Something that’s become increasing apparent since the federal election became official in Red Deer Saturday: the “Firewallers” are the new moderates..In 2000, Stephen Harper and five other prominent conservatives signed what they called the “Alberta Agenda,” but which its detractors quickly labelled the “Firewall Letter.” After a federal election in which the West – and Alberta in particular – was used as a whipping boy – by a corrupt Liberal government seeking re-election, the authors sought for Alberta to strengthen it’s control over areas within its own constitutional jurisdiction, and build “firewalls” against federal intrusion..At the time, they were dismissed even by Ralph Klein, and consigned to the crank fringe. As prime minister six years later, Stephen Harper declined to act on a single item in the letter..At the Manning Centre’s Alberta conference in Red Deer, former Alberta finance minister and signatory to the famous “Firewall Letter”, Ted Morton spoke in the morning of the rising independence movement and its growing ability to tear the UCP asunder..“If he [Kenney] goes too fast, he losses moderates. But if he goes too slow, he risks Wexit and other groups rising up.”.In short, the centre of political gravity in Alberta has shifted radically.. FILDEBRANDT: Kenney moves to firewall off growing sovereigntist movementManning Centre panel discussion in Red Deer, Alberta .Where an Ottawaphilic NDP was elected without federal concerns in 2015, a UCP promising a confrontation with Trudeau on Equalization and pipelines came to power in 2019..Parties campaigning for independence (AIP) or firewalling (my own FCP) faired poorly..On October 20th, the centre of Alberta’s politics was comfortable with fist-shaking at Ottawa..Post-October 21st, the firewallers – lonely or consigned to the fringe for so long – are now squarely in the centre of gravity. It’s likely that in this world, sovereigntists outnumber status-quo federalists..As Morton warned earlier in the morning, Kenney has to walk a fine balance in not spooking federalists, but not appearing overly timid in the face of the growing independence movement..Kenney did his best to walk that rope when he took the stage that evening..In a relatively long speech, Kenney laid out his government’s grievances with Ottawa. They were familiar themes: Equalization, pipelines, tanker bans..He then proceeded to lay out his actions against Ottawa thus far. Mostly, proclaiming the NDP’s Bill 12 into law, and talking to federal Senate committees. He didn’t say as much, but Kenney knows that in today’s explosive enviornment, it didn’t amount to much. He was going to have to do better to win this crowd over..The crowd was polite, but surprising reserved in its adulation until he came to next steps..Kenney announced the members of his new “Fair Deal Panel,” including Preston Manning and several of his MLAs. It was the panel’s mandate – rather than its members – that attracted the most attention..The panel will be tasked with making recommendations to the government on implementing several key planks of the until recently anathema, Firewall Letter..Should Alberta establish its own revenue collection agency, and stop allowing Ottawa to collect provincial taxes? If so, should Alberta emulate Quebec and request that it also be allowed to collect federal taxes in Alberta? The Fair Deal Panel will tackle it..Should Alberta withdraw from the Canada Pension Plan, and like Quebec establish its own? The Fair Deal Panel will tell us..Should Alberta end its contract with the RCMP and establish its own provincial police force? Fair Deal Panel..Should Alberta withdraw from the Parol Board of Canada and establish its own? FDP.. Trudeau on WE scandal: Case closed .Should Alberta directly appoint its own Chief Firearms Officer to administer the federal Firearms Act? FDP..Should Alberta establish its own Alberta constitution and charter? FDP..The FDP’s mandate read like the platform of my own Freedom Conservative Party’s platform from the last election, (for all the good it did me), less the threat that if Ottawa did not agree to a fair deal for Alberta, that an independence vote would be held..It was likely a tough call for Kenney to make as an ardent federalist, but it was likely the least aggressive move he could make right now..While Kenney’s move to firewall off federal intrusions can largely succeed without any thumbs up from Ottawa, several key items for provincial equality like Senate reform, Equalization, and free trade, require federal consent. No matter how many referendums Alberta holds, they will never give it..While Kenney shifted to stake out the middle ground on the Western question, Notley stayed pat where she was: Ottawaphilic..“Instead of getting to work on the priorities of Albertans; getting the pipeline built, growing our economy, and creating jobs, he [Kenney] is exploiting the real frustrations of everyday Albertans by sowing the seeds of separation with tired ideas from decades ago. Alberta is part of Canada, and Jason Kenney needs to accept that. “.Notley’s position seems wildly tone-deaf to the frustrations that have many Albertans ready to throw tea into the Bow River..Alberta’s politics are still defined broadly across a left-right axis, but are quickly transforming into three camps: federalist, reformist, and sovereigntist. The federalists as represented by Notley seem to have almost nothing in common with the other two. Kenney has now clearly grasped the reformist torch. If it’s enough to pacify the sovereigntists or not is still to be played out.
