Liberals have chance to 'start over' with Alberta oilpatch, Deborah Yedlin says - Action News
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Liberals have chance to 'start over' with Alberta oilpatch, Deborah Yedlin says

Calgary Eyeopener business commentator Deborah Yedlin says the Liberal win could provide an opportunity for the federal government to 'start over' with Alberta's energy sector.

'Nothing of substance ever happened under... Harper's watch,' says Calgary business commentator

When it comes to the impact that a Liberal government will have on Alberta's energy sector, Deborah Yedlin's outlook is glass half-full. (CBC)

Basically,it's over and it could have been worse, says Deborah Yedlin.

"People were quite worried about about a minority government. They were worried about a Liberal minority government supported by the NDP," shesaid.

While the Calgary Eyeopenerbusiness commentator knowsthe name Trudeau gives some Albertans the jitters, she sayswe should take comfort in theLiberal platform.

"Some people are going to be having a cow," she said.

Eyeopener business commentator Deborah Yedlin weighs in on what the Liberal election victory means for the energy industry and the country's economy.

"He's learned from his dad. He understands that you can't have a policy that divides the country.Thatyou need to be a referee and not a cheerleader."

Conservatives didn't deliver

"As much as everybody looked at the Conservative government and said, 'this is the best thing for the energy sector' nothing of substance really happened under Stephen Harper's watch," said Yedlin.

She points to the fact that Alberta has seen nothing move on the pipeline front and toSuncor Energy's hostile $4.5-billion hostile bid to takeover Canadian Oil Sands.

"Because of the Investment Canada Act and the restrictionsthat have been placedas a result of the Conservative party, they have a smaller universe of buyers," she said.

Chance to 'start over'

With the slate wiped clean, Yedlin says the federal government can nowmove forward on issues pertaining to Alberta's oilsands.

"I think we have chance to start over again with ... how we look at energy development," said Yedlin.

Trudeau could also make an impact when he attends the Paris UN climate change summit in December,a conference that Harper wasn't even planning toattend.

"Trudeau has talked about the importance of developing the energy resources, but developing them responsibly," said Yedlin.

She says Canada needs to do a lot of work on its climate change file and this could be an opportunity to re-framethe dialogue in the international arena.