[McG]

I’m surprised by the tone and direction of this thread. Lots and lots of emotional statements and not as many factual debates as I would have thought. My views are my own and like others, extremely unlikely to change.

For me, I’ve lived in a number of provinces and countries around the world so I’m not myopic about this topic.

What would Alberta and Canada look like with $100Billion spent on oil and gas in Canada over the last 5 years? Jobs, tax revenues, support for social programs, just better for the country.

Let’s not kid ourselves, oil and gas is still getting to market without the pipeline. It’s moving by rail. Wait a minute, if it’s moving by rail, isn’t that more risky than a pipeline? I’m honestly not sure, but it does require other less profitable goods to move off the train. Well, how do those goods get to market? By truck and by road. Trucks and roads? More fuel for trucks, and more asphalt and roadworks consuming more fuel. Which roads? BC roads. Can’t have those Prius’ not recharging on the stop and go traffic on highway 1.

Transfer payments. How much money leaves the province and doesn’t return?

Income tax. CRA reports that it is $5Billion lower year over year and almost all is from Alberta, specifically southern Alberta. Calgary is hurting for jobs and I can’t believe that this isn’t a bigger issue.

Is it separation? I’m not sure. I do think that Alberta is taken for granted as “that crazy province out there that sends the “have not” provinces of Ontario and Quebec free money every year”.

That $100 Billion? That’s what Canada has spent on oil and gas from Saudi Arabia and Venezuela over the last 5 years. Human rights, social justice, and distribution of wealth aren’t exactly the strong points of those countries. What would Alberta and Canada look like if that was spent here?

So while I don’t know about separation, I do think that Alberta gets a raw deal. I’m also aware that my post will not change any opinions, but hoping to bring a bit of balance to such an emotional topic.