Billy: Dad, what’s a separatist?
Dad: Son, I dreaded the day this conversation would come. Well -those are people that come from Quebec. They love our country and just want to belong. They are largely misunderstood. We have to do everything we can to make sure they feel welcome-like running advertising programs in their “belle province” that promote unity; or appointing one of their own as the Governor General.
Billy: Quebec? Johnny O’Malley said they came from Alberta.
Dad: Oh. Those ones. You don’t want no part o’ that.
Billy: Why?
Dad: Because they are intolerant, Christian bigots who tend to discriminate against homosexuals, unions and domestic animals. They also believe Hooters have good wings.
heh.
Separatists are conservatives that are bitter that the rest of Canada doesn’t see things their way.
Dad: dumb people vote for Liberals?
Billy: why?
Dad: well, Stephen Harper can’t get the rest of Canada to buy his vision?
Billy: WHat is his vision?
Dad: Good question? I’m not really sure. Harper doesn’t say. I do know 2 things. Harper says we should have a Belgian constitution and $100 off of bus passes (paid for by the taxpayer).
Billy: oh.
Dad: People don’t like Harper so Albertans want to separate. Because they like Harper and they think people 39% of Canadians that vote Liberal are dumb.
Billy: That sounds reasonable to me. Can I be a conservative and separate too? I think the U.S. is way better.
Not having personally owned a car for around twenty-five years, ( I call those things ‘wheels for wetbacks’)- Stephen Harper’s proposal to permit public transpo pass receipts as a tax-write off is probably a good idea. (Perhaps you would prefer me to acquire an old clunker, park it in front of your house or office, and just leave the motor running until it runs out of gas?)
Morons!
Any tax cut in this country is a good tax cut!!!
Could not agree with you more aaaaa. How can they expect the rest of Canada to support a party whose supporters threaten to destroy this country and form their country if they don’t win an election? What makes these arrogant Albertans think they can just get up and leave to form their own country? We’ll fucking invade their little alienated ass and show’em bitches what Trudeaupia’s all about. Bring it.
Could not agree with you less aaaaa. How can they expect the rest of Canada to support a party whose supporters are too arrogant and stupid to vote a party that steals from us out of office? What makes these arrogant Ontarians think they can just keep on screwing the rest of us over, without being told to fuck off? We’ll fucking invade their little pretentious ass and show’em bitches what Ralphtopia’s all about. Bring it.
dave done write:
No, it’s not. If you want to give transit riders a break, or if you want to encourage the use of transit, reduce the price at the farebox. Why should residents of Middle of Nowhere, Alberta, have to subsidize transit riders in Toronto?
Just wondering.
Better yet, get rid of “public” transit and allow private companies to run routes. Public transit already cannot get me where I need to go when I need to be there, so I doubt that private transit routes could do any worse.
“Better yet, get rid of “public” transit and allow private companies to run routes. Public transit already cannot get me where I need to go when I need to be there, so I doubt that private transit routes could do any worse.”
Omigod, that would lead to two-tier transit!!! Only the rich could ride transit.
Wings? I go to Hooters for the breasts.
“Having a person like me as governor general of Canada will mean a lot, not only to Canadians, but all abroad.
“I think it will mean a lot for humanity.”
-GG Jean
Oh the humility! I may not know a lot, but I know you would never hear boastful words like these coming from Queen Elizabeth II.
Seriously she thinks ANYONE in the role of GG will have a huge impact on humanity?! The world through CBC-colored lenses.
Remember, we’re not separating, we’re kicking Ontario and Quebec out.
“What makes these arrogant Albertans think they can just get up and leave to form their own country? We’ll fucking invade their little alienated ass and show’em bitches what Trudeaupia’s all about. Bring it.”
Insert “Quebecers” for “Albertans & the Liberal Party policy platform for the last 30 years is on display.
What are you going to use to invade ?? You have gutted the military.
How ya gonna get to Alberta ?? We’ll cut off your frikkin oil supply so you can freeze your Trudeaupian assess off in winter.
How’s your electricity supply these days in Ontario ?? Maybe you should concentrate on solving your own Ontario home grown problems.
We don’t need you & your Liberal ideas.
