“The crimes of this guilty land can never be purged away but with blood” -- John Brown

The fiery anti-slavery campainer was hanged on this day in 1859. An advocate of overturning slavery by violence, he led attacks on pro-slavery residents in Kansas.  In 1859, he occupied a federal arsenal in Harpers Ferry (then in Virginia but now past of West Virginia) but was captured and later executed. The previous year he and his followers had stayed in Chatham, Ontario, where they drew up military plans. Historians think Brown’s actions inflamed North-South tensions, which led to the American Civil War (1861 to 1865).

CANADA ADDS 10,700 JOBS

In the latest jobs report, we learn that the Canadian economy added 10,700 jobs in November, with the unemployment rate dropping to a five-month low of 6.8 per cent. Analysts had predicted a loss of 15,000 jobs and said the jobless rate would stay at 7 per cent. South of the border, the U.S. added 178,000 jobs last month versus the estimated 180,000 gain. The unemployment rate in the country fell to 4.6 per cent versus the estimated 4.9 per cent. 

A NATIONAL ENERGY DIVIDE   

There are signs of a national divide in Canada with some in the west frustrated with what they see as a lack of support for the energy sector.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, green-lighting two pipelines this week that will ship oil out of Alberta, said the province’s action on climate change plan paved the way.

That plan includes imposing a cost on carbon pollution. But Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall tells BNN that carbon pricing won’t assuage foes of energy projects. 

“None of the people who oppose these pipelines prior to the carbon tax being announced by the [federal government] are now supporting it.”  

OIL AFTER OPEC DEAL 

Oil prices slipped below US$51 in trading this morning but are still on course for a 10 per-cent-jump this week after OPEC members said they plan to cut production by 1.2 million barrels a day.

At 10:20 a.m. ET, we’ll hear from Bill Strazzullo, chief market strategist at Bell Curve Trading. “On a short-term basis we have our clients set up for a pullback to the high/mid $40’s,” he says. “This is a counter-trend move that we advise playing with a smaller position. We want to BUY that retracement when it is over for the next leg higher to $64.00 - $65.00 (which is the current target of the rally off the February lows).”

THE POLITICS OF TAXATION 

From the politics of oil to the politics of taxation. At 10:05 a.m. ET, we’ll hear from federal Conservative leadership candidate Rick Peterson, a venture capitalist who says corporate income tax should be eliminated. 

POT SECTOR FIRES UP INVESTORS 

And on Commodities at 11 a.m. ET, we continue our coverage of the marijuana sector, which has fired up investors. We’ll be joined by Michael Haines, CEO  of producer Mettrum Health (MT.V), which is being acquired by Canopy Growth (CGC.TO)  for stock valued at $430 million.

And we’ll also hear from Terry Booth, CEO of Aurora Cannabis (ACB.V), a grower building a gigantic greenhouse in Alberta.

Finally, today’s exciting horse-and-trap video is brought to you by the Limerick Leader. “Traffic chaos” ensued after “an apparent impromptu sulky race.”

Now there’s an idea for something fun to do this weekend. 

Every morning Commodities host Andrew Bell writes a ‘chase note’ to BNN's editorial staff listing the stories and events that will be in the spotlight that day. Have it delivered to your inbox before the trading day begins by heading to www.bnn.ca/subscribe.