Thursday, March 28, 2024
ADVT 
National

Ex-Tory Leader Rona Ambrose Says 'Western Alienation' Is Very Real And Dangerous

The Canadian Press, 08 Nov, 2017 12:15 PM
    MONTREAL — The concept of "western alienation" is real and dangerous, and people in the region feel as though their aspirations aren't in line with those in the rest of Canada, Rona Ambrose said Tuesday.
     
    "We have a population in Alberta feeling as though their goals aren't part of the federation's goals — it's dangerous," the former interim Tory leader told an audience in Montreal as they celebrated the opening of a new school of public policy at McGill University.
     
    She said one incident that recently provoked sentiments of alienation in Western Canada was the rejoicing of politicians in Quebec — notably outgoing Montreal mayor Denis Coderre — to news that TransCanada was abandoning its Energy East pipeline project.
     
    She added the ill-fated plan to ship Alberta crude through Quebec to a port in New Brunswick for refining and sale overseas represented "hope" for Albertans, who have been suffering economically since the price of oil fell several years ago.
     
    Ambrose cited opposition inside neighbouring British Columbia to the Kinder Morgan Trans Mountain pipeline expansion as another factor leading western Canadians to question their place in the country.
     
    "Over a short time frame, (opposition to energy projects) has become a political issue on the ground," said Ambrose, who spent 13 years representing citizens in Alberta at the federal level and served as interim Conservative leader.
     
    "It's getting easy to stir up feelings of alienation — it's not good for the federation."
     
     
    She said the idea that western Canadians, especially Albertans, are increasingly feeling out of place inside the vision of Canada put forward by the current federal government "is very real."
     
    Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has been criticized for lacking enthusiasm for getting Canada's oil and gas resources to market.
     
    The Conservatives blame Trudeau's government for the failure of Energy East while Ottawa says the company's decision to cancel the project was due to business considerations.
     
    Hard feelings in Western Canada toward Ottawa were summed up recently by Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall:
     
    "(Trudeau's) actions and his government's actions may well have some westerners wondering if this country really values Western Canada, the resources we have, and the things we do to contribute to the national economy and to quality of life for all," he said.
     
    Ambrose was among several prominent Canadians on hand to celebrate the opening of a school of public policy made possible by a $10-million donation by the Max Bell Foundation.
     
    Former prime minister Paul Martin as well as Michael Sabia, president and CEO of the Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec, were among those who spoke at the event.
     
    Ambrose retired from politics last summer and is now a Global Fellow for the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, which is based in Washington, D.C.

    MORE National ARTICLES

    Body Cameras On Chicken Catchers Not Reasonable: B.C. Privacy Commissioner

    Body Cameras On Chicken Catchers Not Reasonable: B.C. Privacy Commissioner
    VICTORIA — British Columbia's privacy commissioner says a chicken-catching company was not authorized to use video surveillance on staff in response to an animal cruelty investigation.

    Body Cameras On Chicken Catchers Not Reasonable: B.C. Privacy Commissioner

    25-Yr-Old Man Charged With Murder Of Marpole Couple Dianna Mah-Jones And Richard Jones

    25-Yr-Old Man Charged With Murder Of Marpole Couple Dianna Mah-Jones And Richard Jones
    Man Charged With Second-Degree Murder In Double Homicide Of Vancouver Couple Dianna Mah-Jones And Richard Jones

    25-Yr-Old Man Charged With Murder Of Marpole Couple Dianna Mah-Jones And Richard Jones

    RCMP Arrest Man After Weekend Altercation Injures Officer In Kamloops, B.C.

    KAMLOOPS, B.C. — Police say a 41-year-old suspect did not fire a gun in an altercation that left an RCMP officer injured on the weekend in Kamloops, B.C.

    RCMP Arrest Man After Weekend Altercation Injures Officer In Kamloops, B.C.

    North Vancouver Police Looking For Owner Of 'Rent Money' Envelope

    North Vancouver Police Looking For Owner Of 'Rent Money' Envelope
    Mounties are praising a North Vancouver resident for turning in an envelope full of cash that appears to be someone's rent.

    North Vancouver Police Looking For Owner Of 'Rent Money' Envelope

    Trial In Michigan Airport Stabbing Put Off Until July 30

    Trial In Michigan Airport Stabbing Put Off Until July 30
    FLINT, Mich. — The case of a Canadian man charged with stabbing a police officer at a Michigan airport isn't on a fast track.

    Trial In Michigan Airport Stabbing Put Off Until July 30

    Catherine McKenna Has No Regrets About Fighting Back Publicly Against Sexist Comments

    Catherine McKenna Has No Regrets About Fighting Back Publicly Against Sexist Comments
    The "climate Barbie" tag was coined by Rebel media almost as soon as McKenna was named the environment minister in November 2015.

    Catherine McKenna Has No Regrets About Fighting Back Publicly Against Sexist Comments

    PrevNext