Erin O’Toole has been conservative leader for only a few weeks and not surprisingly that’s exactly how long it took him to throw Alberta under the proverbial bus. Shortly after his coronation, O’Toole stated that, “if elected Prime Minister I would ensure pipeline projects in the West continue to grow and spark the rest of Canada’s economy, there are projects (east to west pipelines) that will help us get a better price for Canadian resources, this is a resource that is important to our national interest, we better get the best world price we can as we’re recovering”.
After delivering this much needed message of encouragement to the people of Canada and in particular the energy sector, it is mind numbing that only three weeks later his political position would do an abrupt about face. In meetings with Quebec’s Premier Legault, O’Toole was informed in no uncertain terms that Quebec and Quebecers have no “social acceptability” for a pipeline.
This sudden and cowardly about face of Erin O’Toole is an all too common
This apparently is the same Quebec that maintains the unfathomable level of “immorality” to accept 13 billion dollars of Alberta energy sector funding every year to prop up social programs including their 10 dollar a day daycare system. This sudden and cowardly about face of Erin O’Toole is an all too common example that exemplifies the unyielding power Quebec holds over any Federal leader who dares encroach on the sacred cow that is Quebec.
Quebec is the real seat of power in this country, this is where 13 of our 20-Billion-dollar donation to Confederation goes every year, and this is where Erin O’Toole did a 180 degree reversal and drove a dagger into the heart of Albertans when he pledged, “I will not pit province against province in an effort to progress energy east”, essentially ending any discussion on a national energy corridor before it even begins.
Not surprisingly, Jason Kenney wasted little time in interjecting that O’Toole was “simply stating the obvious” with his proclamation, he then attempted to rationalize that “the Energy East pipeline was not on the Table” at the meeting, well Mr. Kenney it certainly was on the table and we are now very aware of O’Toole’s response.
This is the Canada we live in, the “Con in Confederation” is what we in the west experience every day. Erin O’Toole has undeniably bowed to Legault’s position and the reasoning for doing so is blatantly obvious, it’s the Quebec vote, and how it is inextricably linked to the power O’Toole craves. The unwillingness of yet another conservative “crown prince” to have the intestinal fortitude to stand up for what is right and equitable for all Canadians is contemptible, and further exacerbates the realities westerners have come to expect from sad, sorry, non-inspiring, failed leadership.
Wexit is the only way Albertans will progress their agenda; separation is the key to the vault of our prosperity and a vibrant Alberta economy.
By: Ken Pirie
Medicine Hat, Alberta
As Albertans, we say: “Enough is Enough”. That’s why we’ve launched this website “Action Alberta” and a newsletter to inform, educate, and motivate Canadians to stand up, speak out and take action to address the inequality and s rel=“ubstandard treatment of Alberta and its citizens by our Federal Government. Our goal is to change how we are treated by our Federal Government.
