{"id":77534,"date":"2019-11-17T17:47:35","date_gmt":"2019-11-17T22:47:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/huntsville.dopperonline.ca\/?p=77534"},"modified":"2019-11-17T18:36:43","modified_gmt":"2019-11-17T23:36:43","slug":"listen-up-why-dont-we-pay-more-attention-to-national-unity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/doppleronline.ca\/huntsville\/listen-up-why-dont-we-pay-more-attention-to-national-unity\/","title":{"rendered":"Listen Up! Why don\u2019t we pay more attention to national unity?"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Hugh Mackenzie
Huntsville Doppler<\/p><\/div>\n

One of the most important issues that arose from the recent federal election is the stark recognition of how seriously divided Canada is. I cannot remember a time when the divisions both in the east and the west were so acute, and combined, so potentially dangerous. To simply shrug this off as something that happens from time to time would be a mistake. To take it seriously, as it must be, the federal government and parliament must be prepared to tackle and resolve some serious issues.<\/p>\n

In the west, Saskatchewan and Alberta have every reason to feel isolated and ignored. In this country, we live in a resource-rich environment, which is a major reason why Canada is such a prosperous country. And yet, in provinces where oil is a major part of their economy, federal policy and procrastination, along with a reduction in global oil prices, have resulted in a severe downturn in their economy.<\/p>\n

While concerns about global climate change are genuine and need to be addressed, so are more immediate issues such as economic survival and a reasonable standard of living. Until there is a sufficient base of effective green energy alternatives to meet market needs in Canada and beyond, in a manner that will replace jobs lost in the fossil fuel sector, then oil products still need to be produced and there needs to be a way to get them to market.<\/p>\n

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The federal government needs to act. They have dithered for years about building a pipeline that allows Canadian oil to get to tidewater. They must dither no more. Prime Minister Trudeau can stack his cabinet, if he chooses to, with non-elected western representatives, but that will not address the real-life concerns of people who live in Saskatchewan and Alberta. The first steps in addressing these concerns is a pipeline. Plain and simple. If a timely and concrete plan for this to happen is not contained in the government\u2019s throne speech later this week, it will be a clear signal to many Western Canadians that Ottawa really doesn\u2019t give a damn about them.<\/p>\n

Of course, some, not all, indigenous communities and all of the left-wing political parties that Mr. Trudeau, with a minority government, will need to hold on to power will oppose any initiative to build a pipeline. Too bad. Federal governments are elected to address the needs and priorities of all Canadians, not just some of them. The Conservatives will support an oil pipeline in Western Canada, so the Trudeau government has an ability to get it done and get it done quickly, if it really wants to.<\/p>\n

The Bloc Qu\u00e9b\u00e9cois has been very clear recently that they have no sympathy with the plight of some western provinces. In fact, they thumb their nose at it. While Qu\u00e9bec runs a surplus, they happily accept hundreds of millions of dollars in equalization payments from Alberta. Saskatchewan is in a similar position. Hardly seems fair does it?<\/p>\n

Then there is Jagmeet Singh, leader of the federal NDP who, last week, effectively called some western provinces crybabies for daring to complain about their treatment by Ottawa. Following both of these incidents, not a peep out of the Prime Minister. No wonder some westerners feel alienated.<\/p>\n

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It also does not help Canadian unity that the Bloc Qu\u00e9b\u00e9cois, the third-largest party in parliament, continues to strut their stuff. Yves-Fran\u00e7ois Blanchet, their leader, makes no bones about it. He and his party are in the House of Commons for only one reason and that is to represent what they believe to be in the interests of Qu\u00e9bec alone, and they don\u2019t give a damn about anyone else in Canada. He refers to Qu\u00e9bec as a \u201cnation\u201d and while he says that his party is not about separation from Canada, his statements, policies and strategies suggest otherwise.<\/p>\n

As things stand today, we have a seriously fractured country where different standards and different priorities and unequal financial resources exist in various regions of Canada. We are at the crossroads of Canadian unity.<\/p>\n

Our new minority government has its work cut out for them. If they really care, if they can put country above self, here are some of the issues they should address to improve national unity before it is too late. They have at least two years to get it done or to at least to get the ball rolling.<\/p>\n