Wed, July 7, 2004
http://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/Columnists/Calgary/Rick_Bell/2004/07/07/527410.html

Separate lives

By RICK BELL -- Calgary Sun
 
Get on with it or get over it. There's the sound. Heard it before. Hear it again.

That's it. The sound of the all-talk-and-no-walk whine. We're fed up. We've had it. No one listens to us. No one respects our point of view, but those creeps and bums still mooch our money. We should leave this stinking country, we really should separate. We should. This time.

But, of course, there is no "this time." Only laments, gutless gripes, radio rants, irate e-mails, howls of the habitually hard-done-by, strong stuff you'd say after beers, but never acted upon in the light of day. Nothing to cause the PM to lose sleep.

Oh, groups vow to vamoose from the confederation, but most come into being and go out of existence without even a final press release to say goodbye. A few stick around in name if not in deed, preferring endless meetings and dreary diatribes to the tough slogging of getting candidates elected.

Still, academics expound on evidence of the apparent escalating alienation, serious scribes pen profundities with head-scratching headlines. THE SPECTRE OF SEPARATISM: FANNING THE FLAMES OF WESTERN DISCONTENT.

Then, the fever subsides. Usually, when it's summer in the Shuswap, where one can contemplate our culture of complaint in comfort.

So here we are, where we always are. Alberta's majority doesn't get its way in the latest federal battle for ballots. Just like Alliance. Just like Reform. Just like Social Credit. Just like always.

Earth to Alberta: In case you didn't notice, this province's prevailing politics, full throttle down the right lane, NEVER gets its way. The rest of Canada is not and will not be in line with the majority of Alberta.

The only time the majority of Alberta is on the same side as the nation is when the party most Albertans support moderates its message and then many in this province get angry all over again because of the supposed sell-out of the cause.

Happiness is so elusive when you've got the dough and they still won't let you in the club unless you promise to behave. Last night, once again, the scent of separatism is supposedly in the air. Those interested in supporting the Separation Party of Alberta gather in a northeast Calgary hotel meeting room. The event attracts about 50, give or take a few.

Bruce Hutton, the interim leader out of Rocky Mountain House, says the new and officially registered party, "the best-kept secret in Alberta," is not in a panic to be on the ground in every single constituency, but they are already organizing in 17 of the 83 seats up for grabs in the provincial legislature.

Five are in Calgary.

Bruce isn't sure how many candidates the party will finally field, but figures his party has got a shot at giving Ralph a real run in at least 11 ridings.

"Wouldn't that shake up the country?" says Bruce, of separatist wins in the next provincial contest expected this fall. It would. But don't hold your breath. The only time a separatist ever won was in a byelection during the nastiness of the National Energy Program more than two decades ago and the MLA was bounced the next time around.

Bruce is peeved at the premier. "He hasn't won a fight with Ottawa. It's huff and puff and then he folds like a cheap tent."

Bruce also doesn't like Ralph's comments about taking on the Canada Health Act 10 days before the national vote.

"Klein was a card-carrying Liberal at one time," he re-minds last night's assembled.

Bruce's main ire is aimed at Ottawa.

"There can never be change within the Canadian confederation to make all parts of Canada equal.

"Central Canada is not going to give up control of the Golden Goose. We ship billions to them, billions we should use to diversify our own economy."

But, although the party's website gets 10 times more daily hits since the election, Bruce remains a realist.

"As Premier Aberhart said: If the people haven't suffered enough, they have a God-given right to suffer some more. I'm not naive. A lot still haven't suffered enough."