Canada.

 

Don’t get me wrong, we have our issues here and the weather sucks, but Canada, in the great scheme of things, is pretty darn-tootin’ great, our politics are tame’ish, our geographic situation is either a stroke of genius or luck (I’ll take either) and oftentimes our biggest issues revolve around how exactly we are going to deliver the latest social program to support disadvantaged fellow citizens. I mean seriously, in comparison to the gong show that is unfolding in the United States our political disagreements are downright parochial. Each of our big three parties have platform elements that would make AOC and Bernie Sanders blush. Mark Carney, our prime minister, is a either a red tory or a blue liberal. Avi Lewis the NDP leader, is an out of touch hyper-socialist who doesn’t even have a seat in Parliament and Pierre Poilievre, the conservative leader, is an aspiring poet.

 

I am thankful that here in Canada we can have mostly civilized debates during randomly called and unnecessary elections and referendums that highlight both the seriousness and talent of the various representatives and leaders but can also feature some genuine moments of comedic value. We are an anomaly in the Anglo world with our five national parties represented in Parliament, one of which exists solely to break up the country and form its own smaller and less interesting national government in a sovereign nation. And no, I’m not talking about Alberta’s separatist whackadoodles, they aren’t even running for office. In the meantime, while they await their moment, they do their parliamentary duties. Cool.

 

I am thankful that a Liberal Carney government appears to be doing its best to right the ship of state and economy and seems to be avoiding the lure of a snap election while allowing the opposition parties use the time for some necessary fund-raising so they can steal more votes.

 

I am thankful that the double J’s of Canadian politics – Justin Trudeau and Jagmeet Singh are no longer polluting my news feed.

 

I am thankful that the two main parties in Canada aren’t so vastly different as they would like us to believe. I know that politics inspires great partisan conflict but really, how different are the mainstream wings of the Conservatives and Liberals. I mean aside from the rhymes. And yes, I said “mainstream”.

 

I am thankful that Mark Carney, despite all his globalist faults that we are constantly reminded of, appears to be a thoughtful, mature grownup.

 

I am thankful that we have a federal Conservative leader who actually has a seat. It was a journey to get there. Not that I am enamoured of his platform or his nutjob pandering. Or his rhyming couplets. I’m just thankful that we have a choice if there is ever another federal election. Plus, no matter what you think of Pierre Poilievre the person or leader, there is no denying that in the theatre of the House of Commons he is a master at getting under the skin of the Liberal Party and its leaders, which is so much fun to watch. That said, Mark Carney seems to be a harder target than Trudeau was.

 

I am thankful that once out of office, political figures have the decency to fade into the background and not seek renewed glory. This of course is not what is happening.

 

I’m not so thankful for the current direction of the UCP. Danielle Smith needs to ditch the crazies who want to take over the party from within and move on from referendum nonsense or she is going to be a one-term footnote. She needs to stop thinking about being the boss and start thinking about health care, education, oil patch cleanup, renewables strategy and municipal relationships.

 

I am thankful that the Calgary economy seems to have finally stabilized after absorbing the massive shocks of the energy downturn and the pandemic and that the downtown office market has steadied itself.

 

I am thankful that infrastructure is being built even if I don’t like the traffic.

 

I am thankful that billionaire hockey owners are getting a free hockey rink and a transit station courtesy of the municipal and provincial taxpayer. Who am I kidding, I am not at all thankful for that. I am thankful we are going to get a concert venue that can actually host concerts though.

 

I am thankful for reasonably stable and sane government. As bad as the various municipal, provincial and federal governments are and as much as the leaders make me want to rage like a crazed, barking madman, it is not hard to find evidence of much worse situations around the world.

 

I am thankful for Donald Trump, because the nuthouse he resides in remains a non-stop source of entertainment and hilarity. I’m not thankful for trade war, dog whistle appeals to racist dogma, the near constant state of conflict, the mysoginy, the crass self-enriching corruption, but hey – everyone’s got a few flaws, right? As long as the entertainment continues, who cares!

 

I am thankful for sharks, battery powered boats and windmills that kill birds and whales as well as illegal immigrants that are eating the pets of Springfield. Why? See above.

 

I am thankful that Joe Biden was the most boring president in the history of the office. We needed the rest.

 

I am thankful that the Parti Quebecois is just a minority mandate. Seriously. The other alternative was a majority. Which I wouldn’t be thankful for. One referendum at a time as they say

 

I am eternally thankful for the opportunity to run the www.rogerbforyyc.com campaign for Calgary mayor. It was an ideas-based endeavour that ended in abject failure, but the website was top notch and the candidate truly adequate. We tried to pivot to have him run for Prime Minster during the last federal election, but I forgot my WordPress password so can’t edit it, so now I’m stuck with a dormant $70 a year domain that is worth $50. We did submit nomination papers for the Senate seat in Maine in this year’s midterms – stay tuned.

