<P> McKenzie argued in 1981 that politically the NEP heightened distrust of the federal government in Western Canada, especially in Alberta where many Albertans believed that the NEP was an intrusion of the federal government into an area of provincial jurisdiction . </P> <P> According to a National Post journalist, </P> <P> "The anger and alienation of this era would provide much of the fuel behind the rise of Reform and Canadian Alliance parties, becoming the Conservative party that rules Ottawa today . The anger and alienation of Albertans also led Mr. Lougheed to oppose many of Mr. Trudeau's proposed plans for the Constitution Act of 1982; he argued against granting Ontario and Quebec veto powers, fought for provincial resource rights and insisted on the notwithstanding clause . </P> <P> The rationale for the program weakened when world oil prices began to slowly decline in the early 1980s and then collapsed in late 1985 (see figure Long - Term Oil Prices, 1861--2007). A phased shutdown was commenced by Jean Chrétien while he was Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources . </P>

Who said let them freeze in the dark