If(when) Trudeau is reelected expect Western separatism to come back from the dead

[Anonymous]

The prairie provinces can only take being thrown under the bus for so long before they start asserting themselves politically. A Trudeau in Ottawa equals regional alienation.



Who can unite this country



When you are looking for words of wisdom, Preston Manning is always a pretty good place to start. So it comes as no shock the father of the Reform party and later a keen observer of its evolution into today's Conservative party has a firm grip on where our country is going. And according to Mr. Manning, it's not looking pretty at all. "Western alienation, fuelled by the downturn in the energy sector and political resistance to the free movement of petroleum across provincial boundaries to tidewater and world markets, is reviving western separation, particularly in Saskatchewan and Alberta," Manning said in a speech at the Canadian Club of Calgary on Wednesday. Keep in mind, this man knows of which he speaks. "Separatist sentiment is also reviving in Quebec. The Bloc Quebecois is doing better this election than last time. And if the federal courts declare Bill 21 to be unconstitutional, then they're going to have another uprising in Quebec on that basis," he said. Great, so here we are in the middle of an election campaign and the divide in this country couldn't really get much bigger. Yet, oddly, that's not what anyone is talking about on the campaign trail as the incumbent PM fights for his political life — and hands out lots of money — after really stepping in it with his blackface routine, among all his other gaffes. Provinces and regions are at each other's throats and, as usual, there's little in the way of agreement, if any, between the federal parties on most issues. So even if there is a clear winner — let's say the Tories or Liberals, for the sake of argument and common sense — the prime minister has a whole lot of mending to do. That repair job would become a whole lot harder should there be a minority government and an unholy alliance calling the shots. Manning also worries young voters are disengaging from the political conversation. Whether that's happening out of frustration, disinterest or apathy, it's alarming. "That's going to be a challenge for the next Parliament, no matter who ends up winning the election. Recognize the validity of the concerns. Don't dismiss them. Don't tell people you've got no reason to be angry or mad," said Manning. With all the respect in the world, we take Mr. Manning's words to the wise very seriously. So ask yourself one more question before you vote: Who is best suited to bring this great country together again? And don't forget to check the track record.

[Anonymous]

I've heard people express comments to the effect that there is no future in Canada for Alberta..



This is a result of the political realities in this country..



Quebec, Ontario and BC all have more people than Alberta.

[Anonymous]

I've heard people express comments to the effect that there is no future in Canada for Alberta..



This is a result of the political realities in this country..



Quebec, Ontario and BC all have more people than Alberta.

Trudeau, like his father is not a national leader. He is effectively a regional pm.

[Anonymous]

I've heard people express comments to the effect that there is no future in Canada for Alberta..



This is a result of the political realities in this country..



Quebec, Ontario and BC all have more people than Alberta.

Trudeau, like his father is not a national leader. He is effectively a regional pm.

He sure doesn't care about voters in Alberta or Saskatchewan,

[Anonymous]

Every time this country elects a Trudeau, separatism raises it's ugly head.



By Brian Lilley of Sun News Media



Unity Weighs Heavy



It's an incredible thought, national unity being at risk once again in Canada.



Yet in 2019, it actually could be worse than it has been in years as the Bloc Quebecois rises in Quebec and western alienation swells across the prairies.



"It seems to be at its worst when there is a Trudeau in the prime minister's office," Andrew Scheer said.



The latest polling in Quebec shows the Bloc rising once again.



At its height, the Bloc held 54 seats after the 1993 election and the separatist party was actually the official opposition.



A combination of Stephen Harper's hands-off policies toward the provinces and Jack Layton's Orange Wave with the NDP in 2011 had all but eliminated the Bloc.



Now it's second in polling in Quebec and poised to win most of the seats outside of Quebec City and Montreal.



Western alienation meanwhile has hit record highs.



Polling done by the Angus Reid Institute earlier this year showed that 50% of Albertans think their province could separate.



Across British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, 35% of voters said they would vote for a Western Canadian Party if that option were available — that beat every other option.



A strong majority in those provinces said they don't feel Ottawa treats their province fairly.



When premiers, such as Jason Kenney in Alberta and Scott Moe in Saskatchewan, have raised issues for their region and warned of the rising alienation sentiment, Trudeau's Liberals have dismissed them as playing with national unity.



Often the frustration in Western Canada stems from not enough action — not solving trade problems for soy, chickpeas, canola or beef — or too much action, such as Bill C-69, which has been dubbed the "no more pipelines" bill.



