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Originally Posted by [LEFT
Fozzie[/left]_ DeBear ;663411]
Also, leaving the NEP aside (it was ****ing 20+ years ago!) what has Ottawa done to treat Alberta like crap? |
Historical Grievances:
-CPR. Freight rates were 50% more expensive in the west. Also 2/3 of it's traffic was out here yet only 1/3 of it's employees were
-Unequal status upon entering confederation. Only Saskatchewan and Alberta weren't given their resource rights upon joining Canada
-Protectionism. Historical Canadian tariffs have almost always benefited eastern manufacturers while harming the natural resource based economies of the west
-Guess which is the only province that was allowed to default on it's debt? (Provincial debt has always been Federally protected, except for Alberta.)
-The development of the oil industry. The Federal government refused to support the early oil industry in the west. Naturally, Alberta went Stateside to get start up capital. One of the main 'reasons' for the NEP? To Canadianize the Alberta oil industry.
-Oil export taxes. Eastern Canada refuses to buy western oil because it is cheaper to get it shipped in from the mid-east (this makes sense and doesn't bother me). So instead buying oil from the west, they taxed the exports.
-The NEP
-FIRA
Current Grievances
-Equalization payments. $11.1B this year. $147B since the inception of this program
-Taxes. We pay low taxes. Canadians pay high taxes. An example of Canadian priorities not being the same as Albertans
-Debt. We have no debt. The Canadian debt is quite high. Basically the same as above.
-The Senate. Unelected. Unequal.Ineffective .
-Gun Control.
-Forced Bilingualism. Anyone want to guess how much this costs Canada. Anyone else want to guess who benefits from this?
-Unfair representation. Due to the 'Grandfather clause' Alberta and the west is underrepresented in the House of Commons. To say nothing of the Senate.
-Canada Wheat Board. Eastern farmers can sell their product to the highest bidder. Western farmers can sell to the CWB or go to jail.
-Kyoto. Loved by the east. Devastating for the west (remember that resource based economy thing)
I'm sure if I think for a few minutes I could come up with a few more. If you are confused by any, just ask. I can clarify anything in greater detail as I just wrote snippets.