Is Canada Really United?

There are warning signs that a couple of provinces may be thinking of going their own way, and leaving the country. Admittedly, that will leave a hole in the middle of the map should they succeed in acceding. But it’s not a new problem. Quebec has sought independence from Canada since the very beginning of the British North America Act (and the title of that Act is a hint as to why) but every time there’s a referendum, the No vote wins.

This time, Alberta seems to be more inclined to vote Yes. But, why? Because they are the fossil fuel energy sector of the country, they feel that the Liberal agenda is to shut them down, permanently.

One compromise would be to build a cross-country pipeline (with Ontario steel, Doug Ford reminds us). Quebec, on the other hand, is not inclined to let a pipeline cross their boundaries. However, the Bloc Quebecois have a diminished role in the latest Canadian Parliament, so I think this will eventually be a non-issue for Quebec, should the Canadian Government decide to push ahead with the idea.

As always, there are special interest groups that will do their damnedest to disrupt anything that might harm the environment, and the Liberal agenda of trying to be carbon neutral will make for another very difficult tightrope walk.

So, literally, no one will win and everyone will lose. (And then there’s the U.S.A.)