This article presents a critical juncture for Alberta, revealing a deeply embedded paradox: a province that simultaneously sought to export globally valuable natural gas while simultaneously benefiting from its local, discounted supply. The core pattern here is a classic ‘captive basin’ trap – a system built on unsustainable exploitation of regional resources, dependent on a constant stream of artificially low pricing. The recent rise in gas prices isn’t simply a market fluctuation; it’s the unr...