Another federal election, another Liberal win, another flare-up of the ugly head of Alberta separatism.
The red herring of "western alienation" aside, what is this really about?
There is an old saying popularized in the 1976 movie All the President's Men when the journalist Bob Woodward is talking to his anonymous source dubbed "Deep Throat."
In the docudrama, the informer, who was later revealed to have been FBI deputy director Mark Felt, told Woodward to "follow the money."
Alberta's economy is still inextricably tied to and dominated by oil and gas.
Alberta politicians have always scapegoated Ottawa for the volatility of the oil and gas industry, which is convenient but not necessarily fair.
Nevertheless, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has doubled down on oil and gas and raised the spectre of a referendum on Alberta separation if she doesn't get her way.
In a list of demands presented to Prime Minister Mark Carney on May 5, all but one was oil- and gas-related.
Basically, they want unfettered access to west, east and north coast ports to export oil and gas; the dismantling of pretty much every environmental protection currently in place; and a guarantee the federal government will not place any taxes or restrictions on Alberta exports without consent.
Follow the money. This is a negotiation with secession as a threat.
Hopefully, Carney doesn't blink. All of Alberta's perceived grievances against Canada can only get worse for an independent Alberta. And if they think they'll fare better with the U.S., good luck with that.
Also, separation is a non-starter. Even Smith admitted only 25 per cent of Albertans would support separation, according to an Angus Reid poll taken just before the election.
Another poll taken in March indicates even fewer (15 per cent) would support joining the United States.
Furthermore, the demands suggest Albertans don't care about environmental protection. A recent poll by Pollara Strategic Insights says they do with 67 per cent reporting they believe climate change poses a severe threat to the planet and 53 per cent wanting their government to do more, not less, to fight it.
Nevertheless, there is a determined and noisy movement in Alberta prepared to trigger a costly referendum on the issue and Smith just made it much easier for them by lowering the threshold of signatures needed to just 175,000.
We are not suggesting Alberta's legitimate concerns should be ignored. Canada faces uncertain times, we need to stick together to confront them.
But can we please dispense with the rhetoric, vitriol, threats and nonsense and just get down to working out a solution that works for the entire country.
