Quote:
Originally Posted by Red Slinger
Let me start by saying I am not an NDP supporter, nor did I vote for the NDP. However, I think what rubecube is saying is bang on. What do we want to get out of this? The Alberta energy industry needs a pipeline built to tidal water and the easiest path at the moment is for EE to get built (and a pipeline to the west coast but that's another discussion). There is no way that the pipeline will be approved any time soon if Alberta gets into a political pissing contest with Ontario and especially Quebec. Now is not the time to flash machismo, whip out our collective lady balls and slap around Quebec politicians with our collective western righteous indignation.
The only way to get this built is to play the longer game. If we allow our voices to be combative the east will dig deeper into their trenches and we'll lose this fight. This shouldn't be about standing on principles and giving Quebec a piece of our mind and showing them that we won't be pushed around. Frankly, that's an immature and ineffective strategy and a sure path to failure. Brad Wall's comments help to paint him as some sort of western hero standing up to the big, bad easties but really he's just politicking as much as Corderre or any of the other corrupt politicians in Quebec.
To succeed we need to be smart and not be guided by our collective emotions which are prayed on by certain segments of the provincial political establishment. Frankly, a lot of the sentiments I hear about how Notley is handling this reminds me of some Trump supporters: "strong leadership", "we'll show them", "we won't bend over for them", etc. Just not a lot of substance or strategic thinking involved. I'm not saying Notley's right but she's not in a position of strength to turn this into a fight. We'll lose that fight.
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You're creating a bit of a false dichotomy. The argument against turning it into a battle or war is well and good. Totally understandable. But that is not the only option she has for standing up for her province and her constituents. The only thing she is proving with her consistently timid kowtowing is that she is easily manipulated and cowed. The only thing that is going to result in are ever greater roadblocks and demands.
In the case of Quebec's latest whining, Notley could have stood up and simply said that she had the fullest confidence that the Energy East Pipeline would satisfy all relevant environmental regulations. That would have both been a support for the local project and a promise that the environmental aspect would be addressed without bowing to Quebec's attempt to usurp federal domain.
Instead, she chose to bow down and kiss Quebec's feet - and possibly did so on orders from her federal NDP superiors - who unquestionably want to regain dominance in Quebec.