A Challenge for Separatists
By Lethbridge Herald on March 26, 2026.
Editor:
There are many reasons for Albertans to be unhappy with Ottawa. In fairness, I imagine there aren’t too many of our sister provinces and territories who are thrilled with Ottawa either.
For over two years, Danielle Smith has thrown gasoline on the embers of separation. Encouraging Albertans to believe the Canadian dream is unsalvageable.
“A sovereign Alberta within a united Canada”. Put another way, “honey, I want my independence to see other people within the confines of our monogamous relationship.” Is that why a Saudi Prince gifted Smith a Golden Pussy Cat?
Then there’s the slogan master, Pierre Poilievre, “Canada is Broken”. He is trying to soften his image faster than his polling numbers are falling. But lipstick on a pig only attracts the shadiest of characters.
Why is it certain politicians perform a dance fraught with peril, moonwalking in and out of feeding separatist anger? Simple. An angry voter, votes. Who cares if families are broken and communities divided as a byproduct of politicians feeding anger and hate?
If I may, I challenge you to exit your Alberta pity party dome and consider this. During the National Energy Program, unemployment was 14%, today it is 6%. Interest rates were 22% then, today, 2.5%. Not once did Premier Peter Lougheed mention separation.
Is that enough for you to reconsider?
I also agree that our Alberta federal income taxes aren’t fairly shared within Canada. However, the latest iteration of “equalization” was calculated by Prime Minister Stephen Harper, remember him? He wanted a majority government, so in 2007 he pushed more funding into Quebec to get it. 65% of Albertans voted for Stephen Harper, so isn’t unfair equalization our own fault?
While I’m on the topic of accountability, Danielle Smith had a choice when she was elected. Unite Albertans on topics we all agree on and lead us though unhappiness without encouraging separation talk. Instead, Smith coddled separatists, even inviting a referendum by lowering the threshold.
Here’s another question, since when do voters know what we need? That is a serious question. A child wants ice cream, but she needs vegetables and protein. Did Danielle Smith grow up on Foie Gras and sugar cookies? Separatists want revenge, but they need good governance.
Here is my final challenge, imagine being taken from your home as a child and placed into a school against your wishes. Imagine that school wasn’t just a school, but a reprogramming institution forcing religious indoctrination and literally beating your previous life out of you.
Finally, at 15 years old, you bravely grab your fiddle and escape. With little education and no money, you embark on a life on your own. Six years later you are asked by the same country which placed you into that hell hole to serve in a war on the other side of the planet. What would you do?
In 1917 that was the choice facing my grandfather, John Wilfred Laderoute, one of my namesakes.
Blaine Moen
Pincher Creek
17-16
In other words we want the same latitude that Quebec has. Why is that wrong.
So let us guess to prove how ignorant you are you want a Sales Tax of 14.75% and Provincial Taxes ranging from a minimum of 14% to as much as 25.75% just like Quebec, that’s how ignorant you are isn’t it?
your reply suggests a resistance to intelligent, fact based points; perhaps, this is an example of what happens to a mind that is so entangled in its biases it cannot interact with openness and integrity.
the concluding half dozen sentences in the letter are significant, not least because alberta seps cannot steal away with land that does not belong to them.
to serve the large picture, it is best to get out of our heads and into our hearts, where light and wisdom reside and guide, and uncover our compassion and empathy one for the other.
“Almost anybody can learn to think or believe or know, but not a single human being can be taught to feel. Why? Because whenever you think or you believe or you know, you’re a lot of other people: but the moment you feel, you’re nobody-but-yourself.” e.e cummings
It’s really pathetic how stupid this guy is isn’t it?
Your assertion and question plausibly indicates you have either forgotten or do not know the history of the unfolding politics following the British colonial win on the Plains of Abraham and how this relates to, as you say, the “latitude that Quebec has.”
https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/quebec-act
Try and do some actual historical reading before opening that oral cavity of yours. Fact is Quebec really is a “Distinct Society” as anyone who has travelled to the province knows. It is also a fact that “Equalization Payments” , whilst going to Québec or other “have not” provinces “, comes from the Feds, not provinces. There are several things wrong about Quebec, the excessive use of the “Notwithstanding Clause” to protect the skewed Bill 21 being one thing. But your hatred toward all things east, without understanding the nuances , is sad and short-sighted.
Please yourself and others a favour and buy a one-way ticket to Florida. You’ll be right at home!
Blaine, it’s a well known fact that these phoney Conservatives, Reformers, under Stephen Harper used the Equalization Payments to help him buy a majority from Quebec, and if they, the UCP, were collecting our oil royalties and corporate taxes at the same Lougheed levels there would be no need for Albertans to need an Equalization System, so why is that so hard for ignorant Albertans to understand?
Watching Alaskans and Norwegians living like kings while we are in financial ruin, thanks to these Reformers , proves how stupid we are for allowing this to happen to us, doesn’t it? There is nothing Conservative about these Reformers. Looking after themselves is the rich has always been their mandate, hasn’t it?
a thoughtful, thought provoking letter.
i further get a sense that separatists more likely tend to be narrow, self serving/indulgent folk, that want a space in where tolerance is limited and bigotry may flourish.
In other words they are clones of these Reformers and fit right in, don’t they?
Mark Carney has proven that he’s nothing like them hasn’t he? He’s a
lot like Lougheed, he cares about the people, these Reformers never have.
Well said.
Of course these mindless seniors don’t care they aren’t smart enough to understand the difference between a true Conservative and these Reformers that’s how stupid they are isn’t it?
There is a separatist debate with the former UCP leader and a separatist. It will happen in early May. Lorne Gunter will be the moderator. No conflicts of interest, or bias there, even though Lorne Gunter’s wife is employed by the UCP. Right? There is a CBC article on it.