Well, Enbridge doesn’t seem to think so, according to this headline from yesterday:
That’s four billion dollars worth of pipeline in British Columbia! Somehow they were able to deal with Indigenous stakeholders, environmental issues and regulatory hassle. Now it is still possible that Ottawa could come in and say no but that’s a lot different from the company saying no themselves because they think it is too much risk. And again, that headline is from yesterday.
Yes, I’ve noticed that.
So, you’ve proven that if the project benefits BC it will get approved and fast-tracked. And this should disprove Albertan’s concerns about investment fleeing Canada and how we’re being treated unfairly?
Rosemary Barton speaks with Stéphane Dion, former Liberal leader and designer of the Clarity Act.
Barton: The Alberta separatist movement, I’m sure you’ve seen this, has been speaking to American officials in some capacity. Even talking about getting access to money, a credit line from the US. What do you make of Americans being involved in that conversation?
Dion: I think it’s completely irresponsible to have done. Because we know that President Trump is somebody very difficult to predict what he will do, but he has clearly expressed his view about annexation of territories in order to get the resource of these territories.
We need to remember that Canada is almost alone around the world, where the control of natural resources is in the hands of the provinces, of the regional entities, and not the central government or the federal government. In the US, net resources are federal. That means that if you invite Trump in Alberta, and maybe to take control of Alberta, that means that Albertans, 5 million people, will have to share the dividends of their natural resources with 240 million Americans.
It would be a good deal for Trump, but completely bad for Albertans. And it should be said. Nobody’s saying that so I’m saying so. It’s completely irresponsible to have done that from the point of view of Albertans, and of course of all Canadians.
Where have we heard that before? Trump is over a 100 years too late.
Dion: “That means that if you invite Trump in Alberta, and maybe to take control of Alberta, that means that Albertans, 5 million people, will have to share the dividends of their natural resources with 240 million Americans.”
Luckily, only the fearmongers are suggesting that Trump will take over Alberta. But right now we have to share our dividends with the ROC, ~35M people. So, that is what Stephane is really upset about. He loses the cookie jar. Yes, our aging F18’s and under-equipped Canadian army is sending shivers down the spine of Trump, which is the only thing blocking him from taking Alberta. Oh, what would we do without you brave elbows up Canadians protecting us!
Dion: It’s completely irresponsible to have done that from the point of view of Albertans, and of course of all Canadians.
It is completely responsible that if we seek independence that we know who will support us. As the ROC isn’t interested in doing so, we look elsewhere. Which is anyone’s right.
This is the guy who said this: “Nothing in Canada today justifies secession: not in Quebec, not in the West, not anywhere else in Canada.”
I can think of many reasons that justifies secession, 1. The Senate, 2. The Supreme Court, 3. Seat distribution, 4. Federal over-reach, 5. Permanent equalization payments even when some provinces have more than the ability to support themselves but chose not to.
Oh my God. Yes, proof those dastards holding down Alberta, a quote from 1904 when Alberta was a handful of 70,000 settlers and natives in an unorganized territory merged into the larger North-West Territories. A full year before it was enlarged, granted provincial status, and earmarked for settlement and development. Those bastards!
And of course, Trump himself posting an image of the American flag covering all of Canada.
It’s not “fear mongering” when the actual president himself says he wants to do it.
You are right that is the only thing that is driving this independence movement. A quote from 1904. Not the institutional makeup of federation that remains today that you just brush off like it isn’t important.
It’s ‘fear mongering’ when you actually believe his nonsense, when you don’t recognize a troll for what he is, and then expect everyone else to re-act like we have to act immediately in response. If you are worried that he is actually going to invade Canada then you must do something.
Frankly, Alberta is safer away from all you ‘Elbows up’ types. We won’t antagonize him and will want to make trade tariff free. But your response is right out of a 1984 playbook of keeping the population in line:
Carney isn’t some amateur. He understands capital, investment, and incentives better than almost anyone in Canada. So, when he caters to the idea of Trump being an invasion threat, by saying ‘New World Order’ speeches and sending troops to Greenland, etc., it gets disingenuous.
