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Originally Posted by Cheese
The whole question of Alberta seperating is just about the dumbest thing Ive heard. You might get by for a little while...BUT...and this is a BIG but...Alberta has no manufacturing to speak of...I dont think the rest of Canada would look highly on Alberta as a country and provide it with cheap manufactured goods.
The Billions hidden away in the heritage fund would trickle away to nothing within a few years leaving Alberta as a 3rd world couintry IMO. Alberta has no Harbour....no Manufacturing to speak of...no Major rail system of its own...just oil. I guess those who want to seperate could swing a deal with the Saudi's for protection if you like. IF you dont like the politics then get on the bandwagon and do something about it...pouting about it and leaving the party just means you are a quitter.
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Firstly... Alberta would be able to lure businesses away from Canada and the US with disgusting low taxes on corporations because of oil royalties... eventually, (assuming a properly managed country), oil and gas would slowly be phased out by banking, aerospace, computers, biotech, manufacturing, and most importantly, new sources of energy. Who else but the big oil companies are going to have the financial capital to fund new energy initiatives, *cough* BP... beyond petroleum *cough*
Secondly, the billions in the fund would grow to hundreds of billions during the life of the oilpatch, and one would essentially be able to live off the interest (see Norway). It wouldn't be spent.
Thirdly, harbors are increasingly irrelevant in an air freight world. Plus, what would stop Alberta from making a deal with BC or even the US if it was deemed necessary to have access to one. Luxembourg has no port and its one of the richest countries in the world.
Fourthly, CP is an Alberta company. Since the Alberta leg is crucial to Canada's rail system, I suspect a deal would be reached allowing both sides to freely traverse the other's territory. BC would leave confederation if it didn't happen.
Lastly, 100 years of BS have lead people to want separation cause its assumed that its time for the last resort since nothing else works. Alberta should not have to change for Canada, especially since it foots the bill for it. Its impossible to change a system that the majority either likes, or is ambivalent to.