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RED DEER, ALTA. — Maxime Bernier warned on Saturday that Alberta should not follow the example of Quebec in attempting to use separation as a threat to wrest more powers and money from the federal government. The strategy, he argued, has only led to more fractiousness and unhappiness in his home province of Quebec.
In a speech delivered in Red Deer, Alta. at a “Freedom Talk” conference about meeting the challenge of Alberta separatism, the leader of the People’s Party of Canada and former Conservative leadership contender told Albertans their first choice should always be to “fix Canada.”
“You will likely find yourself in a very negative political dynamic. One based on failed attempts to blackmail Ottawa, internal divisions, and resentment against the rest of the country,” Bernier said. “Just like in Quebec.”
The PPC leader — who lost his seat in Parliament in the October federal election — delivered a lunchtime address on the problems of Confederation and what is to be done about them. The problem, he believes, is one of distorted federalism, caused by overlarge government.
“It creates tensions and even more divisions,” Bernier declared.
Saturday’s speech was something of a return to form for Bernier, who broke away from the Conservatives last year, in that it was a paean to small government and libertarian identity, the same ideals he has said he thinks the Tories have abandoned.
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See Also:
(1) Blanchet’s Alberta-bashing based on ignorance
