ALBERTANICUS

Thanks to Ken from AB, the previous post was not made by Kate MacMillan, but was put up by her substitute blogger at Small Dead Animals.

This illustrates the perils of quick blogging---My apologies!

Kate McMillan of Small Dead Animals, a giant in the Canadian blogosphere has declared her support for Alberta separation, and is a SPA member:

I am a member of the Separation Party of Alberta. A person once accused me of treason because of this, but how can one commit treason when Canada's government actually has legitimized a process whereby provinces can separate? (Clarity Act.)
I'm curious to know how many other SDA readers are Alberta separatists. If you are, what pushed you over the edge? If you're an Albertan who isn't in favour of separation, why not?

With the separatist movement looking for further momentum across a broad spectrum, such endorsements can only help.

The problem with the political option being tendered by the Separation Party of Alberta is that it may promise far more than it can deliver.

Although many Albertans are intrigued by the thought of separation from Canada, the idea is mostly a vague notion. Average Albertans lack reference points for what a separated Alberta would look like politically, economically, socially, and so on.

Obviously the idea of separation is spawned by the prospect of being free from the oppressiveness of taxation without representation in Ottawa, and the social engineering of the Toronto MSM elites.

But people will need assurances, guides, caveats, contingency plans, options and more for them to embrace this nebulous idea of 'separatism'.

The message boards on the net are a great starting point. They consist in grassroots discussion that is involved and current.

But not everybody in Alberta is a blogger, or reads blogs.

For all of the nostalgia about the separatist movement that I've seen online, it is surprising that more solid, long-range planning hasn't been done by life-long separatists to achieve success.

Many Albertans are sympathetic to the separatist option. But their votes need to be earned, not demanded.

And so, SPA or any other separatist sponsors have a lot of work to do.

AB Freedom is excited about the Separation Party of Alberta, and a potential leader, Alan Clark.

Could SPA develop a groundswell of support and establish a presence in the Legislature? I'm sure this meeting was stategizing for that very goal.

Every time you read "widening gap" you know that Central Canada will not allow Alberta to get ahead for long. It is only a matter of time until NEP2 arrives or a "Western Energy Accord" as the Canada West Foundation advocates.

In the Airdrie Echo, Canada West Foundation economist Todd Hirsch is advocating his "Western Energy Accord" (see here).

As I had posted about earlier, Mr. Hirsch is doing the Liberals' homework for them.

Ironically, I believe these smaller news outlets are the forums that the AA and SPA should be using to get their word out. Instead, the Canada West Foundation is laying the infrastructure for Alberta's ruin in Albertan's local newspapers.

Grassroots discussions concerning a merger between SPA and AA are being initiated at Project Alberta, as Leigh Sullivan notes here.

Is not such a merger necessary and inevitable?

Marilyn Burns receives an enthusiastic review from Calgary Sun columnist Paul Jackson (see here).

Jackson likes Burns' clarity of purpose and emblematic Albertan spirit.

Some thought that in the recent AA radio debate Burns fared less well.

Time will tell whether her leadership currency will rise rapidly.

Certainly favorable MSM press doesn't hurt.

Murray Smith doesn't wan't to put the energy trade relationship at risk over the timber talks.

See his comments and the story from the Dallas Morning News view the Duluth News Tribune here.

But watch to see how the Liberals may use the situation.

It would be easy for them to employ anti-American rhetoric and support the timber lobby in order to buy votes in B.C.

The Liberals would easily stick it to the oilpatch since they won't get any votes in Alberta anyways.

What is going on with Manitoba? Are they the ones who will lobby to bring NEP2 to pass? Read this from the Brandon Sun:

The Brandon Sun: Online Edition: "But what is good for Alberta is actually hurting the rest of the country. While the solution need not be as drastic and disastrous as the National Energy Program dreamed up by Pierre Trudeau's Liberal government in the early 1980s and still a source of anger in Alberta it still needs to be one that gives at least a fraction of the oil wealth to the rest of us.

Albertans may tell us where to go if we dip into their pockets, but Canadians can't freeze in the dark while one province basks in sunshine. " (see the rest here).

The Montana lobby group (R-CALF) that has worked to close the US border to imports of Canadian beef is now trying to close State boundaries (see here)

Alberta ranchers must continue to look for other markets for their beef, as they try to implement the over-rigorous testing that would brand their product as 'absolutely BSE-Free'.

The Albertan Ethic has come through for a hurting farm family south of Calgary. The family lost their son in a car accident recently and the community is responding by helping the family finish their harvest.

Since I know the family personally, this token of the local community's care for a neighbor came as no surprise.

I trust that this great tragedy for the Suitor family is being met by the comfort which only their faith in Christ can give. My prayers are with them.

More refineries may be built in Alberta to supply the US suggests Energy Minister Greg Melchin. (see the Globe and Mail article here).

Although nobody wants a refinery next door, it is always better to export a finished product, rather than the raw resource.

Larger refining capacity would certainly help Alberta's self-sufficiency in the future.

In this Globe&Mail article, there is no mention of the NEP or NEP2.

Rather, the article is one of the first of many more to come that will lay the philosophical groundwork, and economic justification for a policy to prop up Central Canada, and stunt Alberta.

The article outlines the plight of the manufacturing industry located in Central Canada, and how the petro-loonie has hurt exports while high fuel prices have hurt the cost of production.

As this article maintains, the manufacturing sector is viewed as "the backbone" of Canada. There is no possible thought that the oilpatch could be the backbone, for the simple fact that it is not located in Ontario.

The Central Canadian controllers will not allow Ontario to be at a disadvantage for long. They think Alberta doesn't deserve all the money it is receiving.

So they are thinking...and plotting...just waiting for their opportunity.