Go away, take Quebec with you. There is nothing you have that we can’t make or get from trading with the US or oversees.
Have a nice life.
Why is it that as soon as someone says privatize everyone thinks two-tier? Can the government not put caps on what private companies charge?
Kate,
This posting is pure bait … having a bit of boring day are you?
Good fun,
As partners on this continent the Americans could never support Quebec separation because it would simply revert to a European foothold on this continent. The fact that the British have been here for 300 plus years has proven to be reletively benign. Not so for the French. The French President at the time was all but salivating a the prospect.
Should the West choose to separate it is an all together different ballgame. No European infulence and an all together pro American bias. That of course is a good thing. Western separation is very possible I believe. Politically it makes immanetly more sense from a continetal point of view than Quebec separation. The powers in Ottawa know this they also know that crying wolf in the case of Quebec works. How much money has been funnelled into Quebec. They aren’t going anywhere. Why would they. The welfare checks that Quebec has been getting for more than a generation ensures that. Hundreds of billions of dollars have been siphoned off in the name of Quebec. It is so bad there that they have essentially have no industry left. Their economy has been gutted in the name of Socialism. And why not, we keep signing the checks. But what happens when enough is enough and the checks stop.
Almost anything that this country can buy of value
has been purchased by the Libranos and sent to Quebec. That river that you cross into Quebec from Ottawa is the demarcation point. Federal government assets have been systematically moved from Anglo Canada to Franco Canada. The concentration of Canadian assets that are now in the hands of the French is amazing. Quietly as we debate the pro’s and cons of the politically correct way to run this country they move hard assets to Quebec. So my friends keep up the debate. When it is all over they will have stolen anything of hard value in this country and moved it to Quebec.
R done write:
Why should the government do so? Would you want your income capped by the government?
Yeah, I know that taxes sort of do that already, but would you be happy with the state telling you how much you can earn in a year? I’m surprised, really, that doctors put up with it.
When Brian C wrote —
— I believe that he was being amusingly facetious.
But if two-tier transit meant:
…then I’m all for it. Ain’t gonna happen, but I’d be all for it.
Harper’s proposed tax credit is just another subsidy. Instead, cut everyone’s taxes by the amount that goes to fund transit and charge the full cost at the farebox. Privatize it, and — heaven forbid! — allow some competition, and the fares will likely go down over time.
In theory, anyway.
it’s hard to tell the trolls in this thread!
fun post, Kate.
A Separatist is an Albertan that proudly displays an Alberta flag above the Canadian flag on the pole (if he even has a CDN flag displayed at all).
I am seeing more and more of this all the time.
Initially, I was surprised to see the percentage of the 18 – 29 yr old group in the west willing to investigate the opportunities in separation. But when one thinks about it, it is this age group that has the most to gain, and the time in which to gain it, in their favour. They are also the group which would proabably be willing to take more risks, so from those perspectives the numbers make sense.
As far as the other age groups go, if one were to hear/read and really digest the pro-separation arguments, it is truly a no-brainer. I can think of very few arguments from the other side that $9 – 12 B/yr would not solve (and still have money left over).
This thing is real, and all that is needed is a good leader to put more momentum in the movement.
I want an Alberta Nation, not because Ontarians and their paid lackeys won’t vote for Harper, but because they’re corrupt and want to build they’re dreams on the wreckage of mine.
I’ve had it with these unscrupulous commies. I couldn’t care less if the CPC ever forms a Canadian government. I want a future.
Kate,
Thanks. Glad you got a laugh. All the best.
Personally (and this is only my opinion and should not be considered the opinion of any of my fellow Albertans, and certainly not part of conservative policy that I know of)
AS far as Albeta separating from Canada — my first choice “A” is to elect a new government, that sincerely wants to keep Canada together and is willing to re-enstate honor and democracy to our collective lands. (well maybe this choice is Conservative policy)
Plan “B” (that failing) would be to kick out the Liberal Quebec and Ontario factions that honor crime and waste and manage to continually pit us against each other. My first choice to accomplish “B” would be by peaceful means. My second choice would be a good old third world country style take the parliment by force -coup.
And of course the last and least favoured choice would be for Alberta to seperate.
