One of his puppet strings must have snapped...Just as dumd a statement as 'whip out our CF-18"s...add it to the list. Why else has he been giving everything to the FN?

canada/we-are-resource-plus-naheed-nenshi-not-happy-with-trudeaus-rebranding-of-canada-in-davos

We are ’resource-plus’: Naheed Nenshi not happy with Trudeau’s rebranding of Canada in Davos

Annalise Klingbeil, Postmedia News | January 20, 2016 | Last Updated: Jan 20 10:10 PM ET
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Andrew Vaughan/The Canadian Press; Darren Makowichuk/Postmedia Network

Calgary’s mayor and the prime minister clashed over how resources will fit into Canada’s new Trudeau-era economy at an economic forum in Switzerland on Wednesday.

While Justin Trudeau said he wants Canada to be known for its resourcefulness, not its resources, during a keynote address at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Mayor Naheed Nenshi disagreed.

Nenshi said he wouldn’t have used the same language as Trudeau, and instead Calgary’s mayor dubbed the future of the Canadian economy as “resource-plus.”

“We are a resource economy. Our biggest export is still energy and I do not see a path where that does not continue to be the case, so clearly we need to do what we can on market access,” Nenshi said.

Nenshi told reporters at the meeting in Davos that market access was “being discussed in every corner in this place.”

“The two most likely pipeline projects are both entirely in Canada – Trans Mountain and Energy East – and Energy East in particular supplies Alberta energy to the rest of Canada,” he said.

“So, yes, social licence is required within our own country, but we also need to see action from this federal government about what’s happening in Canada and I look forward to that happening.”

Trudeau’s comments differentiated the new prime minister from predecessor Stephen Harper, who often used the high-powered economic forum to tout Canada as a resource powerhouse.

Canada’s natural resources remain a vital part of the economy — even as sliding oil prices take their toll on regions like Alberta — but there’s more going on north of the 49th parallel than just hewing wood and drawing water, said Trudeau.

“My predecessor wanted you to know Canada for its resources,” the prime minister said. “I want you to know Canadians for our resourcefulness.”

Mount Royal University political analyst David Taras applauded Nenshi’s response to the prime minister’s comments and said downplaying the country’s resources could cause Trudeau political trouble.

“(Trudeau) has put another question mark around the government’s attitude towards resources,” he said.

“It adds an extra level of nervousness to a situation that’s already boiling with nervousness.”

Wildrose shadow economic development minister Prasad Panda weighed in on the debate Wednesday and questioned why the prime minister is “downplaying our strengths.”

“We should be proud of the resources we have here. If he’s trying to play with words, it’s shame on him. He should be defending our industry,” Panda said.