Former Conservative prime minister Stephen Harper cautioned against the prospect of Alberta separation in a column Friday, writing that even voting just to “send a message” would represent a fraught approach.
Former Conservative prime minister Stephen Harper cautioned against the prospect of Alberta separation in a column Friday, writing that even voting just to “send a message” would represent a fraught approach.
Waitasec. When did he explicitly advocate for separation? He advocated for more autonomy, which is not unprecedented (see also: Quebec), but I’ve always seen him as pushing for more freedom within confederation, not freedom from confederation. Happy to be corrected.
That’s not what I was referring to.
He stored the fires of western alienation and anger at Ottawa.
Eh. I’d say he had help. Trudeau senior wasn’t exactly Alberta’s friend. Not to mention the 90’s were all about Quebec.
You have to do a lot more gymnastics to put the blame of the current state of Alberta separatism on those two things than Stephen Harper’s actions and effect on conservatives across the country.
He brought the Reform Party into the Conservatives. That’s why the crazies seem so loud nowadays.
He also lead the IDU and works for the UCP controlling the thing he hates most since he was young: Alberta pension.
And he did so because they had no possibility of remaining a relevant party without servicing their crazies a little more, just like Reagan did and Bush escalated, bringing us this.
Or Jason Kenney with the Wildrose.
I mean, sure. But that’s not exactly advocating for Alberta separation. And if memory serves, a guy named Peter won the PC leadership and then promptly folded like a cheap shirt.