The only thing I know for sure — is something has to change, if there is going to be a country left to seperate from!!!
“A Separatist is an Albertan that proudly displays an Alberta flag above the Canadian flag on the pole.”
No we ONLY fly our Alberta flag – and we never thought to fly a Canadian flag in the past – displays of patriotism weren’t that important until we needed to protest!
What’s a Canadaian flag look like? .. is that the one with the dead leaf on it?
Oh, and for the moonbat/socialist/communists trying to spread there crap everywhere, there is a discussion about eliminating income tax in the new Republic of Alberta, totally. No Income Tax, are your ears smoking yet, are flames flying out of your nostrils. The discussion is to move to a straight consumption tax on everything purchased. Sin tax would still apply on alcohol and tobacco, BUT no Income Tax….. to easy for ya, not enough bureaucracy.. way smaller government… ..Are you melting yet…and……The publicity is on its way. The creation of the Project Alberta Institute thinktank should be announced shortly.
Have a nice friggin day to the individuals that caused us to see the light in Ont/PQ. We owe you all a debt of gratitude for only your constant theft, lack of ethics and democracy has enabled us to come together and tell y’all, very shortly, to take a hike.
Go Alberta! If only the Atlantic provinces could also see the light. They were pretty well-off until they were conned into confederation and their trading economy destroyed for the sake of Ontario and Quebec.
You want to be patriotic and protest at the same time? Fly the Red Ensign and the Alberta flag.
Why does Quebec need Transfer Payments from the Citizens of Alberta, Ontario and British Columbia?
– Quebec has a prosperous Aluminum and Asbestos Industry.
– It has a powerful Dairy Industry worth Billions which controls the Industry across Canada
– It has a lucrative Lumber, Fishing and Paper industry.
– Quebec Hydro is the wealthiest in N. America to which Chretien gave billions in susidies from sucker Provinces. After the great ice storm Quebec Hydro recieved subsidies from the other provinces to repair and rebuild its Hydro.
– Why are all the Head Offices of the Crown Corporations and of Martins Secret Foundations In Quebec?
– Quebec’s Shipbuilding Industry – like Bombardier – have received Billions in Subsidies paid for by the placid Canadian Sheep.
– Quebec holds all the Military Headquarters.
– Quebec has a flourishing Tourist Trade.
– Dozens of Museums have been built in that Prov.
– The Quebec Cultural Industry thrives on Fat Human Reources grants, as do all the Francophone communities around Canada.
So WHY is Quebec a HAVE-NOT province when it is supported by juicy TRANSFER PAYMENTS.
JUST WONDERING!!!!!!!!!
I’ll only let Alberta seperate if they let people like me, a British Columbian born and bred, join with them in their noble cause. (My mother was born in Saskatchewan but grew up in Alberta – does that count?)
Two Cents – why wouldn’t we let you in? … all people that want REAL freedom, democracy, the right to bare arms, property rights, an elected senate with a rural/urban balance, are welcome.
Only problem I see is if you don’t move before it happens, you’ll miss the party!
BC would be very useful to an independent Alberta. Ports access to the world, you wouldn’t want to through Thunder Bay or Montreal. BC and Alberta could have one time zone.
“Two Cents” from what I gather, there would be a 12-24 month “adjustment” period (allowing those wanting BACK into Canada, silly as that may sound, and those wanting out) prior to settlement. It will be a bit messy, and we all need to live with it.
But really, let me ask you this… (forgive me, Kate, for I’m about to sin)…
Think back on the absolute best sex you ever had. How “clinical” or “clean” was that? Really?
Good things are not always wrapped in sterile packages, and “you can’t get an omelette without breaking eggs” and all that rot.
Two tiered transit = double decker buses or another way of looking at it, two-teared transit = getting to the bus stop just in time to watch the doors close while the damn thing leaves without you…in January…anywhere in Canada (with the possible exceptions of Victoria and Vancouver).
Thots, you are one brave Albertan. You and I both think we in the west are way better off as one strong nation.
True, Albertans have been ripped off by the Martinites, but now that Libscammer frauds have been catalogued and will soon be neatly listed and numbered in the Gomery report, we can look forward to a clean-up.
