Re: Quebec asks to appoint its higher court judges, so should Alberta
No matter who forms Canada’s next federal government, provinces must fiercely protect their autonomy. The issue isn’t partisan — it’s systemic. Excessive centralization and federal overreach are eroding the constitutional balance of powers, fuelling tensions nationwide.
Ottawa’s intrusion into provincial domains like health, education, housing, and the environment — through conditional funding, bilateral agreements, and national programs — undermines provincial authority. This doesn’t promote cooperation; it fosters dependence, stifling provinces’ ability to govern according to their priorities. Federalism isn’t evolving — it’s suffocating.
This alienation isn’t confined to Western Canada. Quebec, too, bristles at federal encroachments on language, immigration, and economic policies, which clash with regional aspirations.
Provinces like Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Quebec see a federation drifting from its foundational principles. When Alberta’s Premier Danielle Smith speaks of “making Canada work,” it’s not a threat — it’s a recognition of a broken system. National unity hinges on a true balance of power, not empty rhetoric. Alberta, often shortchanged under both Liberal and Conservative governments, exemplifies this imbalance.
Independence sentiments in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Quebec don’t stem from hatred of Canada but from ignored grievances. Smith’s demands reflect a premier’s duty to defend her province within legal bounds. If Ottawa or Toronto finds this abrasive, it reveals their unease with genuine federalism. Loving Canada means striving for fairness, even if it challenges entrenched federal power.
Canada’s pact needs renewal: respect for jurisdiction, regional differences, and fiscal fairness. Without it, the federation will fray — not from regional selfishness, but from Ottawa’s failure to uphold true federalism.
Louis-Philippe Noel
Montmagny, Qu.