"Polish voters gave an overwhelming election victory to two centre-right parties committed to tax cuts and fighting corruption, severely punishing a left-wing government marred by sleaze scandals and its failure to create jobs."

This is a headline which may never be read with the insertion, "Canadian voters".


For more see here, and here

See the Edmonton Sun article on the calf birth registry for boosting exports, here.

Cattlemen are doing what it takes to further their industry, not begging the government to set up a marketing board.

An amusing anecdote was posted by Rondi at Wonkitties about her encounter with some anti-war protestors at a Toronto Starbucks. It sums up the hypocrisy characterizing a great deal of the left-wing self-appointed elites.

The Blue Maple Leaf spots some bias in the Canadian Press, outlined here:

"The roadmap of the global warming lie is easily traceable, starting with the notion that factories and people with cars cause pollution and are evil, because they cause global warming. Gas companies are evil, because they get rich polluting the Earth and causing global warming. Gas stations are evil, because they are like the drug dealers of the oil companies. Conservatives are evil, because they want to make it easier for oil companies to get rich while oil companies destroy the planet. Alberta is the most evil, because they are the headquarters for rich oil companies and worse, they are a province run by Conservatives that are all unfairly getting rich from drilling oil, destroying the planet, causing global warming and they won't share their wealth with the rest of Canada.

The Canadian Press constantly ignores the fact that Alberta gives far more than any other province to Ottawa and gets back far less than any other province from Ottawa. The Canadian Press ignores the fact that oil and gas is the single most regulated and taxed industry in the nation and margins are smaller than most other sectors of the economy. The Canadian Press flat out lies when it portrays the Conservative Party, or any party for that matter, as being in favor of pollution."

As I have posted about before, the challenge facing Albertans is dealing with a morality held by the MSM elites that can treat Alberta as inherently "evil"

Paul Jackson's Calgary Sun article has been noted by AB Freedom, J. Franklin, and Black Kettle

The analogy of an 'eviction notice' is far more fitting than the divorce/separation analogy which many of us have been using/ stuck with.

Alberta is saying, 'Why pay high rent when we can buy a place of our own?'

Americans are taking notice of Alberta as articles like this one in Fortune Mag attest (see here HT:PrebleNY.com ).

Can the Alberta Alliance, SPA, (or a firewalling conservative PC party) take advantage of this "status capital" that Alberta possesses right now. Or will we lose this advantage due to the foolishness of federalists who get elected for Anti-American no-nothingism?

Also see Civitatensis via Instapundit.

With the Toronto area shootings this summer, many in the MSM are cluing into the impotency of the gun registry.

See here, here, and here. Also comment by AB Freedom here.

Why did we have to waste so much money just to figure this out? You've gotta laugh to keep from crying.

The lingering effects of US protectionism remain after the border has been re-opened to Canadian beef producers.

"'Initially, we expected a big flow of feeder cattle to go south, but we've understood is there's not enough USDA-certified feedlots' to take them, Penner says. 'When they go south, they have to stay in that facility until they're finished.
They can't be mixed with American cattle.
'And once they're ready for slaughter, to come out of there, the cattle have to be branded as having come from Canada,' Penner says. "

See here.

Prairie cattlemen will make do, but it's still tough to make a buck in the cattle business these days.

'Great Firewall': China's model for a censored Net: "Part of the Chinese success has been co-opting American tech companies with the lure of its lucrative consumer market. Microsoft blocks bloggers from posting politically sensitive words in Chinese; Google shuts down for several minutes when a user in China looks too many times for forbidden words like 'Falun Gong'; and Yahoo recently admitted turning over private e-mail information that helped lead to the jailing of a Chinese journalist."

Even in the blogosphere, 'freedom ain't free.'
Bloggers beware!

PARIS (Reuters) - A Paris-based media watchdog released a handbook on Thursday
to help cyber-dissidents and bloggers avoid political censorship in countries as
far apart as China, Iran, Vietnam and Cuba.

The guide, published by
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) with the backing of the French government,
identifies bloggers as the "new heralds of free expression" and offers advice on
how to set up a blog and run it anonymously.

"Bloggers are often the
only real journalists in countries where the mainstream media is censored or
under pressure," wrote Julien Pain, head of RSF's Internet Freedom Desk.

"Only they provide independent news, at the risk of displeasing the
government and sometimes courting arrest."

Alberta separatist bloggers are not at risk of arrest, but they are certainly displeasing the government.

Maybe it's time to make preparations?

You can find the guide (PDF) here.

If you are searching around today check out the OneTrueGod blog for discussions of questions about religion, faith, and God. The contributors have been brought together from a diversity of backgrounds, and are all top bloggers in their own right (eg. Hugh Hewitt, Al Mohler, John Mark Reynolds, etc.)

Here is an interesting blog from an Arab-Canadian in Montreal who supports Bush's war on terrorism.

It's one I'm going to keep my eye on.

The article titled, "The Values Battle" by Robert Fulford in today's National Post is one of the best I've read in a while that cogently describes the ideological monopoly that the liberal/socialist consensus possesses in Canada. (read it here).


As I write this from Cabbagetown, Downtown T.O. ("the heart of the beast", as I like to call it), the futility of the federal Tories' efforts to win Ontario are more clearly evident. Even if there was a small Conservative foothold established in the GTA, it would only provide a more effective foil for the Liberals and NDP to scare the electorate with. Toronto's opinion-shapers will not allow the Tories to win. Even the Old Tory influence from Old Money in Toronto loves to have dinner parties with Liberal power-brokers and former PM's.

I will vote for the Tories in the next federal election. I've supported them and the Reform/ Alliance before them.

But as a New Albertanist, I don't put my hope in solutions at a federal level. The rules of the game are fixed against the West. It is only now that we have grown-up so much that we won't put up with it anymore.

