When news broke this week that Shell was selling almost all of its oilsands assets in the province, Alberta’s opposition parties pilloried the deal with something resembling verbal muscle memory.
“Shell is waving goodbye to Alberta … The premier’s plan is not working,” Opposition leader Brian Jean said during question period, in a familiar refrain.
In a legislature hallway, Progressive Conservative interim leader Ric McIver told reporters the sale is a sign of the times.
“The government is decidedly not business-friendly. And a lot businesses that have been here for a long time are making a decision to have smaller investments in Alberta,” said McIver.