Without doubt, it’s the greatest industrial success story this country has enjoyed in the past half-century. That’s probably why so many people would like to shut it down.

We’re talking about the Alberta oilsands, which has repeatedly beaten overwhelming odds for more than a century to become the leading cumulative corporate contributor to provincial and federal tax coffers, thereby providing oodles of cash to support all types of social programs so many of us enjoy.

This is not something you dare mention in polite society, of course. Because the oilsands are dirty — pulling massive amounts of bitumen from the northern muskeg isn’t an endeavour where white gloves are deemed de rigueur. So, the mining itself along with its eventual end product could in no way be tagged with some virtuous, green-energy badge of honour.

That’s why a most notable milestone a few weeks ago was afforded barely a nod of recognition in this country. Even here in Alberta, it passed rather quietly.

© Calgary Herald