When it comes to the oil and gas sector, Scheer clearly thinks Trudeau has targeted a vital industry.



"There would be no question that we would shut down the fishing industry or the forest industry in B.C. or the auto sector in Ontario, manufacturing in Quebec.

[Anonymous]

I have heard people I never would have guessed to express sympathy for separatism express sympathy for separatism.

[Anonymous]

The prairie provinces can only take being thrown under the bus for so long before they start asserting themselves politically. A Trudeau in Ottawa equals regional alienation.



Who can unite this country



When you are looking for words of wisdom, Preston Manning is always a pretty good place to start. So it comes as no shock the father of the Reform party and later a keen observer of its evolution into today's Conservative party has a firm grip on where our country is going. And according to Mr. Manning, it's not looking pretty at all. "Western alienation, fuelled by the downturn in the energy sector and political resistance to the free movement of petroleum across provincial boundaries to tidewater and world markets, is reviving western separation, particularly in Saskatchewan and Alberta," Manning said in a speech at the Canadian Club of Calgary on Wednesday. Keep in mind, this man knows of which he speaks. "Separatist sentiment is also reviving in Quebec. The Bloc Quebecois is doing better this election than last time. And if the federal courts declare Bill 21 to be unconstitutional, then they're going to have another uprising in Quebec on that basis," he said. Great, so here we are in the middle of an election campaign and the divide in this country couldn't really get much bigger. Yet, oddly, that's not what anyone is talking about on the campaign trail as the incumbent PM fights for his political life — and hands out lots of money — after really stepping in it with his blackface routine, among all his other gaffes. Provinces and regions are at each other's throats and, as usual, there's little in the way of agreement, if any, between the federal parties on most issues. So even if there is a clear winner — let's say the Tories or Liberals, for the sake of argument and common sense — the prime minister has a whole lot of mending to do. That repair job would become a whole lot harder should there be a minority government and an unholy alliance calling the shots. Manning also worries young voters are disengaging from the political conversation. Whether that's happening out of frustration, disinterest or apathy, it's alarming. "That's going to be a challenge for the next Parliament, no matter who ends up winning the election. Recognize the validity of the concerns. Don't dismiss them. Don't tell people you've got no reason to be angry or mad," said Manning. With all the respect in the world, we take Mr. Manning's words to the wise very seriously. So ask yourself one more question before you vote: Who is best suited to bring this great country together again? And don't forget to check the track record.

Did this prediction ever come true.

[Anonymous]

Parts of a letter Alberta premier Jason Kenney sent Trudeau.





In a warning shot fired across the bow of the Liberals' HMCS Central Canadian Bias, Kenney minced no words. "Albertans cannot understand why they have been called on to contribute $20 billion more annually to the Government of Canada than they receive back in benefits ... yet our ability to develop that wealth is increasingly blocked through cancelled and killed pipelines and policies like Bill C-69."



Kenney said Albertans are happy to share their good fortune with the rest of the country, but that generosity cannot continue indefinitely if the rest of the country stands in the way of our resources getting to market.



There's some fearless clarity for you – finally. No bureaucratese or make-nice diplomatic jargon.



It's so welcome to see an Alberta premier explaining the facts of life to the P.M. rather than, as Rachel Notley used to do, glad-handing and beaming every time Trudeau dropped by. Being buddies with Trudeau got Alberta exactly nowhere.



In his letter, Kenney also insisted Trudeau complete the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion (TMX), even though his government is being propped up by leftist parties that want TMX killed.



He patted the P.M. on the back for buying the pipeline and approving it twice (after the Federal Court halted it the first time). But then Kenney explained that despite all that, success "will be measured by one thing and one thing only: the completion of the pipeline."



Get it built



If that means standing up to the government of B.C. or noisy gaggles of protestors and foreign-funded NGOS, so be it. Just get TMX built.



Referring to Trudeau's election night commitment to Alberta and Saskatchewan that his government will "be there to support you," Kenney explained those words would be meaningless without more pipelines – emphasis on the plural.



Kenney also asked Trudeau to recognize Alberta's work on reducing emissions by exempting us from the federal carbon tax and helping us build pipelines so our lower-emissions energy can be sold to developing countries.

[Anonymous]

I went into town and had a few pints at Charlie's Sports Lounge. All the talk was about getting the fuck out of Canada. We can't keep taking their abuse and being a faithful part of confederation.