Can The Canadian Government Run An Oil Company ?

Yes. The first step the government should take to control gas prices is start a company of it's own (Petro Canada ?...another Mulroney fiasco....god I still hate the man) After all, technically, the oil belongs to the people of Canada. Why not take over them all ?(wishful thinking...just call me Hugo C) With government control over their own refineries (hopefully more than one...) and fields there would be government stabilised pricing and delivery. Hopefully no 'oh my god there is the possibility of a storm 5000 miles away hurting the rigs' gas gouging. No worries about shareholders screaming about profits. Put the money back into Canada. After all we do have the 2nd largest reserves of oil in the world (yes...including the tar sands)This is not a communist government nor is it run by a despot who will line his own pockets or use the funds for some nefarious plan....it should and would be transparent ownership and governance. This said as I'm sure some twit will think that the government should not run a company of this size. They are doing a decent job of running the country and starting a government owned company is the best idea. Oh yeah....they could also force the big oil companies and automakers from muzzling the companies that are trying to improve the common battery or fuel cells for future electric cars. Buy out, or into, Ballard Power Systems and get shit rolling. There is nowhere near enough money going into this technology. If it takes government interference to force the issue then so be it. That should be a condition of bailing these auto companies out....contractually obligated to have an affordable production hybrid within 1 year. All you see is advertising for them. Just blowing smoke up the everyday Joes ass. Canfuel....there's a good name for the new company owned by the people of Canada....yeah. Canfuel.