Somebody needs to diversify that economy, it's the only way to prevent this happening over and over again. or at least to make it less drastic when prices crash. Yes, in the short term some taxes should go up and in the long run, the Alberta public service should be made far more efficient but now is not the time, it would make things even worse. I agree that it's hard to envision the oil industry roaring back in Alberta any time soon - with more conventional and fracked oil reserves being found, bitumen will be at the bottom of peoples' shopping lists.