An excellent post on the plight of the family farm is found at J. Frankin's blog, here Dispatches from the Western Alien Nation: Defining the family farm

AB Freedom clearly articulates how things look for Alberta-first advocates as he compares SPA and AA.

Will two parties dilute the product?

Nice to see a Calgary corporation helping the oilpatch sister city of Houston, see here.

Mr. Klein is going on a conciliatory tour through Central Canada now that his surplus is 8.8 Billion.

Unless Mr. Klein intends to take the surplus and buy votes in Ontario for the federal Tories, his 'conciliatory' tour will muddy the waters.

Is there someone in the Ted Morton camp who can outline Mr. Morton's intentions even if it is unofficial'?

Has anybody heard about a leadership contest for the Separation Party of Alberta? Will it be addressed at their upcoming general meeting?

I've heard rumblings...but nothing concrete.

J. Franklin keeps us updated about the leadership contest for the Alberta Alliance party.

In the past, the AA has been fairly low on the MSM's radar screen, but with some fresh support from the blogosphere and new members maybe its profile will be enhanced. For more on the Alberta Alliance see here, and here.

In a Brandon Sun article here, Todd Hirsch an economist with the Canada West Foundation argues for a "Western Energy Accord" that would include oil, hydro, and uranium from the Prairie provinces. The proposal is that funding from these sectors is invested into other energy sectors in the region.

For example, oil sands money would go to Manitoba's hydro initiatives which in turn satisfy Ontario's consumption needs. Then monies from Manitoba hydro could be re-invested in other energy plays in Alberta.

The proposal is supposedly a way to head off NEP2, while strengthening Confederation.

For Albertans who read this article, their scepticism at the potential of monies ever coming back around for re-investment is sure to be piqued.

This would not be a 'win-win' situation, but one that provides a mere lesser of two evils. Canada West is proposing to give Alberta's money to Manitoba, so that they can supply Ontario with power.

But like the NEP, this is a case of Alberta subsidizing Ontario. Canada West is merely including Manitoba as the middleman.

If the Canada West program gets branded as NEP Lite, it will be easily ignored. If it does not, then look for the Liberals to adopt the platform in the next election.

Read the exhortations from AB Freedom here.

In all of this, the message board of Project Alberta has been a major catalyst, and is to be commended as such.

See J. Franklin's post reflecting on the Alberta Alliance's interim leader, here.

The suggestion that the Northwest passage is open for a longer season each year has caused Lyle Oberg to muse that the Territories could be the new focus for Alberta's transportation needs, rather than Vancouver. (See here).

The growing pro-independence movement in Alberta seems to have three main outlets.

1. Ted Morton-led Alberta PC party.
2. Alberta Alliance
3. Separation Party of Alberta

The state of the Tories today have left many would-be supporters with a bad taste in their mouth. Only the potentially longshot candidacy of Morton could bring those supporters back from their intended separatist course.

The Alberta Alliance seems to have the electoral success of one seat. This is viewed negatively as being evidence that they are unelectable, or positively as them having a foothold for further growth. The AA seems to have some political experience in the machinery of the Legislature, which some people would be attracted to. Also by virtue of age, they may have at least the appearance of stability.

The Separation Party of Alberta does not have a seat in the Legislature, but it does seem to have momentum from voters disaffected with TROC. Whether this momentum can be channeled into electoral wins will be determined in the next election. SPA is knocked by some as being a 'one-issue' party without developed platform for achieving power and implementing change. Its strength is in the clarity of its stance which maximizes on Alberta voters' desire for decisiveness.

Most Albertans who are sympathetic to the aims of independence are looking for strong leadership that can build political consensus in moving Alberta from province to nation.

Are these Albertans willing to delay the gratification of separation in favor of electing MLA's who will implement Alberta-first policies which could lay the groundwork for independence? Or is such thinking a capitulation to the status quo, and a resignation to continued futility?

Clearly, the Alberta independence movement needs to begin thinking and planning about what joint-ventures can be established, and which ones would be deemed as compromise.

For the Alberta independence movement to neglect such a strategy is to see itself consigned to the realm of wishful thinking and unrealistic expectations.

If only Shirley Solberg was sitting on the bench for Paul Coffin's sentencing. See here.

Powerhouse US blogs Instapundit and Captain's Quarters have weighed in on so-called justice in Canada with the Ad-Scam pronouncements and Paul Coffin's prison-less sentence.

See here, from the original post here.

For many in the Alberta independence movement, there has been dissatisfaction with how the Alberta Alliance has conducted itself on the one hand, and with the Separation Party of Alberta appearing to be only a 'one-issue' group, on the other.

In light of this, J. Franklin's post about the Alberta Alliance marks an interesting development. (See here)

As if anyone needed further proof of the Alberta Liberal party's myopia, see here.

National Post

No jail time for crooks. That is the message sent in the wake of the sponsorship scandal.

Moreover, Paul Coffin will be made the patsy while higher, and more powerful people will remain immune (read: Jean Chretien, et al).

No wonder Albertans wish to distance themselves from such a dysfunctional system.

HoustonChronicle.com - Advancing storm shoves crude costs up again

With higher oil prices, the Canadian loonie is buoyed too.

At this rate an independent Alberta could have a currency based on the 'oil standard' (too volatile--yes, I know).

The US is going to tighten its restrictions on animal by-products in animal feeds to mirror Canada's proposals. See the Washington Post article, here.

Ranchers and farmers everywhere will be glad to see this (not to mention beef consumers). The only people who won't like it are the larger corporate feedlots.

Preston Manning is planning to start a conservative think-tank that would give long term policy muscle for right-of-center politicians in Canada.

In this article (here) from a so-con perspective, there is suspicion expressed at Manning's endeavor, especially since it seems to be courting favor with the Toronto MSM elites.

