Alberta uprising feared

MKSheppard · Post by **MKSheppard** » 2002-12-20 11:02pm

http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2002/12/15/7340.html

Alberta uprising feared
By DAVID SANDS, Sun Media
Premier Ralph Klein expects an uprising on the right to lead a charge for Alberta's separation from Canada.

"There are enough people who are frustrated to form a political party, but I just don't know what they are going to do, other than to mount a movement for separation," Klein told The Sun. "And yes, I am concerned about it."

Voices in favour of Alberta leaving Canada are rising, the premier said.

"I know there are people out there who want to separate. I was listening to a radio show just the other day and there was caller after caller saying, 'We should separate. We've had enough.

" 'We're being ignored, we don't count in Canada. Not only as it relates to Kyoto but the Canadian Wheat Board, gun registration, senate reform, you name it. All we do is give and give and get nothing back,' " Klein said. "I understand that frustration, and I feel the same way. But there's still hope."

Movement by Ottawa on Alberta's continuing complaints is needed, the premier said, or even some provincial Tory supporters will turn their backs on the party because it hasn't had any effect.

Alan Cruikshank, deputy leader of the Alberta Social Credit Party, said Klein is dead right.

"We are trying as a party to keep our noses clean - we haven't taken any position on separation. But we are finding that many of our members are supportive of independence," Cruikshank said.

And, he added, a burgeoning movement in that direction may not be a bad thing.

"In the past, parties that have taken a more extreme position than the Tories on things like separation have often caused the central government to take more notice of Alberta's needs. It indirectly results in a way Albertans can apply political leverage."

Peter McCormick, a political scientist at the University of Lethbridge, said it's unlikely a separatist party would have much success in Alberta's current political climate.

McCormick said the Canadian Alliance on the federal scene and the Progressive Conservatives on the provincial scene both have had recent successes.

"Why would you go for another political party?" McCormick asked.

The Alliance has had the cost of the gun control registry revealed in the House of Commons, while the Alberta PCs have kept fighting the ratification of the Kyoto accord.

"It's the easiest thing on earth to form a political party. It's the hardest thing on earth to get enough votes," said McCormick.

McCormick said it never hurts in a province to have a separatist vein, even with "vague threats" of leaving Confederation, to make other governments take you more seriously.

"It's less likely we would be taken for granted," he said.

Specialist · Post by **Specialist** » 2002-12-20 11:07pm

Personally I don't give a damn about the rest of Canada, but I wouldn't want any providence to leave. If they do, I would like Ontario to leave as well.

If it's not Quebec bitching it's Alberta! Who's next PEI!

C.S.Strowbridge · Post by **C.S.Strowbridge** » 2002-12-20 11:43pm

Who cares about Alberta? If they left Canada would lose 90% of the drunk rednecks. Hell, their Premiere is an admitted alcoholic. Not recovering alcoholic, just alcoholic.

XPViking · Post by **XPViking** » 2002-12-20 11:44pm

It's ridiculous. Will someone please get rid of that buffoon Klein?

XPViking

HemlockGrey · Post by **HemlockGrey** » 2002-12-20 11:48pm

I was playing Risk 2210 the other day, and I noticed something.

'Alberta', 'Canada' and the 'Republic de Quebec' are three seperate territories(Greenland is also the 'Exiled States of America', which I think is pretty funny for some reason).

Hmm...maybe Avalon Hill is onto something here...

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2002-12-21 01:46am

Redneck whiners. They want to be Texas North.

Ted · Post by **Ted** » 2002-12-21 03:22pm

They're all yankee wankers, wanna be the us and all, really fucking stupid if you ask me.

Why the fuck would any sane person wanna be a yank?

Post by **Sea Skimmer** » 2002-12-21 03:53pm

If Canada disintegrates will anyone including its former citizens give a damn? I doubt it.

HemlockGrey · Post by **HemlockGrey** » 2002-12-21 04:13pm

Why the fuck would any sane person wanna be a yank?

Maybe because we kick fucking ass?

Ted · Post by **Ted** » 2002-12-21 04:18pm

Sea Skimmer wrote:If Canada disintegrates will anyone including its former citizens give a damn? I doubt it.

Actually, the Americans would, as they would loose their main ally, the ally that gets them out of diplomatic hell holes.

Ted · Post by **Ted** » 2002-12-21 04:19pm

HemlockGrey wrote:
Why the fuck would any sane person wanna be a yank?
Maybe because we kick fucking ass?

I said SANE, not INSANE.

Enlightenment · Post by **Enlightenment** » 2002-12-21 10:12pm

HemlockGrey wrote:Maybe because we kick fucking ass?

Congratulations. You're stupid enough to be elected to the US Congress.

Illuminatus Primus · Post by **Illuminatus Primus** » 2002-12-21 10:36pm

Well this is so mature. Canadian and American Wankers Unite in the same damn thread. Grow the fuck up.

And there's no reason to be ashamed to be American unless you actually think Bush is a genius or care what Europe thinks.

Raptor 597 · Post by **Raptor 597** » 2002-12-21 10:40pm

Ted wrote:
Sea Skimmer wrote:If Canada disintegrates will anyone including its former citizens give a damn? I doubt it.
Actually, the Americans would, as they would loose their main ally, the ally that gets them out of diplomatic hell holes.

Stop smoking crack. You call American's conceited assholes take a look in the mirror.

Icehawk · Post by **Icehawk** » 2002-12-21 10:49pm

I actually care about things like this. As a humanist I tend to value unity over independance or segregation. The world is already divided enough. I say its time we move towards bringing it more together.

Sure this may sound hippylike but its just the way I think. Im sick of hearing ignorant nationalists or sovereignists bitching about shit like that. Get over it, your not going anywhere. Your human beings just like everyone else and you can learn to live together regardless of whatever federal gov't policies you don't like.

paladin · Post by **paladin** » 2002-12-21 11:43pm

Goodie, the US can use a new state. So, this way stupid Americans can really be confused. Like they aren't confused already.

HemlockGrey · Post by **HemlockGrey** » 2002-12-21 11:58pm

Canada needs to send in the troops and give the Albertians a royal asswhomping. We did that 140 years ago, not a threat of secesson since.

Ted · Post by **Ted** » 2002-12-22 12:02am

Actually, the British Army has a Division stationed in Alberta almost contiuously, for training.

The place is so bare, that all tree's are marked, and if they destroy a tree, they gotta report it so that the maps get changed.

XPViking · Post by **XPViking** » 2002-12-22 06:13am

Yup. Them pretty bare hills out near the Hat.

XPViking

BlkbrryTheGreat · Post by **BlkbrryTheGreat** » 2002-12-22 09:31pm

HemlockGrey wrote:Canada needs to send in the troops and give the Albertians a royal asswhomping. We did that 140 years ago, not a threat of secesson since.

Oh thats just brillant, forced association against your own will.... Its like somone you hate pointing a gun at your head so you won't leave the room, while at the same time calling you friend and wanting to have a talk with you.