03/05/2003

I'm Ontario born and raised and have visited Calgary

once. I was rather struck by how 'American' Calgary feels.

Still, for all of that, it's a nice city.

 

I'm almost a vicarious Albertan - a cousin of mine was

born at Foothills hospital in Calgary, my uncle was

stationed at Sarcee Barracks when doing a portion

of his trades training in the army, and another

cousin met and married her spouse in Alberta.

 

I'd be sorry to see Alberta go, but separation

might be the only way (then again, maybe not!)

to get the numbskulls in Ottawa to wake up,

listen, and start treating all provinces, Alberta

included, with the respect and dignity they deserve.

 

Canada is probably headed for a break-up anyway.

It's been decades since the federal government played

any meaningful role in Confederation, and if you look

at the way the world is going in general these

days, nation states are dissolving into larger

trading blocs and alliances. The European Union

is one of them.

 

Ontario could go it alone, as could Quebec.

The Maritimes would probably join the US,

as would the Western provinces, and I'm not sure

what Newfoundland would do.

 

Steve Struthers