Manning's initiative is likened to what the American conservatives did in 1954 with long-term planning that has yeilded much success today.

For Albertans, this all sounds dandy, but 1954?

Are we looking to wait till 2054 for success?

Albertans aren't holding their breath.

In fact, they are planning their own successes.

American historian George Grant posts about an obscure, but important figure in the building of a nation.

Father of the Constitution

His words are among the most recognizable of any of the Founding Fathers,

We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union,
establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense,
promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves
and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United
States of America.

Gouverneur Morris (1752-1816), who was primarily responsible for the final draft of the Constitution was also an eloquent, though sometimes windy, speaker, and members of the New York legislature, the Constitutional Convention, and the Senate were often swayed by his masterful blend of logic, wit, and imagination. Although he had strong aristocratic tendencies, and as late as 1774 wrote, 'It is in the interest of all men to seek for reunion with the parent state,' in 1776 Morris spoke in the New York legislature on behalf of the colonies and against the King. He early recognized the need for a united, strong national congress. Of Morris, historian David Muzzey wrote, "he was a nationalist before the birth of the nation". (read the rest, here)

For Albertans seeking independence, they may need to look back to the example of others who laid the groundwork for their new nation.

Here is an innovative way for Alberta independence advocates to spread the word in corporate Alberta.

Words are strange things. They can be used to bring clarity, hide deceit, build up or tear down.

Think of a word like ‘progressive’. Immediately, one has connotations of positive change that is moving forward to a brighter tomorrow of enjoyment and liberty.

What a great word!

But if someone takes the title ‘progressive’ and applies it to themselves, the word may not articulate the reality of the person’s character or intentions.

Such can be the case among ‘progressives’ who wish to segment a group of their neighbors and not only treat them as a fringe element, but also use manipulation to keep them disenfranchised.

If a ‘progressive’ only desires freedom for their own views, and seeks to silence the voice of dissent, then does the title fit?

By contrast, the ‘progressive’ should have such confidence in their belief that they can welcome challenges from the marketplace of ideas, knowing that their ‘progressive’ arguments will win the day, regardless of dissent.

Putting dissenting voices on a watch-list doesn’t seem very ‘progressive’ to me. But then, I always thought such lofty adjectives like ‘progressive’ were attributed to individuals by others, not claimed for oneself in an act of self-aggrandizement.

Whether you are supportive of pastor Stephen Boissoin, or the AHRC, how do you reckon with this?

See here.

The Alberta pastor may get funding for his legal defense from a US organization, thanks to US coverage of the story.

This Leger Marketing poll should get lots of play for a while.

See here, and here for samples.

With few churches to recommend in Alberta a small but good one is found here. (Note: if you are uninterested, that's fine. No arm-twisting here).

Danny Williams is 'thinking outside of the box' according to this article, here.

He is talking with Sir Richard Branson the adventuring entrepeneur of Virgin-brand everything about building Newfoundland's refinery capacity to supplement their oil reserves.

If Newfoundland is thinking 'outside of the box' shouldn't Alberta be doing a bit more of it too?

The posts by AB Freedom and Rebel Albertan are getting to the heart of the matter with respect to the infancy of the independence movement in Alberta.

Although Alberta has emerged as a strong leader that looks no longer to Ottawa, but stands with the power centers of the world, that does not mean the political machinery for independence is strong yet.

The Alberta Alliance has appeared to lack resolve in distancing itself from the Tories recently.

Separation Party of Alberta must be growing in membership with people who are rightly fed up. But in what ways will SPA build consensus so that they can achieve their 'tipping point'.

The independence movement in Alberta is in a state of great flux.

When new leaders are elected for AA and SPA, then Albertans should be able to make lasting analysis of the capability of either of these vehicles.

For now, assessments will be made, but the fortunes of either party could change dramatically for the better or worse.

If the Alberta oil-sands are increasingly going to be the big-block engine for our economy, then it comes as no surprise that even non-oil, blue-chip companies like General Electric will get into the play, see here.

One of the challenges facing the separatist movement in Alberta is to convince these large companies that economic stability can be maintained, even if significant political changes occur.

The Calgary Sun - Road upgrades link oil, labour

Keepin' it rollin'

The Calgary Sun - Refineries disappear

They're being replaced by underground ones.

The Calgary Sun - Study sees crude at $50

The Alberta Energy and Utilities Board has forecasted a doubling of production in the next 10 years, see here

Now is the time for political vision to match these economic prospects.

This essay by Shawn Smallman of Portland State University gives an academic perspective on the role of the Oil-sands in the US Energy program (requires PDF).

Note that the article refers to Canada mostly, rather than Alberta. And yet Alberta is where the oil is, and where the power is.

A black-gold rush in Alberta
From the Wall Street Journal originally, Tamsin Carlisle's article on Alberta's oil reserves appears, here.

Carlisle notes Alberta's huge oil reserves are factoring more and more into American energy strategies.

Is it time for Alberta separatist movement to begin discussions with American leaders about potential scenarios that could arise with Alberta's withdrawal from Confederation?

I'm sure the Americans are going to be interested.

News | canada.com network

Glad to hear the Mr. Klein won't be capitulating to the chorus of squeaky wheels in TROC.

Here is a new Albertanicus logo.


Alberta says: "Don't Fence Me In!"

Werner Patels thinks that Albertans who support separatism are greedy, selfish, xenophobic, and impliesthat some are racist!

For a fellow Albertan to be so out of touch with why his neighbors would be considering such a significant political option is incredulous to me.

Looking beyond the rhetoric of Alberta separatists, and Mr. Patels himself, has he not noticed that this past Summer of Discontent in Alberta has brought many folks to separatist conclusions, who have been resisting that option for years? These are people who are heart-sick over their beloved Canada and what it has become.

