The recent court ruling blocking the Stay Free Alberta petition will only anger a segment of Alberta’s population itching for a fight!
And a fight they will have!
The similarities between Quebec separation and the Alberta separatist movement are strikingly similar. Quebec threatened separation under the guise of getting a “better deal” to remain in Canada. When push comes to shove, this is what many Albertans want.
Not only Alberta, but the West is treated as a second-class citizen. It is a colony as annoying as a swarm of mosquitoes at a nudist colony. More importantly, a colony to be pillaged to benefit the rich of the power-led elite East.
It is no different than the African colonies and East Indian islands hundreds of years ago. Ships left Europe to pillage the regions and return home with riches. Today, the West sends it wealth to Ottawa to be distributed to the East. Great deal for the East, bad deal for the West.
Like many years ago, the ones in power do not care. Never have and never will. Whether federal governments are Liberal or Conservative, the raping and pillaging of the West never stops. Why? Because once the flow of money stops to the East, chances of re-election drop faster than the temperature of a January blizzard at Tuktoyaktuk.
This is why the West and Albertans are frustrated. All that is wanted is a better deal.
After many months of hard work, their efforts have been thwarted by a single judge. The Alberta government promises to appeal. Let the games begin!
Meanwhile, anger continue to build. What good does this do anyone?
Eventually, Quebec got its vote. More than one. And what did Quebecers do? They voted against. In the end, they realized Canada wasn’t so bad after all!
Alberta is a different kettle of fish, however. Unlike Quebec, we don’t get billions of dollars in transfer payments each year. Alberta pays the bills and does not collect its fair share.
The case for separation and staying in Canada continues. The steady stream of propaganda from both sides attempting to make its case continues. Each citizen will have to sort it out for themselves should a vote eventually occur.
What is wrong is Albertans do not get a chance to decide. Here lies within the problem. Once you tell the voting public it has no say, there is no democracy. We all know what happens when there is no democracy. Anger rises and rises and the public will take it out on their elected politicians. The problem for Alberta is they can change all the federal politicians they want but it won’t matter. Power resides in the East. Even elected Conservative governments have to suck up to the East.
A bigger problem arises. Investers like stability in government. If they see this continued alienation from the West, investment attraction becomes more difficult.
The judge’s recent ruling has only stirred up a hornet’s nest. If anyone thinks Stay Free Alberta is going away quietly, think again. Let the buzzing begin! This is only a start!
Chris Clegg