Electrocuting the Alberta Oil Patch

What Happens If Western Canadian Alienation Becomes Obsolete?

Photo by Mike Benna on Unsplash

According to University of Calgary political scientist Barry Cooper, there is quite a bit of anxiety and anger coming from western provinces, which will be expressed at the ballot box during today’s Canadian federal election.

In an article for CBC news, Cooper claims that “Alberta and Saskatchewan have been labouring under the misconception that we are equal provinces that have contributed an enormous amount to the welfare of the country. While ‘Laurentian Canada’ just seems to think we’re there to be exploited.” He also shares the source of the frustration: “It’s not Liberal or Conservative, it’s really economic and regional. It has to do with the interests of the provinces, and they are tied to the oil patch.”

In the Great White North, “Laurentian Canada” refers to Ontario and Quebec — the two largest provinces by both geography and population and the traditional centres of federal political power and influence. The belief that decision-making in Ottawa is driven by the interests of the central Canadian political class has dominated the national conversation since at least the time of the first Trudeau prime minister, Pierre, who first came to power in 1968. It was his Liberal government that created the National Energy Program…