[Maritime Q-Scout]

Here's my take on things as an outsider, and well an east coaster.

Alberta is on the gravy train right now, I actually think it's great. Watch your money, invest, diversify. Things are different now than they were 150 years ago when Nova Scotia was the Alberta of Canada. Hard to believe eh? Coal, Steel, Fishery, Forrestry, Farming. It's safe to say that they thought they were diversified, mind you the economic knowelege was greatly less than it is now. Now where's Nova Scotia? The poorest province? One of the most indebted? Every single municipality is shrinking but one, and let's be honest, on life support due to the federal government. Is it the welfare equalization that is keeping Nova Scotia afloat? Yep. Is that a bad thing? I don't think so.

The Canadian National Railway had alot to do with the settlement out west, where did the funding for that come from? Where did the support come from? Where did the coal that ran the trains come from? Where did the rails come from?

I know I have a hard time comprehending Nova Scotia being a rich province, and Alberta being poor, but it used to be that way. Now the eastern provinces that built this country are down and out, they're on life support, and there are people that was to cull the herd sort of speak?

Now I'll admit there was a Nova Scotia seperation movement from day 1. But now the long-term benifits for my home province are better than if they went with the short term of being on their own.

What happens in 20-30 years if Alberta is on their own? People are previously stated the ease of moving back and forth, I can move to Alberta tomorrow and it would be no different than me moving to Halifax like I did last summer. No customs, immigration, etc.

Not to mention you'd have to set up a central bank, currency etc. Also with predictions of the US economy being set up for a fall, who's you're biggest trading partner? Canada? Seems counter productive. You no longer have the access to the oceans like you once did. Free trade agreements, Nato, UN, international politics gets complicated I would think.

Maybe it's because I'm on the receiving end of Alberta's handouts, or subsidies, but know that when your province's economy makes a down turn again they'll be there to help you.

Is there something that wrong with helping the little guy?

And Harper scares the who-ha out of most on the East. The mentality is "better the devil you know, than the devil you don't". I'm not going to debate that, just reporting the facts here.