These Albertans have been federalists for ages, as they have plead with tears for the rest of Canada to stem the growing decay that is happening in the nation.

But these Albertans are not going to be fools either. They see that the way forward in providing a prosperous and secure home for their children is to seek an auotnomous Alberta, and an independent one.

Sadly Mr. Patels' stereotyping of his neighbors as bitter and dangerous is exactly the kind of elitist attitude that Albertans see among the Liberal party both federally and provincially.

It is for this reason that the Liberal party has seen only limited success in Alberta.

The surprise will come when a dark-horse party like AA or SPA charges past the Liberals in voter support.

A poll of CEO's and business leaders by Compass (see the PDF here) shows that the prospects are good for Alberta's economy as a major oil exporter to the US and China.

It also shows an openness on the part of these leaders to consider a separatist alternative.

The poll may be old news to some---July 25th, 2005 B.MB.(Before MyBlog), but it does provide further evidence that Alberta can grow exponentially in the days ahead.

That growth will only make the tensions in Canada more painful.

And Albertans may be ready to put the lapsed Confederation out of its misery.

Alberta may be 100 years old but she still hasn't hit her prime.

Adam Daifallah thinks that everybody will be hearing a lot more from Alberta and thinks the province is 'all grown up'. He cites an article by Danielle Smith which outlines the mood of rank-and-file Albertans. Smith points out that Albertans are ready to play 'hardball' with those who want to take what is ours.

Alberta's new slogan may be

'Don't Fence Me In'

You heard it here first!

A front page article from today's Globe&Mail says that any grab for Alberta's oil wealth will result in deep hostility.

No kidding!

Although many Canadian's think Alberta should 'share and share alike' what few of them realize is that the West is in a state of taxation without representation.

The parallels are closer and closer to the situation of the American colonies with respect to Britain.

If Canada wishes to bleed Alberta, another 'Boston Tea Party' may be in the works

E:M | Blogosphere attacked

Albertans who are using the blogosphere to bring about change can be thankful that nobody is filtering out their blog URL's as these Iranian bloggers face today.

For Pro-Democracy Iranian Bloggers, just like their counterparts around the world:

'Freedom Ain't Free'

The prosperity cheque scheme may have been better suited for this project.

If you read the message boards discussing Albertan independence, one thing becomes clear.

There is a generation gap.

Often such a phenomenon is seen as a problem. But in the case of the Alberta separatist movement it must certainly be a welcome one.

Having a generation gap means that there are multiple generations who are involved in the same cause.

The 'cause' on Albertans' minds these days is separation. And it has attracted a crop of young, tech-savvy, intelligent, wit-meisters.

The older generation of Alberta separatists must see the new blood as a token of vindication for their longsuffering in the separatist cause.

Many of the older separatists were involved with the Western Canada Concept. Others helped start the Reform party but left when "The West Wants In" was ignored. Still others were involved in numerous grass-roots efforts advancing the cause.

Now these veteran separatists have suddenly gained an audience among Albertans who are newbies to the independence movement. The separatist rookies are full of zeal and idealism without the pain of loss and failure which the vets have carried for decades.

The rookies are learning quickly and the nascent tension between the separatist generations may escalate.

A case in point is being played out in the leadership contests for the two separatist flavored parties in Alberta: the Alberta Alliance (not separatist officially, but with numerous supporters who would vote in favor of it once the AA is in power) and the Separation Party of Alberta (officially separatist).

Many new members have entered these parties, and some of the older stalwarts are assembling their strategies to challenge for party leadership.

The challenge for the stalwarts will be whether or not they can provide that remarkably rare quality for a leader---namely leadership. Unfortunately, the past track record of the separatist leadership has not brought any significant or lasting success.

Will these past failures now quickly be reversed by leaders from the older generation? Possibly.

But what about the rookies? Are they capable of challenging for leadership positions? Probably not.

So the dilemma facing the separatist movement is how to keep the generation gap from widening, with the movement splintering into myopic factions.

The older generation needs to listen to the younger. The rookies need to learn from the vets.

But if some of the old stalwarts aim to merely cash in on all the 'late-comers to the party', their hope of vindication will be short-lived.

If the separatist movement is entering into a new era, then the rapid-learning curve which the rookies are on will make them difficult to ignore as they strive for leadership.

The need of the hour for the separatist movement is not merely a leader---but real leadership. And that quality of leadership must be exercised by many, both veteran and rookie, with wisdom and resolve.

To move forward recklessly will only end up in another de-railment for Albertan's freedom.

The principle of "subsidiarity" which Joe Carter blogged about here, the Burkean Canuck had posted on here, and I had commented on here, seems to be at work in the wake of Katrina.

The fact that small groups of individuals (in this recent article it refers to church groups) can move more adeptly and quickly in meeting needs than cumbersome governments is being firmly established in NOLA.

Iran's pro-democracy dissidents are turning to the blogosphere to make their voices heard as James Robertson reports in this Western Standard article titled, "A Free Press For Persia".

Nice to see the Western Standard picking up on a topic which Albertanicus posted on a few weeks ago, titled, Iran, Alberta and the Democratic Force of Blogging.

Okay, it's not another from the Western Standard, but check out this Alberta Independence Poll at Black Kettle.

More on the short-sightedness of the prosperity cheque scheme, here.

See here.Welcome to the Cannuckistan Chronicles: Aw Crap...

The fact that Canadian and Albertan MSM has ignored this story, and that Alberta bloggers have to dig it up from an American news service is a testament to the need for Alberta to clean up its backyard as well as deal with Ottawa's oligarchy.

For more see my posts here, and here.

This is how Research and Development is funded in Alberta.

I don't see any showers of cash from Ottawa.

edmontonsun.com - Commentary - EDITORIAL: All talk and no walk

In this editorial from the Edmonton Sun, the Western Standard poll is deemed to be inconclusive that there is a massive shift towards separation in the Alberta electorate.

