IGNITE AND DIVIDE
Sing along with me,
“Alberta bound . . . Alberta bound.”
Separatism, or the threat to separate, is not a unique
phenomenon and it is a tool often used by fractious politicians to draw
attention to themselves and their personal pet peeves and causes. Alberta’s separatist movement was not a
self-awakening lightbulb moment grown out of frustration and feeling abandoned
or neglected by the federal government.
Smith simply planted the initial seed and watched it germinate,
injecting the odd bit of fertilizer when needed and stepped back, probably with
a big smile on her face. Within
no-time-flat a separatist movement sprouted and bloomed into being as if it
were something they themselves invented.
Shrewd politicians know: plant the seed and play on the fractious nature
of people, inclined to complain rather than examining whether there is a real
foundation for all that griping and whining.
We’re a funny breed. Once we
commit ourselves to a potentially negative course of action we turn into
hapless home wreckers who haven’t got a clue as to how to build and construct
something that is built properly. Separatism
is a typical one-way street proposition, motivated by separation only and not
the consequences. It is inspired by the
current international political thinking of the likes of Trump and Putin and
other autocratic leaders. Simplistic and
effective. Scream, shout, threaten and
bully and watch the scenario unfold. To
the naturally dissatisfied and the unwashed this is like manna from heaven. Don’t think.
Join the fray and wave your placards and flags. If you’re really lucky the signs will be supplied
and you don’t have to do a thing. Just
show up!
Around the world Smith is joined by other tribes, past and
present, inspired by leaders that wave the fractious knife of separatism, of
going it alone, with accusations of neglect, of being taken advantage of, of
being robbed of their rights, of being treated unfairly. None go out of their way to examine if there
is a justified foundation for all those grievances. All of them count on our fractious nature to
ride to the fore and crowd momentum takes over.
Give them a cause and
they will run amok.
Albertans are made to believe that somehow they have been
shortchanged within the federal framework of Canada and they’re not lacking for
examples of other provincial separation threats used to extract concessions and
favorable treatment from the federal government. It is so easy to ignite and divide and ignore
the consequences. If it all falls apart
you can always blame the masses; for bowing out, getting cold feet, caving in
to pressure. Before Alberta’s oil
bonanza the federal equalization payments and federal infrastructure projects
were eagerly received. Canada strong has
been the result of a federal investment structure and provinces working
together to build a nation that is the envy of the world in many ways. A huge and wealthy nation. One of the largest countries in the world and
connected by impressive highways, railroads, bridges and ports of entry that
have transformed this nation into a democratically run and impressively stable
country. An economic powerhouse with all
the parts working together!
We’re living in challenging times and around the world
manufacturing has come under fire because of the fractious, ignorant behavior
of some of the current leaders. Energy
is a bright light—currently—because of conflicts and wars and with energy in
short supply or at least threatened, it has become a hot commodity that is
giving Smith and her cohorts and excellent window of opportunity to leverage
that power. Their vision is all about
the now, not about the past and not about the future with dwindling oil sources
as we’re talking about a non-renewable resource that we are extracting at neck-braking
speeds. When the oil runs out Albertans
can go back to wheat and cattle, keeping their fingers crossed, hoping that
Canada as a federation made up of provinces will be understanding and magnanimous. All parties once more remembering that we’re
stronger pulling together.
Separatists are a funny lot.
One foot in and one foot out. The
foot in wants all the perks that come from what a federal government has to
offer and the foot out doesn’t want to share in any federal obligations or
programs. Kind of like rowing a boat
with one oar paddling in one direction and the other in the opposite. That boat isn’t going anywhere. Smith’s duplicity comes shining through in all
the glad-handing and smiles when new pipelines and energy projects are
announced with Ottawa greasing the wheels, followed up by more snide remarks of
federal interference in provincial matters.
The fact that she is able to do this without any legal repercussions or
penalties is a glowing indication that democracy in Canada is alive and
well. It is also a sign that the federal
government respects the independence of provinces in provincial matters and
that she is not being called to Ottawa for a well-deserved spanking.
Beware what you wish
for.
If Smith and Alberta decided to go it alone it would have to negotiate all kinds of treaties and agreements, from funding formulas (including repayments), to border regulations and cross-border trade, defense and mutual cooperation in international affairs. If it wants to join the United States it would have to put up with a president like Trump and if Smith loathes her subservience to Ottawa, just wait my dear girl until you feel the hammer of the US federal government and how powerless you will be made to feel if you have to submit to Washington. Smith and a bevy of other likeminded politicians have embraced Trump-style politics: ignite and divide, blame others for mistakes and never, never apologize for anything.
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