Something that’s become increasing apparent since the federal election became official in Red Deer Saturday: the “Firewallers” are the new moderates..In 2000, Stephen Harper and five other prominent conservatives signed what they called the “Alberta Agenda,” but which its detractors quickly labelled the “Firewall Letter.” After a federal election in which the West – and Alberta in particular – was used as a whipping boy – by a corrupt Liberal government seeking re-election, the authors sought for Alberta to strengthen it’s control over areas within its own constitutional jurisdiction, and build “firewalls” against federal intrusion..At the time, they were dismissed even by Ralph Klein, and consigned to the crank fringe. As prime minister six years later, Stephen Harper declined to act on a single item in the letter..At the Manning Centre’s Alberta conference in Red Deer, former Alberta finance minister and signatory to the famous “Firewall Letter”, Ted Morton spoke in the morning of the rising independence movement and its growing ability to tear the UCP asunder..“If he [Kenney] goes too fast, he losses moderates. But if he goes too slow, he risks Wexit and other groups rising up.”.In short, the centre of political gravity in Alberta has shifted radically.. FILDEBRANDT: Kenney moves to firewall off growing sovereigntist movementManning Centre panel discussion in Red Deer, Alberta .Where an Ottawaphilic NDP was elected without federal concerns in 2015, a UCP promising a confrontation with Trudeau on Equalization and pipelines came to power in 2019..Parties campaigning for independence (AIP) or firewalling (my own FCP) faired poorly..On October 20th, the centre of Alberta’s politics was comfortable with fist-shaking at Ottawa..Post-October 21st, the firewallers – lonely or consigned to the fringe for so long – are now squarely in the centre of gravity. It’s likely that in this world, sovereigntists outnumber status-quo federalists..As Morton warned earlier in the morning, Kenney has to walk a fine balance in not spooking federalists, but not appearing overly timid in the face of the growing independence movement..Kenney did his best to walk that rope when he took the stage that evening..In a relatively long speech, Kenney laid out his government’s grievances with Ottawa. They were familiar themes: Equalization, pipelines, tanker bans..He then proceeded to lay out his actions against Ottawa thus far. Mostly, proclaiming the NDP’s Bill 12 into law, and talking to federal Senate committees. He didn’t say as much, but Kenney knows that in today’s explosive enviornment, it didn’t amount to much. He was going to have to do better to win this crowd over..The crowd was polite, but surprising reserved in its adulation until he came to next steps..Kenney announced the members of his new “Fair Deal Panel,” including Preston Manning and several of his MLAs. It was the panel’s mandate – rather than its members – that attracted the most attention..The panel will be tasked with making recommendations to the government on implementing several key planks of the until recently anathema, Firewall Letter..Should Alberta establish its own revenue collection agency, and stop allowing Ottawa to collect provincial taxes? If so, should Alberta emulate Quebec and request that it also be allowed to collect federal taxes in Alberta? The Fair Deal Panel will tackle it..Should Alberta withdraw from the Canada Pension Plan, and like Quebec establish its own? The Fair Deal Panel will tell us..Should Alberta end its contract with the RCMP and establish its own provincial police force? Fair Deal Panel..Should Alberta withdraw from the Parol Board of Canada and establish its own? FDP.. Trudeau on WE scandal: Case closed .Should Alberta directly appoint its own Chief Firearms Officer to administer the federal Firearms Act? FDP..Should Alberta establish its own Alberta constitution and charter? FDP..The FDP’s mandate read like the platform of my own Freedom Conservative Party’s platform from the last election, (for all the good it did me), less the threat that if Ottawa did not agree to a fair deal for Alberta, that an independence vote would be held..It was likely a tough call for Kenney to make as an ardent federalist, but it was likely the least aggressive move he could make right now..While Kenney’s move to firewall off federal intrusions can largely succeed without any thumbs up from Ottawa, several key items for provincial equality like Senate reform, Equalization, and free trade, require federal consent. No matter how many referendums Alberta holds, they will never give it..While Kenney shifted to stake out the middle ground on the Western question, Notley stayed pat where she was: Ottawaphilic..“Instead of getting to work on the priorities of Albertans; getting the pipeline built, growing our economy, and creating jobs, he [Kenney] is exploiting the real frustrations of everyday Albertans by sowing the seeds of separation with tired ideas from decades ago. Alberta is part of Canada, and Jason Kenney needs to accept that. “.Notley’s position seems wildly tone-deaf to the frustrations that have many Albertans ready to throw tea into the Bow River..Alberta’s politics are still defined broadly across a left-right axis, but are quickly transforming into three camps: federalist, reformist, and sovereigntist. The federalists as represented by Notley seem to have almost nothing in common with the other two. Kenney has now clearly grasped the reformist torch. If it’s enough to pacify the sovereigntists or not is still to be played out.