It claims that only a few hard-liners would support separation.

Based on the number of new blogs and web traffic surrounding separation, I'd say that not only is their talk, but there may soon become not just a walk, but a political stampede!

Here is a good article on leadership by Monte E. Wilson, Chairman of the African-American Self-Help Foundation.

Are potential Separatist-oriented leaders reflecting these qualities?

At this trade show blog, here, some Americans are reflecting on the Oil Sands Conference in Fort McMurray.

The are hoping Alberta will supply oil to them.

And they are saying:

there's a lot of interest on what's going on in Alberta right now.

Are trade shows a good prosperity indicator? I reckon so.

Hell Bent is a new blog started in favor of Alberta separation.

This sentiment plus the blogosphere should not be taken lightly.

An article on Senate reform in the Toronto Star? The mind reels.

After implying that the current Senate is 'inbred', Murdoch Davis
writes:
In the West, Senate reform is not just a point for public policy
discussion. It has become a symbol. In Alberta, particularly (as with most
irritants in Canada's regional relations), it's a symbol of the willingness — or
lack of it — in Ottawa to address western concerns.

We've done our best fo rso long to work within the system, it's time to start working outside of it.

In the Calgary Herald, the critics have charged Klein's cash-back scheme with being short-sighted (an opinion I share).

But Roger Gibbins thinks that we shouldn't put our prosperity on display, lest we make other provinces jealous.

"This is the worst direction we could take with our external relations with the
rest of the country," said Roger Gibbins, president of the Canada West
Foundation, a Calgary think-tank. "It does create a larger target on the Alberta
surplus."
For the past few weeks, Klein has been fending off perceived
attempts by Ontario and the federal government to nab some of Alberta's resource
riches.
This latest policy decision sees Alberta "thumb its nose at the rest
of the country," Gibbins said.

Don't buy that car, because a theif may become jealous and want to steal it.

This is silly reasoning on the part of Mr. Gibbins.

Globe and Mail reports that Harper is in trouble.

Here it comes.

See here.

Getting 300 bucks of our money back is similar to the Fed's Mad Cow bail-out (300 bucks or so).

It's hardly worth the logistical cost of dispensing it. And it doesn't really do much (unless you're trying to make rent).

So do what needs to be done. Cut Taxes. Period.

And remember, it is not as if it is the Tories' money that they are sharing. It belongs to the citizens of Alberta.

Monte Solberg's post from Toronto (must be home-sick) on the farming situation in Alberta is a dark and sad tale but one that is an increasing reality.

Farmers in Alberta are capitalists, and simply want to have the freedom to market their product freely against legitimate competition.

But World-wide socialism makes the Alberta guy have to compete with European and American subsidies while having Ottawa's bureaucracy ball-and-chained around its leg.

How ya gonna keep 'em down on the farm? Pretty tough these days.

A good article on blogging by Joe Carter is found here. Don't be worried if all of your blog buddies are reading the news and blogging it before you are. If you've got something insightful to say people will read it over time. Long live the blogosphere and the New Albertanism!

John Roberts' nomination to chief Justice of the US Supreme Court has been surrounded by a firestorm of opinion.

Al Mohler comments on the conflicting perspectives on the role of the judiciary presented by Roberts and Ted Kennedy.

Roberts' view emphasizes an impartial and 'humbler' approach for the judiciary, whereas Kennedy sees the judiciary as an organ for his view of 'progress' and its ideals.

How activist should a judge be? Think about the refereeing in the next hockey game you attend, and see what you conclude.

Albertan's will resonate with the common sense observations of Kenneth Minogue in his New Criterion article, here.

Though Minogue focuses on the devolution of British morality, the phenomenon is widespread in Canada too.

Reflect on this quote:

Canada's nanny-state is no better. But how can independence seeking Albertan's address the moral ideology underlying such thinking. It's no good to have a separated Alberta politburo.

Rare Note of Sanity in Hogtown

In the Toronto Sun Lorrie Goldstein comments on the way that the liberal intelligentsia has been tripping over itself trying to blame Mike Harris' cuts to welfare for Toronto's rise in violent crime.

Such spin doctoring by the pseudo-academic elites intentionally ignores a soft-stance on crime, and a emasculated criminal justice system.

Albertans know too well how the media/celebrity oligarchy spins opposition to its agenda. If you oppose them you are a red-neck, racist, homophobe, etc, etc.

In his Calgary Sun article, Paul Jackson overviews a book which exposes the Lib-Left's wit-lessness to the values of Middle America. Citing 100 people as examples, the book's author shows how the Lib-Left has an utterly hypocritical form of 'tolerance'.

The book is called 100 People Who Are Screwing Up America by Bernard Goldberg. Seems like a must read.

On the anniversary of that infamous day [now see this], it seems a bit surreal to read the report that Dalton McGuinty has rejected the proposal for Shariah law in Ontario family courts.

This is surprising since the attitude of McGuinty and the Ontario government always seems so inclined to non-offense that it will stand for nothing (what about the Muslim vote in the GTA?).

Islam has an aim of controlling political power under their theocratic rubric. Shariah law in family courts would be only the first step.

I wonder if Central Canadian governments have the will and conviction to stop it ultimately.

By contrast, Christians are increasingly marginalized from public discourse, yet Christianity by its nature embraces the marketplace of ideas, and does not seek to coerce by force but to persuade by truth-telling [Examples to the contrary are inconsistent with the Christian faith, while Islam's politically theocratic impulse is entirely consistent with its own belief] .

It's funny (and fearful) how Islam in Canada may expose the ideological bankruptcy that much of the Modern Canada has been built around (cf. here).

The question for Albertans is, "Where do you stand?"

