In Alberta, the Oil Sands King in the North, the economy continues to be crushed by crude prices. With the oil fallout has come massive job losses, business closings, soaring office vacancy rates and increasing crime. None of this should be terribly surprising for a region of the world that is somewhat dependent on oil sands production. At current oil prices most oil sands projects can’t even cover their cash operating costs which are estimated to be $50 per barrel much less the estimated $90 per barrel required to start a new project.