If the West can look forward to fair treatment under Harper and the Conservative’s leadership, then we are all stronger as a whole Canadian Nation.
Remember, Albertans did not manufacture the gas and oil beneath our feet. They did however, explore for years using capital from the government and the rest of Canada.
They were able to do this in a safe and stable environment, without the worry of a fasciest Nazi take-over in the safety provided by men from all over Canada who lost their lives to provide the freedom we value today.
If Albertans did separate, they may come to resent the 12 foot pipelines carrying oil, gas and fresh water straight to Texas, without so much as a spigot in Calgary.
There are two sides to every coin. It’s best not to rush into anything. Do you remember there are thousands of industrial spies from China in our midst?
Do you recall about the brilliant speaker, [ a Canadian citizen with interests of China at heart], convincing government heads and industry CEOs to join in Mege-mergers with China and the big windfall bonuses to individuals who go along?
Do you suppose some of those CEOs would take those *Bribes* and scoot to the Turks and Cacoas and Barbados where other Libscammers have moved to?
Be aware and be alert. There are many other plots afoot besides the Jihadist threat.
If you live near a refinery, you could do us all a favour by asking about the security level in place. I would feel better about future gas prices if your question sharpens their security level.
73s TG
Tony,
Just to clarify some of the misconception presented in your post. Trudeau and Lalonde (those Fiberals of the 1970s & 1980s) came close to nationalizing the oil and gas industry during OPEC crises I & II — it’s in the cabinet records. They were prevented from doing so all at once because they knew it would create too much controversy, so they employed a gradual strategy instead.
Also, the development of Alberta’s oil and gas industry, because it is a provincial responsibility, was a result of the philosophy of “orderly development” of the consecutive Manning regimes, rather than government funding. Actually, the biggest complaint of the industry during the initial development period, 1947 to 1968 was that it was nearly impossible to get the eastern Canadian banks (ROC) to fund exploration and development. As a result, Canadian companies had to get American partners and American financing, which led to the cries in the 1970s that the industry was dominated by the Americans and had to be taken over by Canadians. Governments contributed very little in this period except for legislative and regulatory guidelines. If you count the pipelines in the 1950s that were given loans by the federal government then that would be federal assistance, but those loans were repaid with interest, so hardly the same kind of thing you’re talking about.
Right now, a large percentage, if not most, of Alberta’s oil and gas goes to the U.S., so if Alberta separated things would hardly change. It is also unlikely that Alberta would suddenly start exporting water as the south of the province needs all it can get.
Planning for separation requires a great deal of consideration, and it is sure to be messy. But it is coming to the point where it’s worth the risk rather than staying in a confederation that is irredeemably corrupt and no longer shares the same values of a majority of the province’s population.
Duke wrote:
“Kate, This posting is pure bait … having a bit of boring day are you? Good fun,”
Duke was spot on I suspect.
So hell, here goes:
Separatists are always ipso facto political extremists.
Separatists who are prepared to employ extralegal means to achieve their ends are treasonous extremists.
As Springfield’s news anchor Kent Brockman would say, “that’s my two cents, anyway.”
“Separatists are always ipso facto political extremists”
Yikes – 40% of Albertans and somewhere dangerously close to 50 percent of Quebecers are now politcal extremists!!! The question is what exactly does this say about the national government? Separation is only an issue due to their true incompetance.
Tony – I think the west has given up on fair treatment from Harper – first he’s not likely to win anything but a minority government, second he’s already shown himself to be at “me too” poliltician – just following the Lib/NDP spending patterns. Most of us have lost the faith. We’re looking for a better light at the end of the tunnel and are willing to suffer the “messy stuff” for it.
As Lickmuffin correctly realized, I was completely joking about ‘two-tier transit’. Sorry, I thought the joke was obvious.
TonyGuitar, you must be joking as well.
“Libscammer frauds have been catalogued and will soon be neatly listed and numbered in the Gomery report, we can look forward to a clean-up”.
The limitations of the Gomery inquiry are such that blame cannot be assigned to an individual or a group. As for a cleanup, the financial mismanagement of the feds was indicated by the former AG Denis Desautel who stated “Government programs are often rated according to the amount of money spent and not the results they create”. There is no measurement of the effects of spending on programs except perhaps by the Auditor General but she has no direct authority over the actual spending. These statements were made before Sheila Fraser and the current government is worse if anything than 10 years ago.
