"Operating from China, Sinoenergy can benefit from cheaper labour & an unsentimental approach to the Canadian oilpatch, which Mr. Hu faults for getting fat on the good times. “We fired many high-level managers. We simplified management teams & reduced those costs." He figures the company can turn a tidy profit with U.S. oil prices as low as $48 (U.S.)."

The above is the part that really concerns me. It is a billowing out of opportunities for Canadians. I understand the raw capitalist and economic efficiency arguement. But really this is just transferring wealth from Canadian managers (who may well be overpaid) to fewer Chinese capitalists who are massively overpaid. It transfers wealth from a democratic country to an authoritarian country. It transfers money from a country with an establish middle class to one where disproportionate amount go to very few people. These are things that all favour more unequal distribution of income and deterioration of democracy & its institutions