More Ted Byfield

In this Calgary Sun article, Byfield argues for an 'Alberta plan' that would invest in the Prairies in order to create a competitive edge for Canada against Asia and others. This 'Alberta Plan' would be in contrast to the Martin Plan which will include a resource raid disguised as a carbon tax used to prop up Ontario and Quebec.

Simply put, it is the 'hour of decision' as Byfield calls it. Canada must support something akin to this Alberta plan or else Alberta will implement the plan without Ottawa.

The inevitability of Alberta facing the Separation Alternative is increasingly real.


[HT: ABFreedom ]

Ted Byfield writes about a new study looking at Pierre Trudeau's religious beliefs. The strange thing is that Trudeau merely used Catholicism as a veneer of religiosity.

Trudeau's elitist social engineering endorsed practices which the Church of Rome condemned.

Whether or not you agree with Roman Catholicism, clearly Trudeau was a flagrant hypocrite.

It is this hypocrisy which Albertans have come to disdain from the federal government and its spin doctors. Modern Canada's myopic self-righteousness is the ultimate projection of Trudeau's belief and practice.

Trudeau's hypocrisy continues to be ignored by the MSM that reveres his legacy. And yet the legacy of hypocrisy is continually modelled by Canada's governing party.

Albertan's must conclude that the embrace of a legacy of hypocrisy among TROC warrants these ancient words:

'..ye suffer fools gladly, seeing ye yourselves are wise'

Check out this blog survey, here. It's for an U of Alberta M.A. student.

Project Alberta is a great vehicle for debate and discussion of issues surrounding Alberta independence.

Of note currently is a discussion thread about leadership of the Alberta independence movement, here.

If you haven't already, check it out.

WorldNetDaily.com has picked up the story with the headline: Pastor faces hearing over 'anti-gay' letter.

Meghan Wood provides an overview of Mr. Boissoin's letter to the editor of the Red Deer Advocate, and the charge by Darren Lund of University of Calgary that Boissoin's statements are inciting hatred against homosexuals.

Read the letter for yourself, here.

It does use militaristic language, but how frequently is such language used in the context of our modern 'culture wars'. The battle encouraged is regarding ideas. And specifically where ideas are disseminated: in schools.

The AHRC will look at the issue. But in a post-modern world where everything is right except belief in right and wrong, I fear Mr. Boissoin may not be permitted to be on the 'correct' side.

An Alberta Case of Thought Police on the Beat

As reported here, and here, it seems that something akin to Orwellian thought control is alive and well in Alberta.

The issue surrounds a young Christian minister who wrote a letter to the editor of the Red Deer Advocate in which he articulated convictions held throughout centuries of Christendom. Those convictions state that homosexuality is wrong, a sin before God, and deviant from the biological make-up of human beings.

For this expression of opinion, this young man has been brought up on charges before the Alberta Human Rights Commission.

The individual making the charges hails from (get ready) the University of Calgary.

So an academic is using the bankrupting power of legal snares to silence a divergent opinion.
It is clear that you are only free to speak about homosexuality in positive terms, or else you will be likened to a Holocaust denier or a White supremicist.

Is this Alberta really freedom loving?

In order for Alberta to be prepared for greater freedom and independence, we need to clean up our own backyard.

Just so that no cultists, gurus or New Agers think that I want Alberta to be home to their communes, the Albertanism that I am advocating is NOT the same as this foolishness, here. In fact, the error of man-made religion advocated by Al Jacher (hence Albertanism) parallels the very twisted piety of the Canadian intelligentsia which the New Albertanism (Alberta-made) aims to expose!

In order to have a leader with vision for the Alberta separatist movement, there needs to be a vision to begin with. [See the discussion thread at Project Alberta, here]

Monte Solberg's reflections on Alberta's worldview are helpful in defining this vision.

Some of what Mr. Solberg says resonates well with what I call 'the New Albertanism'.

Maybe someday, the gifts and abilities of leaders like Mr. Solberg will be used in making Alberta independent, yet always dependable.

I fear that Parliament Hill will not allow such talented people to rise above the glass ceiling.

Via Burkean Canuck, Joe Carter posts on how Conservatives failure to abide by their own principles bore the fruit of ineptness in the Katrina response. Carter notes that smaller, simpler government is more effective at addressing real problems. This small and simple idea is called subsidiarity. Carter writes:

A primary example is the principle of subsidiarity, an idea found in Catholic
social thought which is often embraced by conservatives. As David A.
Bosnich explains,

This tenet holds that nothing should be done by a
larger and more
complex organization which can be done as well by a smaller and
simpler
organization. In other words, any activity which can be performed by a
more
decentralized entity should be. This principle is a bulwark of limited
government and personal freedom.

While limited government, personal freedom,
and other such
goods are worthy reasons to support such an ideal, there is an
even more
primary justification: it saves lives. The evacuation of New Orleans
provides a useful example of how this works out in a real-world context.

Carter challenges American conservatives to reflect on why all their best and brightest end up on Capitol Hill in Washington, when conservative principle should encourage them to concentrate on the State and Municipal levels.

For Albertans, the principle of subsidiarity is one that has been held for a long time if not named as such. With the emergence of the Alberta independence movement, we may soon see the best and brightest of home-grown leaders remaining in Alberta to work at the provincial and municipal levels.

It makes sense to expend our leadership wealth on government that is simple and efficient rather than a bloated bureaucracy.

Currently some of Alberta's best are on Parliament Hill. Soon they may be thinking more about subsidiarity as they rumble along the Trans-Canada heading West.

Following my post citing some who think the threat of an NEP 2 program is merely a straw man, read this.

The chaff from that Straw Man is starting to blow from the East.

Alberta Evangelicals: Redneck Jihadists or Reflective Nation-Builders?

