As Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre rightly pointed out in kicking off his campaign in Alberta to promote Canadian unity, the problem of addressing separatist sentiment there is not unfixable. In reality, it is easily solvable, especially given that most Albertans do not want to separate.
Poilievre's Solution for Alberta
The solution, as Poilievre noted, is not to insult the minority of Albertans who see no future within Canada. It is for the federal government to address the legitimate frustrations in the province, primarily but not exclusively related to its policies that have suppressed Alberta's energy sector.
For a decade, Poilievre argued, the Liberal party carried out a publicly stated plan to phase out Alberta's biggest industry, using anti-development laws that are still in place today. To attack him for being partisan in stating this, as some have, is absurd. It is not Poilievre's job to argue the only way to keep Canada united is to support the current Liberal government.
Federal Government's Role
What he is saying is that Prime Minister Mark Carney needs to change the policies of the previous Liberal government of Justin Trudeau to address the legitimate frustrations of Albertans. Poilievre stated that the problem lately has been that the federal government has been terrible at the things that are its job, while sticking its nose in things that are not its job. On defence, borders, immigration, criminal law, and inter-provincial pipelines, just to name a few, the federal government has failed brutally, yet they have had the audacity to impose themselves on provincial areas like taxing industrial carbon, seizing people's hunting rifles, and blocking oil and gas projects that are strictly within provincial jurisdiction.
To be fair, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled the federal government has the right to legislate federal carbon pricing. Indeed, many Canadians outside Alberta agree with Poilievre that while these intrusions drive the country apart, a destructive federal ideology has tried to erase the things that used to bring us together. Downgrading and denigrating our common identity and history by cancelling our symbols, shaming our heroes, dividing us by group, and promoting a post-national state leaves less holding us together and more driving us apart.
Carney's Opportunity
Carney has the political capital, given his approval ratings, to address these issues. The question is whether he has the courage to spend it. Read more: Editorial: Arbour's fantasy vision of Canada; Editorial: Carney's odd picks to fight antisemitism.
