Former Conservative prime minister Stephen Harper cautioned against the prospect of Alberta separation in a column Friday, writing that even voting just to “send a message” would represent a fraught approach.
Former Conservative prime minister Stephen Harper cautioned against the prospect of Alberta separation in a column Friday, writing that even voting just to “send a message” would represent a fraught approach.
Those pushing for separation know this. They’re looking to benefit themselves not Albertans.
Harper is smart enough to know that the entire case for separatism is built on lies and ommissions of relevant details, but instead of using his influence to call them out he’s legitimizing the question by avoiding the same truths the separatists glaze over.
He’s in league with them just unwilling to stand with them in public.
Wanting more autonomy for Alberta is not the same as wanting Alberta to leave Canada. The UCP is absolutely a separatist party. The CPC, while absolutely going full MAGA, is not. And I’ve not seen any actual evidence yet that Harper falls in either camp. Happy to be corrected, though.
Again, it’s what Harper doesn’t say that tarnishes him. He’s not a dumb person and definitely sees through the separatist 🐂💩.
But does he say anything like that? No. Instead we get the weak and insipid headline statement.
Here’s a rundown of the truly flawed arguments made by the separatists: https://dougaldlamont.substack.com/p/reminder-not-one-of-the-free-alberta?publication_id=2010569&post_id=218443307
He could call them out on any of these issues, but does he? Instead he validates the Alberta vs Ottawa framing that has no basis in truth.
Does the Quebec versus Canada framing also have no basis in truth? Was Canada wrong for allowing Quebec to have the autonomy it currently has? Because that’s what Harper’s spent years arguing for, including with his Alberta firewall letter addressed to Alberta’s at the time not separatist Premier. I mean, I personally don’t think Quebec should be allowed to have and run its own pension plan, but it does. If that’s something Alberta’s demanding, can we really be surprised?
But that’s not what’s under discussion here. If Alberta wants what Quebec has they can already do it. No referendum or new laws required.
They can’t have the ridiculous amount they “calculated” from the CPP as theirs, nor make a go of a pension fund with only 4.2 million peoples. Which is why the idea died.
Harper made all those arguments, yes.
However I stand by my point here; Harper is validating the separatism by discussing it seriously, and failing to call out the deceptive “research” put forward in argument for. Anyone arguing AB should stay without debunking these is in league as far as I’m concerned.
Harper’s using the moment to enhance his public image while giving the separatists a free pass.
So your opinion is that the “research” put forward in favour of separation should be taken seriously? Because that’s what engaging with it is doing.
🤦
No it should not be taken seriously, it should be debunked for the fraudulent word salad it is.
It should not be given airtime at all. If you give it airtime, then you are taking it seriously.
I can agree with that. Movements that have been long incubated in silos can’t be suffocated, and these days they’re just “big tenting” their way to legitimacy. Dismissal without correction withholds legitimacy about as well as shame affects the shameless.