I’m surprised that you don’t see yourself getting played by Carney? It’s the same playbook. The ‘Trump Whisperer’ unable to make a deal? ‘The adult in the room’ No, he chooses to not make a deal. He’ll pop an election soon hoping to win a majority, and once done, miraculously make a deal just in time for CUSMA negotiations.
I’m not worried he’s going to invade Canada. I am a tad concerned that muppets like Rath and Smith are hoping to hand it to him on a silver platter.
I cannot think of any aspect of my life I’ve conducted in any way based on Mark Carney’s actions or words. I cannot recall him promising to make a deal with the USA, and no sane or intelligent person thinks anyone could make a deal with the USA.
No one is getting “played” by Carney.
Played by Rath and trump and … OTOH
Hoo boy are a certain fraction of Albertans, and Texans, and West Virginiains and … getting played by RW populism.
Well as I pointed out his strategy, I’m pretty sure I’m not. I can’t speak for those who believe that Trump is invading Canada and Carney is the one to protect us from that, though.
vs left wing lunacy? “Elbows up” much?
Dion: “Of course there are tensions on the proper eco climatic policies that should we should apply in the case of Alberta.”
That quote isn’t over 100 years ago. It is still the same Laurentian Elite attitude that they are the ones who should dictate what is applied to us. And you wonder why many Albertans are pissed?
So, they’ve resurrected Cretien and Dion. I wonder who is the audience they expect these fossils to appeal to?
If I may butt in from over the water - that’s all too reminiscent of the Brexiteers saying we could leave the EU and still have all the things we might like - freedom of movement (for us but not for them), freedom to trade (on our standards, not theirs) etc., etc.
What is bad about this? Dion directly recognizes that there are conflicts. Why is Dion bad here? YOU, just up-thread, went as far as to demand that the federal government should override all provincial objections to building pipelines through BC lands. Ignoring the strong objections from local landowning indigenous stakeholders and the BC government’s advocacy of provincial sovereignty.
This is within Federal government’s authority you say. Clear as day. However Dion saying “there are tensions” is some sort of grotesque display of dictation by a Laurentian Elite? That is crazy. It is so poisoned with bad faith as to hinder any ability to communicate and talk about grievances (from which this MAGA styled right-wing Alberta separatist group seems to thrive from).
How’s that whole Brexit thing working out for you? Are you getting your fortnightly dividend cheques from all that money that isn’t being sent to Brussels?
See also #529 upthread. 
Come now, this isn’t that difficult.
Alberta has not just the right to destroy the planet’s ecology as much as they want because environmental regulations are provincial jurisdiction, but the obligation to do so because in so doing they can turn a profit. If you object to the world burning, Alberta will reply that reports of the world burning are highly exaggerated, and if they aren’t highly exaggerated then the burning is inevitable so we are still obligated to earn as much money as possible contributing to the fire.
Ottawa has an obligation to overrule any other provinces’ objections to pipelines etc on environmental grounds, because failing to do so would violate (1). Any objections to this principle are hypocritical, because everyone is happy to accept taxes paid by world-burning-contributors.
It goes hand in hand with the MapleMAGA philosophy;
Everything for me, nothing for you.
All benefits to remain with Alberta, while we pay none of the costs.
Oil and gas must have special treatment, other industries can suck it.
We’re tired of being treated like an equal partner. We’re special!
It’s worse then blind greed. I really do think these Alberta separatists believe all the nonsense. I was taken aback when Uzi was floating the idea that Alberta would have more political representation being apart of the US then Canada. A wholly laughable prospect.
Imagine. Lets say under the most wildest of maximalist dreams of these separatist come true. Alberta as we know it, is able to leave Canada with it’s entire borders and population intact (EXACTLY as it exists today). Also that the US accepts this territory whole as a full fledged state (not a territory as dictated by their laws). This would give Alberta a whole 2, yes 2, senators (out of 100 others) in their senate. Which is laughable. That is the absolutely BEST CASE scenario.
Now bring in all the outright conspiracies being floated by these separatists -involving China, globalists, outright collusion from Laurentian Elites, tax freedom, cheap housing (well this might be true as people start leaving, Montreal housing prices are the best in Canada 40 years on now). Nothing in this discussion comes close to reality. It is maddening.