Thoughts on BC Politics and More

IMAGE CREDIT:   Rutherford House  In the late 19th century, Alberta’s diverse cultural and ethnic landscape was shaped by frontier pragmatism. Home to Métis, First Nations, and settlers from Ontario, the British Isles, and the United States, the region saw waves of immigrants from Germany, Ukraine, Scandinavia, and Eastern Europe arrive in the 1880s and 1890s under federal policies aimed at populating the prairies. This vibrant mix fostered a resilient, industrious society and a distinct political culture — individualist, self-reliant, and increasingly skeptical of eastern authority. Alberta’s struggle to assert itself within confederation did not begin in 1905 — it predates the province’s very creation. Frederick Haultain, Premier of the North-West Territories from 1897 to 1905, fought fiercely against Ottawa’s decision to divide the West into two provinces — Alberta and Saskatchewan. Haultain proposed a single, autonomous “Province of Buffalo” with a non-partisan legislature...

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says the public desire in her province to quit Canada has never been higher. Speaking Thursday to reporters in Calgary, Smith said Albertans feel deeply frustrated and angry with Ottawa. She cited a separatist candidate who garnered almost 18 per cent of the vote in a byelection in the Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills riding earlier this week. “I’ve never seen such a high level of separatist sentiment,” she said ... CLICK HERE for the full story

... we were content to die in this home, but if Alberta goes forward with an independence referendum — as our premier is now suggesting could happen in 2026 — and on the small chance that this vote is successful, well, we have no desire to live in a landlocked Hermit Kingdom of five million people, separated from our family by a border, and potentially unable to live or work anywhere else on the continent. This isn't a better future for ourselves or our kids. We have even less interest in becoming American, especially at a time when that country appears to be Orbánizing. So what do we do with our kitchen cabinets? Do we spring for the good quality facing that we'd be happy to live with for the next 15-20 years? Do we slap some Home Depot-grade versions onto them? Or do we sand the puffed up MDF and slap some cabinet paint on the damage with an understanding that the house's future owner will probably want to rip them out anyway? Does this matter in the greater s...

O kay Alberta, I love you — I really do. Calgary is huge fun and the Rockies are beyond spectacular. Even Edmonton has a few nice things going for it. Drumheller and the Badlands are amazing, and I miss Peter’s Drive-In in Red Deer. Although I have to be honest and say I still prefer the Winnipeg Jets to either the Flames or the Oilers (although Mrs. Q is a fan of the Flames). But can y’all just stop and think a little about what leaving Canada might mean? Take this from a Brit who has seen some nine years of post-Brexit fun and games. It all sounds nice until it happens and reality dawns. The problems with making it actually happen are but the start — never mind the ultimate economic impact of doing so ... CLICK HERE for the full commentary  

D isappointment and frustration can lead people to do foolish things. Conservatives in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta, in particular, are profoundly disappointed that Pierre Poilievre’s Conservative Party of Canada was defeated by a coalition of progressive voters in the federal election. In their anger, many have lashed out and called for regional separation from Canada, despite the economic risks and political instability such a move would bring. They don’t seem to care that the move would be disastrous economically, almost certainly leading to a deeply diminished standard of living. Nor do they seem to care that such divisive talk feeds into the Donald Trump playbook of divide and conquer, making his dream of seeing Canada as the 51st state more achievable. Part of what hurts so much, it seems, is that the Conservative Party won a higher per cent of votes than it had even when Stephen Harper formed government. The party broke through in Ontario’s 905 belt, snatching seat...