Former Conservative prime minister Stephen Harper cautioned against the prospect of Alberta separation in a column Friday, writing that even voting just to “send a message” would represent a fraught approach.

  • quanin@lemmy.caOP
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    2 days ago

    Does the Quebec versus Canada framing also have no basis in truth? Was Canada wrong for allowing Quebec to have the autonomy it currently has? Because that’s what Harper’s spent years arguing for, including with his Alberta firewall letter addressed to Alberta’s at the time not separatist Premier. I mean, I personally don’t think Quebec should be allowed to have and run its own pension plan, but it does. If that’s something Alberta’s demanding, can we really be surprised?

    • DriftingLynx@lemmy.ca
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      2 days ago

      But that’s not what’s under discussion here. If Alberta wants what Quebec has they can already do it. No referendum or new laws required.

      They can’t have the ridiculous amount they “calculated” from the CPP as theirs, nor make a go of a pension fund with only 4.2 million peoples. Which is why the idea died.

      Harper made all those arguments, yes.

      However I stand by my point here; Harper is validating the separatism by discussing it seriously, and failing to call out the deceptive “research” put forward in argument for. Anyone arguing AB should stay without debunking these is in league as far as I’m concerned.

      Harper’s using the moment to enhance his public image while giving the separatists a free pass.

      • quanin@lemmy.caOP
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        2 days ago

        So your opinion is that the “research” put forward in favour of separation should be taken seriously? Because that’s what engaging with it is doing.

        • DriftingLynx@lemmy.ca
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          1 day ago

          🤦

          No it should not be taken seriously, it should be debunked for the fraudulent word salad it is.

          • quanin@lemmy.caOP
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            1 day ago

            It should not be given airtime at all. If you give it airtime, then you are taking it seriously.

        • HonoredMule@lemmy.ca
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          2 days ago

          I can agree with that. Movements that have been long incubated in silos can’t be suffocated, and these days they’re just “big tenting” their way to legitimacy. Dismissal without correction withholds legitimacy about as well as shame affects the shameless.