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Thursday, December 11, 2008
Coalition games fuel the fires of western separatism: Doug Firby
With the House of Commons prorogued and the anti-Harper coalition showing signs of weakness, the Conservative government looks like it may survive. But while some stability has been returned to Parliament, the crisis has rekindled the fires of western separatism.
In “Coalition games fuel the fires of western separatism,” Doug Firby writes:
It’s hard to believe it was just a few days ago that Canada was faced with a potential constitutional crisis and coalition coup.
Yet, while Canadians who crave security and stability may be breathing a sigh of relief that Stephen Harper’s minority Conservative government has found a lifeline, it would be a mistake to conclude that there is no fallout from recent parliamentary shenanigans. Instead, the overheated rhetoric and regional back-biting has rekindled old animosities simmering just beneath the surface of civility.
And opportunists are seizing the moment to cast old grievances in a new mould. In Alberta, for example, the turmoil has given new life to the moribund separatism movement.
Western Standard general manager Kalim Kassam reported on the empirical evidence of this renewed interest in western separatism with his report on website traffic statistics for the Western Block Party lead by the irrepressible Doug Christie. Traffic is up...way up.
The Western Standard also reported on evidence of western alienation expressed through placards at the Calgary rally on Saturday against the anti-Harper coalition. The official message at the rally was that a coalition government lead by Dion or any Liberal leader has no democratic mandate from the people, and is being held together by a dangerous deal with the separatist Bloc. Frustrated grassroots Conservative voters, however, had another message: Federalism isn’t working for the West and we want out.
You can read Firby’s column “Coalition games fuel the fires of western separatism,” here.
Posted by Matthew Johnston on December 11, 2008 in Canadian Conservative Politics | Permalink
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Comments
Good riddance to bad rubbish Albertan rednecks... Don't wait please now for spring, Separate now before your homes go into foreclosures first likely too.. Due to the fallen oil prices Bank of Canada already warns of possible mass home foreclosures if conditions worsen The Bank of Canada is warning of severe economic turmoil, including the risk of many Canadians, Westerners losing their homes, if the financial-market crisis worsens. It already happened in the mid 80's in Alberta, when in major cities about 1/8 of the homes went into foreclosure, and Banks, lenders even suffered heavily as a result. http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/081211/national/boc_financial_crisis
Posted by: The Preacher | 2008-12-11 11:14:01 AM
Why would you take pleasure in the misfortune of Alberta families, Preacher?
Posted by: Matthew Johnston | 2008-12-11 11:19:23 AM
We need to look seriously at separation for it is only a matter of time (short I predict) before the West again faces the same threat. At the very least we should follow Quebec's example of taking back provincial jurisdiction and obtaining the same level of autonomy as Quebec has to date. Then the ground work would already be laid for the final step when it becomes necessary.
Posted by: Alain | 2008-12-11 11:23:18 AM
Not much chance of the fools who signed the coalition, including their new crowned king Iggy, bringing down the government with the news from the AG of the $54 BILLION the Liberals helped themselves to from EI fund surpluses.
No damned wonder the old boys refused to get back into the Liberal Party to help save it, they had to know about this boondoggle, they were there.
This is the mother of all boondoggles, no wonder they had huge surpluses. This will take the shine off Iggy's crown and he'll have no bargaining power to play games with the Conservative budget. It's this Conservative government that will have to find that money to put back into EI, they've been given 12 months to doe it.
We'll see if Duffy and Newman will discuss this little beauty with their Liberal pals. If they don't the Conservatives will have to bring it up to remind people of the depths Liberals went to.
Posted by: Liz J | 2008-12-11 11:51:32 AM
AG should read SC in my post @ 11:51:32 AM
Posted by: Liz J | 2008-12-11 12:08:09 PM
Matthew: Ontarians like him delight in Alberta's woes. They caused them just to do that. Alberta is their whipping boy. I just mock their complete and absolute inability to cope with their acute problems. I can't imagine another society in the history of the world where a racial minority thought racial segregation could help them.
Posted by: Zebulon Pike | 2008-12-11 12:11:49 PM
Let see if I can get this strait...
The West...would like to seperate...if the CPC is no longer in power on the federal level ?
Is that the reasonning ?
...You're federalists as long as Harper is in power ?
Canada can only work for you under a CPC government ?
Would the West ever consider seperate even under a strong CPC government ?
Posted by: Marc | 2008-12-11 12:24:25 PM
Good riddance to bad rubbish Albertan rednecks... Don't wait please now for spring,
Posted by: The Preacher | 11-Dec-08 11:14:01 AM
Sad sad, pathetic, bitter, small person.
All anyone really wants is to be left alone by Ottawa. We have way too much socialist intervention from Canada's middle east. And if the west and its very civilized population want to depart from kinship with socialist parasites...so be it. I'd prefer that Canada remains as a whole and truly free (from socialism) country. But Ontario (and others) just can't seem to wean itself from the government teat. And while they stand in line to lick the big governments lolly pop...we'll be working to stay as free as possible.
You keep "preaching"...and we'll keep working.