Now it seems that many Evangelicals are aiding the re-emergence of a separatist movement in Alberta. The result of switching their focus from federal influence to provincial autonomy could have a few implications:

Negative

1. The Separatist/Autonomy/ Refederation movement would have an identifiable target which could be caricatured, parodied, and pilloried by the Toronto MSM.
   
2. Non-evangelical Albertans inclined towards separation would resist being identified with the 'fundies'. This would bring division to a fledgling movement, and stall concerted efforts to bring change.
   
3. Evangelicals could (wrongly) use the Separatist movement to implement a radical confusion of Church and State, becoming jihadists for a mini-theocracy.

Positive

1. Evangelicals could bring a commitment to the Separatist/ Autonomy/ Refederation movement that moves it from a fringe discussion to a central and realistic one.
   
2. In the past, Evangelicals have been significant shapers of society for the good of all people, not just Christians.
   
   From the poor early Christians in the Roman Empire who would take the discarded babies of the elites and raise them as their own, to William Carey's missionary labor in India which encouraged the emergence of India as a modern nation. History is replete with examples of Christians who have been 'a blessing' to the society as a whole. The key, however, comes when Christians act like Christians. Sadly, too often the behavior of so-called Christians has not reflected the life of their Messiah.
   
   
3. The worldview of Evangelicals is very conducive for healthy democracy. Since the Separatist movement in Alberta is at its heart a pro-democracy movement, the Evangelical worldview [cf. the preciousness of life, individual freedom and equality, yet diversity of roles and responsibilities under an ultimate accountability] will foster those democratic forces. By contrast, Atheistic worldviews are a breeding ground for dictatorships since there is no higher accountability.
   
   
4. Evangelicals wish to be involved citizens in the democracy, but they don't expect politics to be able to accomplish things that it has no capacity for. Politics cannot change the moral DNA of people's hearts. Evangelicals, therefore are realists. They see politics as a simple tool for serving their neighbors in love. Their true citizenship is not even in the sociological group called 'Evangelicals', but in what the Bible calls 'heaven'. Their enemies are not other people but sin that resides in their own heart. The victory they seek is not squashing other people under their boots, but seeing the victory of Jesus Christ over sin and death applied to all people.
   
   When Evangelicals fail to be Evangelical they become something ugly.
   
   As Evangelicals involve themselves in Alberta politics, let us all hope they act like who they are.
   

Alberta Evangelicals and Their Politics

Alberta is often viewed as a Bible-belt. The caricature is that Albertans work in the oilpatch all week, party at Cowboys or Billy-Bob's on Saturday night, and go to a revival service on Sunday morning to cure the hangover and guilt.

Of course the caricature is an extreme one. But Alberta is viewed as being full of 'bible-thumpers' and 'red-necks'. [Could it be that the Confederate States of America had colonized the place before the railroad came?]

Regardless of the caricatures, there are a number of Evangelical Christians in Alberta. These Evangelicals are not particularly more remarkable than Evangelicals in Ontario or Quebec. The only difference is that Alberta Evangelicals are permitted to have a role in public affairs. Evangelicals in Alberta even get elected to public office--and high office at that (think Manning and the sub-evangelical Aberhart).

Because of this allowance for Evangelicals to exercise their rights of citizenship, they have influenced the political thought of Alberta. During the heyday of the Reform party, the grass-roots support for the party had a significant Evangelical hue. This influence continues in limited form within the Conservative Party of Canada. [It seems obvious that one of aims of the CPC is to move toward 'moderate' policy positions. This is code for 'less-Christian-influenced' policy, or less social conservativism].

Now it seems that Alberta Evangelicals are considering other alternatives such as the provincial parties favoring Alberta autonomy (Alberta Alliance) or outright separation (Separation Party of Alberta).

There are still some who think that because the federal government does not have an NEP 2 program on the books, one won't be implemented in the future.

Regardless of what the Liberal party has planned currently, the fact is the Ontarians are supportive of some type of NEP2 style measure. Since the Liberal party has a knack for adapting chameleon-like to the shades of the Ontario electorate, don't be surprised to see a rebranded NEP2 coming down the road.

Attacking any type of NEP2 is not setting up a straw-man. Rather it is anticipating the next move of the most predictable of opponents.

Paul Martin says there won't be another NEP

In Sunday's Calgary Sun, Licia Corbella (a favorite) comments on how Prime Minister Paul Martin handled questions concerning a re-instituted National Energy Program. Although Mr. Martin denied that there would be an NEP, since that was 'ancient' history, he did not clearly state that some type of re-branded NEP would not be implemented. Corbella then notes the reliance on Kyotoist junk science by the federal government which is undergirding preparations for a carbon tax.

Based on the consistency with with Mr. Martin has broken his word, it appears that his assurances that there will not be an NEP have little to lend them credibility.

Corbella rightly concludes that two scenarios lay before us in light of the concealed threat of a carbon tax/ oil raid on Alberta:

1) block the Liberals from winning a majority government in the next election,
or
2) Alberta separation.

An Option 'Horrible to Contemplate'

Corbella calls the latter option a 'horrible' contemplation. But the former option has been attempted repeatedly. Sadly there may be little Albertans can do about changing the federal governing party. Albertans have been trying to affect change in Ottawa since their infancy in Confederation. Most recently, the Reform/Alliance party sought to do so, yet failed.

The challenge for Albertans now is to deal with reality. And the contemplation may be horrible, but if it is inevitable, logical, and right, then the pain and sacrifices that will accompany it must be faced and endured.

Just think if Winston Churchill had not faced the horror of impending war as inevitable, we would all be serfs under the Swastika.

The possibility of Alberta separation is not an impending doom akin to the threat of WWII, and the analogy is out of proportion, but the principle is the same.

Let us not bury our heads in the sand.