Conservative leadership candidate Jean Charest sid he would develop a new equalization payment system for the province of Alberta if elected prime minister.."Alberta generates a lot of wealth for all of the provinces, so it deserves to have an equalization formula that's fair to Alberta," Charest said in a Thursday interview with the Western Standard's Cory Morgan..The former premier of Quebec spoke extensively about the alienation many Albertans feel from the rest of Canada. Charest said if he is elected as prime minister, within 30 days he will meet with Alberta's premier and develop an Alberta Accord, with an emphasis on the equalization payment system. .While Charest said former Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper "left behind a house that was in good order" when it came to the country's finances, he said it was disappointing that he did not renegotiate the equalization system. ."Circumstances change, and if Albertans want a fair deal on equalization, they're gonna get it," Charest said..Charest would also look at the Fair Deal Panel released in May 2020, which consulted tens of thousands of Albertans to determine how to best secure a fair deal for the province..Charest said he would focus on the several of the report's recommendations, such as giving Alberta its own police force, "if that is what the province wanted," crafting specific deal for Alberta on immigration, similar to what the province of Quebec has in place, and looking at trade issues.."I think we very badly need to look at where we are and what we need to do in the future to grow our economy. I would put Alberta right in the middle of that," Charest said. "I would move on very rapidly so that Albertans know they will be at the table shaping the agenda of the country, as opposed to receiving instructions from from Ottawa on how to do things.".In Charest's first six months, he would hold a First Ministers meeting and have it co-chaired by the Council of the Federation's chair.."That's an institution I know well," said Charest, who helped to create the council when he was the premier of Quebec. "This meeting would allow us to shape the agenda and give the country a fresh start.".When asked about a recent Research Co. poll that found a third of Quebec and Alberta residents support seceding from Canada, Charest said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has "failed to recognize how western Canada feels left out."."Alberta went through a tough time from 2014 onward, and there was no acknowledgement or recognition of that. It's the federal government's job to keep the country together and make sure every province is part of what we are planning and developing. And that's not happening with the Trudeau government.".When asked about energy, Charest criticized the prime minister for "never rising from his seat" to support the proposed Energy East pipeline. Charest said projects of that size don't happen without leadership, which is what the former Quebec premier said he would show if elected as prime minister.."I understand the frustration of Albertans. They contribute to the wealth of the country, and when it comes time for them to lay a pipeline and do something, then the rest of the country seems to be missing an action."."That has to change, but it starts with the prime minister, who has to be there instead of being missing an action on all these important projects.".On the subject of unity within the Conservative movement, Charest said during the last three elections the party has "generously given government to Justin Trudeau," by not being unified enough. ."There are millions of political orphans out there, crying out and looking for a place to go," Charest said. "We will win with a strong Canadian conservative agenda. That's what I intend to deliver for this country.".Charest added while he doesn't agree with fellow Conservative leadership candidate Pierre Poilievre on many subjects, "when I become prime minister, Poilievre can be a minister in my government."
