As a westerner who moved to the east, this story does not surprise me.  Still have many friends in Alberta doing just fine despite the downturn.  The key is less government intervention trying to pick winners or losers.  True, they have an interventionist government now, temporarily, but the free market ideology of Alberta is still the backbone and will allow for the market place to rebalance quickly and efficiently thus I have confidence that Alberta will always thrive and there will be an opportune time for my family and I to leave Ontario and its ridiculous debt and incompetent government voted in by teachers, unions, and government employees behind.

God bless Alberta!