Daily Hive is a Canadian-born online news source, established in 2008, that creates compelling, hyperlocal content. When I lived there for a year, I thought it was superior to southern Ontario (more specifically, Windsor) in many ways. The oil price crash that continues to weigh on the economy was no politicians fault. In his failed bid for the leadership of the Alberta Progressive Conservatives, MLA Richard Starke said the province had to stop offering charity to the rest of the country when it had fiscal problems at home. The latter is perhaps worse, though there is recent precedent for it. An Albertan looking at equalization with the glass half-full might say the provinces wealth, relative to the rest of Canada, means its too rich to need help and thats a good thing. This is typically expressed by income percentile, and those at the very top pay by far the most, per person. The myth of the anti-Alberta Liberal - Canada's National Observer Click here for a version that should work with your mobile device.). It feels too futilelike trying to explain an emotion (and a not-always-rational one, as is the way with emotions)to people who dont want to hear it. They look ugly. Much ire is directed at Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The Albertans truly believe that Quebec is the succubus province of the entire country. I have only a few observations. Here's total per capita federal transfers to prov govts for 2016/17. Eventually, the questions wend their way to separation. Whether it's the place you grew up or a place you simply love to visit, every Canadian definitely plays favourites. Its a sign of open disrespecteven war, in some places. A similar kinship was seen between the Atlantic Province, though Alberta was also in the mix as one of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundlands favourite. You are either with Alberta or you're against it. Just more than one-third of all Canadians believe Alberta gives more than they get to Confederation, while 16 per cent believe Saskatchewan does, too, followed by Atlantic Canada and Ontario, tied at 15 per cent. But I have a perspective and thoughts about where the frustration and anger come from that was formed from my time in Calgary, and by a brother-in-law in Red Deer who never misses a chance to remind me how important the oil and gas industry is to Ontario's economy. Ive seen a version of this play out in greater or lesser form again and again in reporting from Alberta. There is a perception in the rest of Canada, outside of Quebec, that Quebecers are not close, are not interested, are not engaged, with the rest of the country.. Chief among them is Trudeau's Senate policy, which is founded upon nonpartisanship in the upper chamber, with no Liberal Senate caucus and no senators in the cabinet. Albertans have a way of adopting Central Canadians as "True Albertans" and ignoring and shaming those actually born and raised in Alberta as "not real Albertan". No doubt some attendees were shocked by the sight of an upside down flag at the front of the room. Perhaps the bigger issue with the program, however, is a rule established in 2009 by the Harper government, of which Kenney was a senior minister that links the growth rate of the transfer to nominal GDP. Forty years and another Trudeau later, Albertans feel they're still on the outside looking in at a moment when their future is under siege. Alberta alone is still Alberta landlocked, and the solution won't be south of the border, because pipeline politics can be as tangled there as they are here. As if he needed the boost. Unlimited online access to National Post and 15 news sites with one account. This isn't necessarily shocking, considering Quebec's Premier Franois Legault publicly stated "no social acceptance for a pipeline that would pass through Quebec territory." British Columbia, on the other hand, is the odd one out in the western clique: just 21 per cent of people in other western provinces say B.C. Source:National Post,Angus Reid Institute. Nefarious far-right conspiracies born in the dark heart of oil country, though never quite proven, are assumed. Still, the Atlantic provinces absent Prince Edward Island because the sample size was too small consider each other friends. Turning that question on its head saw respondents pointing out the province that they felt was giving more than it got by being a part of Canada. And thirdly, I would say we have allies across Canada. If you are a Home delivery print subscriber, unlimited online access is. All facts for votersto consider, as another debate over income tax looms. Most people in Quebec are rather indifferent about the people in the rest of Canada. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. The characature of "Albertan" means more to people here than the truth. Western Diversification is mandated to support economic diversification but also acts as an important advocate for regional interests in Ottawa, both within the bureaucracy and, usually, through a responsible minister at the cabinet table. When you watch the . In Alberta, 56% of respondents agreed with the statement, "Western Canada gets so few benefits from being part of Canada that they might as well go it on their own," up 28 points from 2010 . Unlike people in the rest of the country, who were subject to progressively higher tax rates that increased with income, Albertans paid the same rate a flat 10 per cent regardless of how much money they made. Alberta's income tax 'advantage' exists for the poor and the rich, but We arrived in Calgary well after the devastation of the National Energy Program, but we heard our friends' stories of lost jobs, lost houses and lives lost to suicide. Further, Kenney went on to explain the crucial problem with the separtist argument. I can't stand Harper. These richest Albertans also pay alarger share of the total income taxes collected in Alberta, compared to the wealthiest people in other parts of the country. Alberta calls Ontario the "center of the universe" then proceeds to claim its the entire driver of the Canadian . Me: Forget about it. We have enabled email notificationsyou will now receive an email if you receive a reply to your comment, there is an update to a comment thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. He is a senior fellow with the, Graham Centre for Contemporary International History, Trinity College, University of Toronto. The NDP will never look after us. An earlier version of this story didn't factor in the abatement on federal taxes that Quebec income-tax filers receive. Box 500 Station A Toronto, ON Canada, M5W 1E6. At that point, Albertans pay about $1,200 more in provincial income tax than their neighbours to the west. Ive just noticed that Albertans (online and even when you talk to them in RL), they seem to hate Qubec alot and will also blame a lot of things on Qubec. Read more about cookies here. Whether its on here, or r/Canada, or r/BritishColumbia or any other non-Albertan sub. You can see how it all breaks down in the chart below. Get email updates from your favourite authors. Confederation is hopelessly broken. Every Canadian Province Agrees That They Hate Quebec, seems to have found the answer to Canada's most disliked province, Canada's Provinces Were Just Ranked From Best To Worst & One Got Serious Flak, Alberta Was Ranked Canada's 2nd Least Favourite Province & Its People Are The Problem, These 9 Maps Divide Canada Differently Including By Who Hates Toronto, Ontario Is One Of The Only Provinces That Feels Respected By Other Canadians, I Live In One Of Canada's Least Favourite Provinces & Here's Why It Doesn't Deserve The Hate, A Surprising Amount Of Albertans Want To Separate From Canada, Canadians Revealed Which Countries Give Them Bad Vibes & 2 Spots Are 'Clearly At The Bottom'. The reason for the negative reviews about Quebec according to the poll is due to an average of only 5% of Canadians believing that the province is "close with or friendly" to the province they reside in. But it may also provide a pressure valve for separtist sentiment. Flipping the tables found BC and Alberta actually at odds, with respondents seeing each the other province as less close or friendly towards their own. Why would we give them what they want?. (Of those, about 57,000 earned more than $250,000.). Alberta, they explain, just should have voted for a Liberal party that hates it. Another interesting discovery from the survey was what appears to be Alberta taking the reigns as the most resentful province in the country. Or: If they need revenue, why don't they have a sales tax? We have enabled email notificationsyou will now receive an email if you receive a reply to your comment, there is an update to a comment thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. The oil crash of 2014 and subsequent economic decline becomes a manifestation of divine justice. and. Ontarians aren't fond of anyone; Alberta is the province most-liked by Ontarians, but only 28 per cent of them hold that affection; and 40 per cent of Ontarians don't consider any other province. The rally began with a presentation that heavily implied that Canada is on the verge of a communist takeover; that the environmental movement is a front for a communist plot to establish some kind of one-world government. The West wants out.. Rather it seems like a chain of "unrequited love in different parts of the country" according to Shachi Kurl, the executive director of the Angus Reid Institute. How do you get Justin Trudeau to say Alberta?Quit paying equalization. Can it be fixed? Payments from the federal government to have-not provinces are based on their fiscal capacity, but wealthier provinces receive nothing. Alberta has subsidized Quebec for decades. Ginned up, the crowd chants: The West wants out. Note: This article has been corrected to reflect that Pierre Trudeau appointed multiple senators from the West to his cabinet. We simply dont want our little island ruined by the same thing that is going on in the rest of Canada. Kenney claims Equalization has become unfair to Alberta. It's the place for possibilities,amarketplace of ideas. It isnt calling for a values test for new immigrants.