So there are thousands of industrial Chinese spies in our midst? We may not like the Chinese government but they are free to invest. I would think that any Chinese takeover would experience the same problems as happened with Unocal however.
As much as I don’t think separation is the answer, Alberta would have been a fantastic state. Texas, Alaska, and Alberta would have been great allies in the U.S. Companies in Calgary work frequently with couterparts in Houston and the business relationships are constructive.
“second he’s already shown himself to be at “me too” poliltician”
Yeah, that was rather disgusting to watch.
TonyG sez: “Remember, Albertans did not manufacture the gas and oil beneath our feet. They did however, explore for years using capital from the government and the rest of Canada.”
TonyG, your ignorance of Alberta history knows no bounds. Beneath ‘Our’ feet, TonyG? I don’t think you’re a westerner. The resources belong to the people of the province. What’s this ‘OUR’ kemosabe? The MANUFACTURE part speaks for itself.
Just to be clear, western energy resources were developed with largely American capital.
Thanks to the suggestion by Candace, I’m still thinking about the best sex I ever had…..All else seems rather unimportant suddenly…
Hey, mini-point here that I hadn’t seen addressed elsewhere –
We all know that, what, 30-50% of young Saskatchewaners are living and working in Alberta, since we have jobs available here. (Check out the license plates in my neighborhood if you don’t believe me.) Usually these folks want to work, make money, and retire back to the socialist paradise. There’s no way to separate those respondents from the “Alberta” Albertans, but it does add an interesting twist to how the Sask response might have turned out if their get-up-and-go young people were actually at home, dontcha think? Well, I do.
BTW, when I moved here a year ago, just after my marriage, I thought separation sounded ridiculous. And nobody talked about it. But now it seems very reasonable, given how corrupt the gov’t is, and people are starting to talk about it in normal conversation – here in Redmonton! I can only imagine what it’s like in *Calgary*! I predict that 25 yrs from now (maybe only 10) Ontario and Quebec will still be locked in the same old Upper/Lower Canada thing, and Alberta, BC, and perhaps Sask and Manitoba will have moved on into a new confederation. It’s not like anyone in Toronto, Ottawa, or Montreal is really going to *care* . . . (though they will miss the money, once it’s gone)
Sheila and Meg gave you some reasonable reasons for Western Independance Tony G. I have read many of your posts and I am just wondering: What is so sacred to you about the status quo? Do you really think that it is selfish for Western Canadians to want to form an Independant nation? How many years of ‘kow towing’ to an opressive regime are necessary for a people to get a piece of the real action? Who wants to be a part of the corruption action that is the real action in this country? I am interested in your respose as I do not detect a Liberano/NDp sleeze note in your posts.
CanRev, Thank you for the debate and the filling in of detail. You state that the Government did contribute to capital costs.
All of Canada helped with pipelines.
Project funding being financed by U.S. investors and the U.S. being the major consumer of Alberta oil production are givens. Nothing new there.
It is a world market after all. Most of our B.C. log production goes to the USA, but it does not follow that we should become a state.
I am aware that fresh water in Alberta is mostly in the distant north and that both Alberta and Sask. need much more water in the south. Another pipline project?
Joining the USA would land Alberta in a less than perfect pot, unless you could get iron-clad exemptions from the Multi-Trillions of U.S. debt.
The confederation is not hopelessly currupt, but is is temporatily in a corrupt state and Canadians are certainly able to correct things.
This last eight year Libscammer mess is only a short term disgrace in the eyes of history.
The goal now is to get back to the solid Country we once were. 73s TG
Tony, the “eight year Libscammer mess” is a little more than that… it has been going on for my entire lifetime (b 1968).
Tony – How can you say “The confederation is not hopelessly currupt, but is is temporatily in a corrupt state and Canadians are certainly able to correct things.”
The bribing of Quebec has merely reached new lows, its been going on my whole life and I’m over 40! Exactly how long are we supposed accept this “temporary” condition. Income tax when it was first devised was “temporary”. Canadians, esp. those living in the centre of the universe are not willing to change things.
