Columnist Lorrie Goldstein argues that the frustrations of many Albertans regarding their province's role in Canada are legitimate. He emphasizes that gratuitously insulting Albertans during the debate over their future in Confederation serves no purpose and will not help keep Canada together.
Root Causes of Frustration
The core issue, according to Goldstein, is that Albertans contribute disproportionately to Canada's wealth while facing federal policies that harm the province's economy. Under the Liberal government of Justin Trudeau (2015-2025), these policies have been particularly damaging.
According to a Fraser Institute study, between 2007 and 2024, Albertans made a net contribution of $285.1 billion to the federal government through taxes and other payments. This means Alberta contributed $285.1 billion more to Ottawa than it received in federal spending or transfers. No other province comes close to this net contribution—Alberta's is four times larger than British Columbia's or Ontario's, while the other seven provinces are net recipients.
Alberta's outsized contribution helps fund social programs across Canada and significantly improves Ottawa's finances. For instance, in 2022, the federal deficit of $25.7 billion was 36% lower than it would have been without Alberta's contribution.
Impact of Federal Policies
A strong Alberta economy is vital for Canada, yet the Trudeau government's attack on the oil and gas sector over the past decade has been a disaster. While Ottawa bought one oil pipeline and Canada's first large-scale LNG operation began exports, these were overshadowed by numerous regulations: the Oil Tanker Moratorium Act, the Impact Assessment Act, the Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act, the oil and gas emissions cap, the Clean Electricity Regulations, and methane regulations.
Even Prime Minister Mark Carney, a former advocate for higher carbon taxes, admitted that the previous government had "too much regulation, not enough action." Carney has started dismantling some regulations to boost economic growth, but quick fixes are unlikely.
Goldstein concludes that Albertans' frustrations are legitimate and should no longer be dismissed.
