It is clear that sometimes there are many Canadians in Ontario and Quebec who underestimate the level of frustration and growing anger in western Canada.
And in response to the results of the federal elections, Alberta Prime Minister Jason Kenney announced that his government will create a panel to analyze ideas to reform Alberta’s role in Canada. He also notified the federal government that his government will give him two years to advance the expansion of the Trans Mountain pipeline and draft bills such as C-69, which created more impediments and uncertainty for large infrastructure projects, including pipelines.
It should be noted that Kenney did not indicate what the ramification of inaction would be and in fact, he was clearly expressing the frustration felt by many Albertans (and Saskatchewanians).
Justified Discomfort
It is essential to mention that Alberta sends more than $ 20 billion in federal taxes to Ottawa than it receives in federal expenses. Simply put, it is $ 20 billion annually that Albertans provide to help keep taxes lower and fund public services in all provinces, including British Columbia and Quebec, that have blocked the pipes needed to transport resources. from Alberta to the markets. Therefore, it could be said that it is clear that his inconveniences are justified.
Even so, as mentioned earlier, too many well-intentioned Canadians in Ontario and Quebec underestimate the level of frustration and increasing anger in western Canada in general and particularly in Alberta. What is even more worrying is that many acts as if the province could do little or nothing to impose itself against Ottawa. This is a misunderstanding of the people of Alberta, and a misunderstanding of the policy levers at their disposal.
Now, it is considered that the most important thing is that Alberta must do everything in its power to make it the most attractive jurisdiction for entrepreneurship and investment in Canada and, in fact, in North America. It must enact a more aggressive tax reduction plan than is currently contemplated, including an integrated personal and commercial tax rate of six percent, along with the elimination of capital gains tax from the province.
Source: Niels Veldhuis and Jason Clemens | National Post
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