The US was fairly well developed and diversified years ago before fracking. I put this whole fracking revolution as a lottery that the US has won.   Now the US apart from having world companies that span the globe, produce gasoline that could be self sufficient in a short period of time.
Here in Canada being a much larger part of our economy and having a much larger cost imprint, the tarsand players should be saying a prayer to the Saudis every night before bedtime....please do not ramp up production.

THe likes of Fort Mac being a sustainable town enabling to grow grow and grow is ridiculous. The oil sand  scenario will will whitteled down to 3 or 4 players with skeleton crews  that run on a very efficient platform.  Having  a fully developed instructured town will be a moot point.

Just look at Grande Cache.  Alot of towns in Alta will be following this path.  Sad news but nothing to be surprised at when dealing with one horse towns.