 

I am thankful to Sirius XM for the Beatles Channel. Seriously. I love the Beatles. Can’t get enough. I don’t care who knows it. I am also thankful that my kid on occasion still won’t let me turn off the car while a Beatles song is playing (I told her long ago that it’s an actual rule and now she has made it so).

 

I am thankful for $80-$90-$100-$110 (ish) oil and a recovered energy sector. Mostly because the energy sector is where I make me moneys, but also because a thriving energy market is good for everyone in Canada. Except people who use gas, but really what do you expect? Buy a Tesla if it bothers you so much. Why do you still hate Alberta?

 

I am thankful to see the TransMountain Expansion completed, operational, full and raking in cash.

 

I am thankful to see Pacific Link become a project of national importance. Because TransMountain is full.

 

I am thankful for LNG Canada Phase 1, Coastal Gas Link and LNG Canada Phase 2.

 

I am thankful for all the other pipeline projects on the docket – Southbow’s Baby-KXL, TMX expansion, Enbridge Mainline optimization… Did I miss any?

 

I am thankful to see green shoots of recovery in the energy services space and continued strong performance in the industrial and midstream world – again, this is where we make our monies.

 

I am thankful to see the price of natural gas try to rally. Anything more than $0 AECO is better than nothing. Maybe Tourmaline can finally catch a share price break.

 

I am thankful the analyst community has recognized that Canada’s oil production strength comes being a stable, predictable, long-lived, cash flow spewing asset base as opposed to the, for example, LTO world or the currently conflagrated Middle East or on-again, off-again Venzuela. Basically, we just and don’t decline. And pay divvies.

 

I am thankful that the Canadian Federal government appears to have read these same analysts.

 

I am thankful that the US mid-term election is nearly past. It is truly exhausting following that stuff. Now all we have to worry about is what happens after. Lord help us…

 

I am thankful that Ukraine continues to kick Russia’s ass.

 

I am thankful that Elon bought Twitter. Or not. Or am. Or not. Or am. Or not. Who really knows. Actually, maybe not.

 

I am thankful that the GOP is running such stellar, quality candidates like the racist, misogynist clowns and the spousal abusers.

 

I am not thankful that given the opportunity to deliver a blue-wave the Democrats have decided to engage in a mini-civil war.

 

I am thankful that Artificial Intelligence is now Super, when they could have just kept the A and called it Augmented.

 

I am thankful for sarcasm.

 

I am thankful for zombies. I mean who isn’t. And I’m including the ones in government in that as well.

 

I am thankful for NFL football, if only because the 49ers are 4-0, and Buffalo is Buffalo’ing. And, to top it off, my Fantasy Team is basically the Dallas Cowboys who I hate. Wouldn’t that be a ticket?

 

I am thankful that my government thinks that I am a fat cat and a tax cheat. Why? Because it makes me feel important. Where else in the world can you get such personal attention from the government? Imagine how important you would feel living in BC right now where the NDP calls a snap election for no reason and decides that its platform is going to be a 2% tax increase.

 

I am thankful for my network of professionals – my TwiXtterverse – the people who keep me informed and grounded, the sources I go to for informed dialogue and reasoned discussion. I am thankful for the friendships and connections we have made along the way – when you can take character limited discussions about politics and dinner prep and transmogrify them into lunches, hockey games and happy hour beers, you have done something right with the right crew including Lulu Kev, Arby’s Dwayne, Dee and Dee, Brian, Roger4mayor, politically connected Lesismore, Ray, Fake Ezzie and everyone else. Your community makes me whole.

 

I am thankful for you, my readers, for supporting me through the years despite my many missteps and cranky missives that I am sure push a lot of buttons and pull a lot of triggers. I make statements that I am sure many disagree with and are unpopular, but I stand by them. I try not to be partisan, but rather realistic and if my forecasts, predictions and rants upset people, it’s because I am trying to challenge the accepted views.

 

On the readership front, I am especially thankful for those of you who take the time to reach out after a blog to comment, correct or just converse. Keep it coming!

 

I am thankful for all the time I get to spend with friends and family – near and far. Whether it’s a regular reconnection for lunch or hopping on a plane and having dinner near an airport, it’s all amazing and matters. Life is short. Stay in touch.

 

Mostly and above all else, I am thankful for all of my family, both my immediate nuclear family as well as my extended family – in-laws, out-laws and all. I am thankful to have a wife who tolerates me and children who consistently and constantly fascinate, confound and astound me.

 

There, not so bad right? I tried hard to be nasty, but the sun is kind of shining, it’s warmish, leaves are falling, it’s a long weekend, it’s the last weekend for having the top down and I’m in an appropriately good mood.

 

Happy (Canadian) Thanksgiving, eh?