It is tiresome to read some Albertans’ comments, questioning why Alberta should be part of “Team Canada” in our response to Trump’s potential economic assault on Canada.
As always, some Albertans feel that we must be singled out and our exports ought not to be included in Canada’s retaliatory measures. Apparently, federal government is not to be trusted and Alberta will be victimized. Well, let’s set some facts straight: - More oil is extracted and exported by companies in Alberta today than ever before. - Federal government (Liberal) purchased a pipeline for shipment of oil. This represents one of the biggest federal infrastructure investments ever made by Canada’s government in Alberta’s history. - Alberta has now gained access to to tide water, making oil extracted in Alberta accessible for markets other than USA. - Alberta, has the lowest tax regime and highest average weekly earnings in Canada. None of the above is as result of Alberta government’s superior policies, or some unique abilities that Albertans poses which no other Canadians have. It is simply because oil and gas happen to be in Alberta. However, none of the above matters. Despite the success that we enjoy as result a geological bonanza, we have cultivated a victim attitude. This self-pitty is quite ironic, as while we boast to be independent, resilient, self-made mavericks, at the same time we purport to be life-long victims of every province. Even tiny PEI. As an MLA and Cabinet Minister during Conservative and Liberal governments in Ottawa, one fact became evident to me: Conservative federal government can totally disregard Alberta (as they often have) and still win every seat in our province. Yet Liberal government, no matter what concessions they would make for Alberta, voters will always say “What have you done for me today?”. Let’s be honest, if Liberal prime minister walked on water, we would criticize him for not being able to swim. As such, why should the rest of Canada agree to carve out Alberta’s oil and gas from our “Team Canada” response to Trump’s tariffs, when our oil and gas exports represent no more than 4% of Canada’s GDP? Yes, Alberta’s oil and gas exports represent less than 4% of Canada’s GDP. Why shouldn’t Ontario’s auto industry, BC’s lumber, Maritimes’ fishery or Saskatchewan’s potash and other rare minerals be then excluded as well??? What makes us, Albertans, so special, so hard done by, to be treated better than the rest of Canada? Friends, I’m a proud Albertan and I have a lot of respect for hard working Albertans in our oil fields. I respect them because they are hard working Canadians, just like those in Saskatchewan mines, BC forests, Ontario factories and Newfoundland boats. Interprovincial rivalry is part of our Canadian political culture. It’s often frustrating, but that’s how our system works. HOWEVER, when Canada is threatened by a foreign country; when our economic sovereignty is attacked, we are all Canadians. We’re one!
Thomas A. Lukaszuk
With permission
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