Alberta/Quebec - Opposite Twins

One of the advantages/disadvantages of living alone is that I have lots of time to have conversations with myself. While it does mean that I have a hard time staying on topic - at least I do not get interrupted by anyone! On occasion, a thought pops into my head - one that I don't have a clue how it got there or evolved - it is just there. At some point this week, as I was wandering down the overly crowded hallways of my mind - I thought " what would happen if Alberta and Quebec were next to each other - as opposed to being separated by a thousand or so miles and three provinces"? I wonder what kind of conversations they would be having?

Imagine - the province that gives the most towards the federal equalization program and the province that receives the most living side by side. I wonder if Quebec would be a bit more flexible in allowing Alberta's oil to pass over (or at least under) their territory if they were next door to those who would be giving them some of that money? I wonder what sort of conversations they would have about their collective alienation from the rest of Canada or their desires to be independent of all the silly rules and expectations of being part of a confederation? I wonder how well they would share - or rather what Quebec would share with Alberta? It's culture?

In Alberta, you have a province that while it appears to wear with some pride the label of being redneck through and though, in my experience many of the residents of that province are more accepting of diversity than others. On the other hand, Quebec may like to portray itself as cultured and even sophisticated, has in the past few months demonstrated a xenophobia and/or racist attitude that is nothing short of alarming and embarrassing for many Canadians. Most recently, the Quebec government has placed limits upon who has the "right" to receive services in English.

The premier of Alberta is wondering publically if they should have their own provincial pension plan - they might want to ask how well the smaller Quebec pension plan works in terms of earnings etc.

Maybe if Quebec and Alberta were neighbours - Alberta could teach a few things to Quebec including sharing - albeit sometimes grudgingly. At the same time, many Quebecers would be glad to speak to the issue of what happens when you waste 20-30 years of debating separation when it was never going to happen.

Wexit - Really?

As someone who has lived more than a few decades, I should not be surprised when people start talking about the same stuff they did 30-40 years ago. I should not be surprised, but I am. I keep on forgetting that we, as a society are not any smarter than we were then. Therefore, we are doomed to have the same political debates again and again and again.

I get that some people in the west feel as if they are being badly used by the federation. I understand how profoundly unfair it must feel when Alberta consistently pays far more into the equalization fund than they ever get out. The injustice of provinces like Quebec who get a large chunk of the funds - much of it derived from Alberta's oil-based economy - refusing to allow Alberta to ship its oil by pipeline across Quebec must grate on everyone's nerves. It must be equalling as galling when British Columbia tries to stop similar plans for transporting oil. The fact that Canada as a nation has been unable to ensure that Alberta's biggest moneymaker has access to the markets in Asia only reinforces the futility of belonging to a federation that does little to help.

There is, of course, another point of view. Not only has the government done everything to approve one of the proposed pipelines but they bought the company to ensure that the pipeline could be built. Canada has, as well, spends/gives billions of dollars in indirect subsidies to the oil industries. Those who suggest that Alberta could separate are seldom clear as to what national government based in Alberta would do to make things better. For example, if there was a way of getting the oil to either coast without having to ask people for their input and permission, I am quite sure that the Liberals and the Conservatives before them - would have done it.

In spite of the apparent injustices and the inherent unfairness of a system that argues that a federal government must do what is best for the most number of people - there are more benefits to belonging than not belonging. Even more important, leaving is never an easy thing to do. One only has to look at Great Britain and the colossal nightmare that has existed for the last few years as that country tries to negotiate a graceful way out of the European economic union. What that country has found out it that their trading partners have no desire to allow Britain to leave while maintaining many of the benefits of the relationship. Why would they? The Europeans are under no obligation to make things easy for Britain.

I have thought for some time that if Britain had negotiated with the EU before the referendum was held, and if the British people had clearly understood what would happen if they left - then perhaps they would have voted differently. I would, therefore, suggest that the newly formed Wexit party (please chose a better or at least less derivative name), that before they hold rallies and inflame those of the public who want/need bread and circus-type politics that they develop some policies. They need to tell everyone how they would deal with trade and customs agreements between a small landlocked country and the rest of the world, which currency would they use, how would they deal with Indigenous land claims etc. etc.? When they have worked out all of the details - then I would be very happy to be part of the conversation.

In the meantime - those who are arguing for Alberta to separate are just playing "silly buggers".

Daylight Saving Time

It is 7:30 on a Sunday morning. I have been up for an hour. The clocks were all moved back an hour last night and my internal clock, at least in terms of when I wake up, has not yet been adjusted. That is okay - for just over 70 years, or to be exact 141 times my body has been required to either fall back or move ahead an hour. You would think that I would be used to it. And I am. Certainly, when one is retired, there is far less stress about any adjustments - especially in the fall when it feels as if we have gotten an extra hour in which to do anything we wish. Of course in the spring - it is not so great.

The province of British Columbia has made it official that it wants to do away with the whole business of changing our time back and forth every six months. The bill that they have proposed only allows them to do it - it does not say when they will. The whole conversation is absurd.

1) The BC government conducted a survey last year asking residents if we should do away with changing the clocks back and forth on a semi-annual basis. 93% of the people who responded to the survey said yes. Those of us (the majority) who either do not care, have learnt to live with it or who think that the whole question is a silly waste of our time - did not participate in the survey. Of course, the majority of people who responded wanted a change, but it should not be believed that it was a binding referendum.

2) With the exception of Saskatchewan, who has never participated in the daylight saving scheme, no other province in Canada - or any state in the US is planning on making a similar change anytime soon. Given the strained relationship at the present time between Alberta and BC, it is reasonable to assume that Alberta, in the foreseeable future, will not do anything that BC wishes or suggests. It should be noted that the most eastern part of BC is in the Mountain time zone and therefore will not be part of any change. Doing away with the loss and then the gain of an hour on a yearly basis might make some sense, but only if everyone agreed to it. It makes virtually no sense for BC to do it alone when our nearest trading partners will be sticking to the present system.

3) If BC does make the change - it would be good news because for six months of the year, the time difference between Ontario and BC would only be two hours. That would make it slightly more convenient for my daughter and me to arrange for our 50-minute telephone chats every 10 days or so. But there is so much else to deal with - issues that are critical to people's survival including the problems with drug abuse, the lack of affordable housing, the limited access to services in the northern areas, the multitude of issues involving our environment - the list is almost endless.

I get that by addressing the time change the government appears as if it is doing something about something. It is meaningless. Please work on important issues. Come the spring, I will regret that hour of lost sleep - but I will get over it - I always have.