Premier Smith recently sent a memo outlining her demands for the oil and gas industry to whomever wins the upcoming election. That would be her prerogative to do as the premier of our province. But she then had to add that there would be a constitutional crisis if her demands were not met.
Is she wanting to add a whole round of constitutional wrangling to these uncertain times; holding the threat of having Alberta separate from Canada as her trump card.
She then goes down to the U.S.A. to support an American who said Canadians wouldn’t even get to vote if they took us over. A recent poll found that 18 per cent of Albertans favour joining the United States.
In what world does she and her 18 per cent think we are living? My understanding is that Alberta’s discontent arises from the fact that of Canada’s 39 million residents, 24 million live in Ontario and Quebec. They have the greatest political clout and that results in laws and policies that ignore or are detrimental to the legitimate concerns of 4.4 million Albertans.
So; if Alberta becomes part of the U.S.A. either by itself or as part of a 51st state with the rest of Canada, are we going to have an increase in political clout and get fairer treatment? Would 345 million Americans give two hoots about what 4.4 million Albertans want?
Would Washington let this insignificant number of former Canadians who have been “terribly abusing them for years” keep control of and gather the royalties from the oil and gas reserves that the United States will have just acquired? Even if the U.S. made sweet talk and entered a “favourable “ agreement how long would that last? Also, as a 51st State the provincial governments will disappear so who could even try to enforce an agreement.
One can hope that Trump might one day realize that the Democratic alliances that have generally served us well for the past 70 years should be supported; rather than flirting with, and emulating the autocratic powers of Russia and China.
One can hope that Premier Smith might soon realize that our best allies are our fellow Canadians.
James Wilde,
Carstairs
