Western Canadians have felt alienated and angry towards the political situation in Canada for many years. We have felt alienated and angry in a country that we were taught by our parents and the public education system to love and respect. Many Westerners have moved passed anger to become totally dedicated to separation, the only logical solution to this unworkable, political situation.
Here are some of the reasons for the growth of Separatism in Alberta. Albertans are alienated and angered by a parliamentary system that is archaic and fatally flawed, a system that both Ontario and Quebec are unwilling to amend in pursuit of a strong and equal Confederation. Albertans are alienated and angered by an Ottawa that is unwilling to even pretend the West is wanted or needed in Confederation. Albertans are alienated and angered by a Quebec that is never satisfied and is forever threatening to separate but has neither the conviction nor the intestinal fortitude to do it. Albertans are alienated and angered by a Judiciary so out of control it actually believes it is right and just, and doing a great service to Canada and Canadians. Albertans are alienated and angered by an endless list of federal political and bureaucratic bungling that occurs without consequences and without accountability. Albertans are frustrated with a Canada that celebrates personal bests and mediocrity; and believes that being average and loved by all is our objective. Albertans are frustrated by a Canada that takes that same mentality and tries to compete on a global stage in a world economy and ultimately fails. These are but a few of many examples inside Confederation that made Albertans feel frustrated, alienated and angry. That no longer happens. Albertans are past that; - Many Albertans are Separatists.
We have asked many fellow Canadians how to address our concerns and solve the problems. Many agree with our assessment but have no suggestions, plans or alternatives. We have asked how the West can be included in Canada. Some believe it can't and are honest enough to admit it. Some idealists have dreams, an example of which would be an elected Senate, equally represented to the regions of the country, with actual power to govern. These ideas are revered in the West but receive no support in Upper and Lower Canada. History dictates there is no chance of change within the current political system.
Over the last 40 years there have been a number of fruitless attempts to facilitate some form of separation for the West. The motivation behind these movements was primarily to try to make changes and "get in" Confederation as opposed to "getting out". The Confederation of Regions and the Western Canada Concept Party are two examples of the idea that the four western provinces should separate as a unit. In the past, the Alberta Independence Party and presently the Alberta Alliance Party and the Alberta First Party are examples of groups that advocate Alberta "going it alone" or, at the very least, forcing some major reform inside Confederation. We don't believe threats will have an effect. Action is the only solution.
It has been suggested by some that the West cannot survive on its own. The West has been a financial net contributor to Canada for decades joining Ontario in subsidizing Quebec and other have-not regions. Unfortunately the people of Ontario think they carry the entire country on their shoulders and give the West no consideration as financial contributors to the cost of maintaining the Confederation. Net contributions from provinces show that is simply not the case. As previously stated, the West and particularly Alberta has been paying to belong to the Confederation for decades. I respectfully submit that Alberta can survive as a country, on its own, and that this is, in fact, the only viable alternative for a successful future and true happiness for Albertans.
But why has there never been groundswell support for any of the previous "separatist movements"? We are not privy to the inner workings of these organizations. They had some well-qualified leadership. There could be a myriad of reasons. Perhaps some of the reasons were too much enthusiasm, narrow focus of their demographics and no short and long-term plan for their movement. However, there is one thing we believe was a major contributing factor leading to these groups inability to maintain momentum. The loss of momentum occurred because the motivating impetus was anger, e.g. National Energy Policy.
We believe anger is no longer the motivating factor for separation in Alberta and that makes it viable. Albertans understand that the source of our current wealth is oil and gas, a non-renewable resource. If we let Ottawa continue to drain our revenues without any return on investment by way of diversification of our economy, Alberta will become a have-not province. The only way to prevent this from happening is separation.
The only thing missing in the past was a methodology or a plan that could rally all separatists. The Separation Party of Alberta brings that plan to the political table in Alberta.
