I think most Canadians don't realize that most of the taxes on the oil and gas industry go to Ottawa. When people site the example of Norway's huge $200 Billion future fund that comes from it's offshore oil and gas and why Alberta doesn't have one of that magnitude - they don't equate the missing $200 Billion in Alberta and the $220 Billion in transfer payments that has flowed out of Alberta in the last 10 years.

BC wants to protect it's lands and waters and the Federal government has given only token amounts and efforts in this regard.  The Navy and Coast Guard assets on the west coast need to be dramatically increased as does the oil spill cleanup capability.

BC's demand for a share in the benefits from moving the oil across it's land is understandable given the Federal Government's refusal to do it's part.