Why Alberta Is Likely The Next Quebec.

This federation is, in essence, a de facto unitary state where the federal center truly cares only about what affects Ontario's economy. That's 2026 Canada. The federal constituency and provincial center have no genuine interest in what other regions want.  Proof of that came from English Canada, which happily derailed both Meech Lake and Charlottetown -- and then everyone went back to sleep, having given Quebec the finger. And to my great surprise, separatism did not tick up in the intervening years in this province.

So, the watchword for Alberta is the following: your requests for at least more say regarding national resources decisions, increased representation in Parliament, both in the House and Senate and other things on the AB shopping list are likely dead on arrival. The rest of Canada will treat Alberta with the same indifference and disdain that we in Quebec got during the Mulroney years, as constitutional reform went down the drain. 

Unlike a plurality of Canadians, I'm firmly in the worried camp. Quebecers folded when it came to pursuing sovereignty because they silently chose Canadian federalism, seemingly as the lesser of two evils. Not so sure that Albertans will reach the same conclusion if push comes to shove regarding provincial aspirations both at home and in Ottawa. 

If projections are accurate, thirty to thirty-five percent of Albertans are already in favour of independence; it would perhaps be advisable for negotiators not to follow the model imposed on Quebec. People largely take this country for granted. They shouldn't. 

Canadian indifference and an unjust distribution of powers are the main reasons why Canadian unity remains threatened to this very day. Never say never. Quebec choked in the wake of its constitutional humiliation. Doubt that Albertans will do the same if the Carney Liberals don't honour their commitments. Canada and its constituent parts broke their word last time. Don't be surprised if it happens again, but with dramatically different results. An eventual invitation from Trump to join the United States is in the offing. It will arrive once the end result of an actual referendum is known. Albertans finally have all the cards when it comes to their constitutional, political, and collective destiny. Address Alberta's grievances with alacrity, unlike what happened with Quebec, and preferably do it yesterday. Will Canada rise to the occasion? If the past is prologue, I seriously doubt it.