Posted by: JC | 2008-12-11 12:43:51 PM
If there was a Conservative government that turned against Alberta, then yes we would.
Posted by: Zebulon Pike | 2008-12-11 12:47:29 PM
This sort of corruption happens within all governments. But the Liberals of the last 20 years have taken larceny to new heights. They really should be on trial.
Posted by: JC | 2008-12-11 12:47:33 PM
"If there was a Conservative government that turned against Alberta, then yes we would."
Then, imagine 400 years.
Posted by: Marc | 2008-12-11 1:06:45 PM
JC: makes me glad that we dodged the coalition bullet.
Posted by: Zebulon Pike | 2008-12-11 1:08:52 PM
JC: makes me glad that we dodged the coalition bullet.
Posted by: Zebulon Pike | 11-Dec-08 1:08:52 PM
Yep!
Posted by: JC | 2008-12-11 1:36:29 PM
If that coalition succeeded, there'd be three rival gangs in charge, each with their greedy hands out.
Posted by: Zebulon Pike | 2008-12-11 2:16:00 PM
'400 years'?
No, not 400 yrs.
All it would take is for the Ontario/Quebec bloc of the CPC to use their numbers to replace PM Harper with one of their Ontario/Quebec 'fairweather' conservatives.
In fact, on one of the first Mike Duffy shows right after the recent election, Robert Fife spent 5 minutes at least listing all the Ontario candidates that could replace PM Harper as CPC leader before the next election.
Somebody has already talked about PM Harper resigning before the next election.
Some MSM people also said that Liberal Jean Charest would use his majority win in Quebec as cachet to throw his name as a contender in the next CPC leadership race.
No mention was made of how much or what they were smoking/drinking when they said that on national TV.
Central Canada just doesn't realize what a totally negative place Ottawa and its whole operation has become to Western Canadians.
Many of us would rather have a positive, happy capital.
Posted by: Rocky Thompson | 2008-12-11 7:25:50 PM
Rocky...
Central Canada thinks Ottawa is a totally negative place...and the worst of it comes from cabinet ministers elected from Ontario ridings.
Posted by: ALIO | 2008-12-12 4:14:27 AM
I'm an Albertan and I'd vote YES to separation. But I can find few Albertans who will claim such when they're not trying to be dramatic while ranting.
Posted by: Pete | 2008-12-12 10:25:28 PM
Recall that Alberta was a creation of the federal government, whereas Quebec was a founding father of the federal government. So, the legal status of Alberta's provincial powers may differ significantly from the legal status of Quebec's provincial powers. The idea of Alberta separating from Canada has different complections than the idea of Quebec separation. Also, Alberta will not whine if its economy is disrupted. I cannot say the same for the easterners.
Posted by: dewp | 2008-12-12 10:50:16 PM
Move West ALIO, move West.
Posted by: Rocky Thompson | 2008-12-13 4:35:43 PM
I too am completely fed up with Central Canada pandering always to the ever so and insatiable greed of Quebecers. It is as if they think we are here just to please them, feed them grapes and fand them while lounging on the recliner. As if we actually NEED THEM. We are staying together out of pure inconvenience at the moment.
Like Galganov says:
Cut off the Quebec funding and they have no reason to stick around. Same way to get rid of all rodents and racoons. No poison, just crank down the cash pipe wheel to a drip.
If they can't live without us they'll give up this extortionist pipe dream of theirs right quick.
If not, then we are a few hundred billion dollars better off without them. We'll say our niceties and part ways. Ontario will then need to decide whom they want: the West or Quebec...
Laughable I know....
Posted by: Angry! | 2008-12-15 1:00:09 AM
When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation....
Anyone recognize this?
It looks like a good start for a declaration, doesn't it?
Posted by: JC | 2008-12-15 6:58:39 AM
I don't usually read this publication, as I heard it merely caters to the blinkered self-absorbed ramblings of misinformed rubes. And while that seems a little harsh, this article and many of these responses could certainly be used to make that case.
Given the vitriol reserved for non-Albertan Canadians, one wonders what perceived slights have led these poor deluded souls to blame the rest of the population for all their local complaints.
Maybe if each individual Canadian did more to improve his or her own little corner of the country, our great national experiment which is envied around the world, would be able to more easily withstand the purposeful sabotage of this rag, and the dangerous and duplicitous political criminality of localized zealots like Stephen Harper.
The former oil company mail-room boy and transplanted Ontarian currently embodies the most serious threat to national unity that Canada faces going forward.
The Bloc must be thrilled to see this psychotic control-freak retain power. His continued divisive agenda remains a boon to any faction attempting to tear this country asunder.
Surely we can all work together for a better life for all Canadians in today's vastly changing world.
Wake up folks, the 21st century has arrived whether you like it or not.
Posted by: scunny | 2008-12-20 7:18:42 AM
"Maybe if each individual Canadian did more to improve his or her own little corner of the country, our great national experiment which is envied around the world"
If only that were possible, but Ontarian greed keeps ruining such opportunities. Harper's the only one who can keep them in check. He's the first PM in decades who thought of one country not several.
Posted by: Zebulon Pike | 2008-12-20 8:50:20 AM
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