Perhaps you are right – we should be careful what we wish for …. better the devil you know … apply any other cliche you like …
Excellent thread! Now my plan is to turn off the oil and gas at the Manitoba border and install an elbow so all that energy flows SOUTH. Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba forever. OK BC, you too, if you lay off the weed and get a stable government. T’will be cozy here. Ontario and Quebec deserve each other. The day is coming!
Tony, you seem obsessed with the whole pipeline issue, like somehow western Canada should be forever indebted to the ROC for them. I spoke to a 35 year veteran of the oilpatch and quizzed him on pipelines. I asked him just who pays for these pipelines? The company building them apparently covers the cost and the oil companies wishing access to those pipelines in order to ship their product must pay a user fee. Staying on this topic you give me the impression that you believe only western Canadians, mainly Albertan’s benefit from these pipelines when in reality all Canadians benefit. Could you imagine what we would be paying for gas if tank trucks had to go to each and every oil facility, load the product, deliver it to the refinery and turn around and truck it all throughout Canada. If you think for one moment that the Federal Gov’t provided repayable loans to oil companies in the 1950’s to constuct pipelines for the benefit of Alberta’s oil and gas industry, you are sadly mistaken. They assisted in the construction of those pipelines only to provided affordable gas to Eastern Canada.
Annette, I’m not obsessed with anything much except maybe music and the fun of debate.
It is human nature, my dear, to assist eagerly when there are great benefits to be gained.
The crux of the question is how Alberta will fare when she stands alone and landlocked with both Canada and the USA devising ways to extract advantage in endless deals that will have to be made.
Canada is only a baby nation with a long way to go. There are blemishes, but teens get blemishes too. Those kids who cut and run seem to end up in bad condition.
Alberta with it’s wealth and power would be wise to learn how to exercise that power to build positive gains within Canada.
Americans are ruthless and expert dealmakers and gaining advantage there will be nothing short of a miracle.
Anyhow, it’s late here on Vancouver Island so 73s for now. TG
“jypsy ontario”:
“Quebec holds all the Military Headquarters.”
Not true at all. All valid arguments about Liberal largesse in that province aside, Quebec’s share of military bases and HQs is actually akin to (wait for it) – Alberta’s!
There’s an army base in Quebec which houses a brigade (Valcartier).
There’s an army base in Alberta which houses a brigade (Edmonton).
There’s an air base in Quebec that houses a couple of fighter squadrons (Bagotville).
There’s an air base in Alberta that houses a couple of fighter squadrons (Cold Lake) – and a huge air weapons range as well.
Quebec has a hodge-podge of training and defence research establishments (St-Jean, Valcartier).
Alberta has a hodge-podge of training and defence research establishments (Cold Lake, Wainwright, Suffield).
Quebec is home to one significant military HQ above and beyond the brigade HQ in Valcartier and the wing HQ in Bagotville: an army area HQ in Montreal.
Alberta is home to one significant military HQ above and beyond the brigade HQ in Edmonton and the wing HQ in Cold Lake: an army area HQ in Edmonton.
Oh yeah, Quebec City is home to the Naval Reserve HQ – a clear case of “pork-barrelling” – but an insignificant one as this has a tiny staff and its closure would have no impact on Quebec.
It does look like Alberta, with less than half the population of Quebec, has about the same representation in terms of bases and regular military personnel.
Not bad.
Oh, my, the litle pansy boys have learned to say “treason” and “traitor”! What larks!
Now, why should I hesitate to be a traitor or to indulge in treason to my little heart’s content? Is one of you little wimps going to do something about it? Yeah, right.
Since you ask, I think every homosexual is by definition a traitor and should face the death penalty. See? Anybody can play this game. Of course, I could actually decide to start executing homosexuals any time, and it would actually happen. Whereas we could bust up your worthless kleptopia and know that there would never, ever, be any consequences from the likes of you, except blubbering and whining.
JJM: Glad you corrected me on that. I am happy that Alberta has some military bases and if Quebec goes their own way they won’t hightail out of here with everything. Don’t know just how much is left in Ont. they just closed Trenton.