Just for you Chuck

[AlbertaFarmer5]

You can thank our little Mennonite from Swift Current for Not getting that changed. When Brad Wall Became Premier the Previous Govt Under Lorne Calvert had a Court Challenge going against Harper since he had Backed Out of changing the Equalization formula that would take natural resources Out of the formula.
Harper Told Bradley to drop the case ,and he did. Now 12 year later thats all the sask party and UCP talk about...changing Equalization

So I guess the Conservatives Only Want to change Equalization if the Liberals are in power, if they’re in power all is good

Very well stated. It makes no difference which party is in power, they must cater to central and eastern Canada, one party can take western Canadian votes for granted, and one has no chance of western votes, so neither has any interest in western issues. One pays lip service, and one is openly hostile, but the net result is the same.

All of the liberal aplogists who keep claiming western separatism is somehow sour g****s due to who won the election fail to understand that it is not a partisan issue. This is the inevitable outcome regardless of who is in power in the rest of Canada.

[dmlfarmer]

Very well stated. It makes no difference which party is in power, they must cater to central and eastern Canada, one party can take western Canadian votes for granted, and one has no chance of western votes, so neither has any interest in western issues. One pays lip service, and one is openly hostile, but the net result is the same.

All of the liberal aplogists who keep claiming western separatism is somehow sour g****s due to who won the election fail to understand that it is not a partisan issue. This is the inevitable outcome regardless of who is in power in the rest of Canada.

The last election was not simply and east/west split. Rather it was rural/urban. Ontario farm country rejected Liberals just as heartily as western farmers. Quebec rural ridings went Bloc instead of Cons in their rejection of Liberals.
And western separation will not change this dynamic. The closest Liberals came to winning a seat in Alberta was in oil dependent Calgary. Do you really think "Redmonton" voters are going to care about rural concerns after separation? Of course not, they just gained a whole lot more power. Instead of Toronto/Montreal running the show it will now be Edmonton and Calgary and Winnipeg. And if BC is part of your separation dream, Vancouver and lower mainland voters will have the most power. Rural Canada has lost its political power simply because we do not have the numbers and never will, even if separation of the west happens.

[jazz]

Instead of Toronto/Montreal running the show it will now be Edmonton and Calgary and Winnipeg. And if BC is part of your separation dream, Vancouver and lower mainland voters will have the most power. Rural Canada has lost its political power simply because we do not have the numbers and never will, even if separation of the west happens.

DML, even if those cities turn part red or orange in a new state, the rural would have a much better balanced representation against it versus Toronto and Montreal. When issues are closer to their power base they get dealt with. Everyone in Calgary knows what a pump jack or canola field is. Try that in Montreal.

[Guest]

yes , but will be a while lot less leaches living off the working folks
and maybe western cities will appreciate it just a tiny bit , not like that ignorant son of a bitch in keebek

[Guest]

and why doesn't 22 minutes do a segment on keebek separatists , not just alberta ???
ignorant assholes

[dmlfarmer]

yes , but will be a while lot less leaches living off the working folks
and maybe western cities will appreciate it just a tiny bit , not like that ignorant son of a bitch in keebek

And there will be a lot less working folks to pay for the same services which people will still expect. Furthermore, the west will now need more leeches of their own to do things which are currently done down east. Unless you think people will not expect the same services they get now. I think they will expect even more - or why else separate if there is no gain.

[dmlfarmer]

DML, even if those cities turn part red or orange in a new state, the rural would have a much better balanced representation against it versus Toronto and Montreal. When issues are closer to their power base they get dealt with. Everyone in Calgary knows what a pump jack or canola field is. Try that in Montreal.

You are dreaming if you think everyone in Calgary knows agriculture. Go into any classroom and you will be shocked how little students know about where their food comes from. And as long as there is rep by population, there will never be balanced representation between rural and urban voters.

[furrowtickler]

And there will be a lot less working folks to pay for the same services which people will still expect. Furthermore, the west will now need more leeches of their own to do things which are currently done down east. Unless you think people will not expect the same services they get now. I think they will expect even more - or why else separate if there is no gain.

What services would that be ???

[chuckChuck]

Many rural kids are now like urban kids. Most of their free time is spent on phones looking at videos, games and various social media. Rural culture is slowly changing and disappearing as new generations take over.

[dmlfarmer]

What services would that be ???

well, lets start with the ones that will affect ag. all trade agreements for commodities would have to be renegotiated. Because Europe agreed to buy ag commodities from Canada does not mean that agreement will be in effect with the Republic of Redneckia. Registration of Chemicals and establishment of western MRls will require a whole new bureaucracy as PMRA would no longer represent Canada. We would need to set up our own trade offices around the world to sell commodities that are currently manned and paid for by all Canadians. We would need a new currency or would end up like the Europeans where countries have no control over their own finances. Federal subsidies currently paid to western producers out of general revenues would have to come from fewer taxpayers including ag invest, crop insurance, etc. And speaking of taxes, just think of the cost of having to set up a new tax department/pension etc.

Indigenous affairs is a federal cost which a separate west would have full responsibility for and on a per capita basis the costs for western Canada would go up given there are few reserves in downtown Toronto or Montreal. I am sure indigenous peoples would have the same if not more demands of service.

And even if Canada gave us our share of the military equipment, we would still need additional personal and basis as the prairie provinces are under represented in a defensive capacity.

Separation is comparable to divorce in that there are costs of the action, plus costs for both parties go up as things that were once shared now have to be duplicated. Yes, some costs may go down but others will go up and things we are not paying for now, like trade offices, will become real expenses