The federal Liberal government is demonstrating a clear double standard in its treatment of Alberta and Quebec, raising serious questions about national unity and fairness in Confederation.
Quebec's Sovereignty Push Meets Federal Silence
While Quebec's National Assembly debates a new provincial constitution that would declare the province a "free national State" and "fully sovereign" from Canada, the federal government remains conspicuously silent. The proposed constitution would grant Quebec powers to appoint its own superior court judges, conduct separate foreign policy, ignore federal laws, and participate in national institutions only when convenient.
This effectively amounts to a declaration of independence while Quebec continues to receive billions annually in transfer and equalization payments from the federal government. Yet Ottawa has taken no meaningful action to challenge this sovereignty maneuver.
Alberta's Pipeline Struggles Against Federal Opposition
Meanwhile, Alberta faces significant federal obstacles in its efforts to build a pipeline to the West Coast that meets all the Carney government's criteria for "nation-building" projects. This same pipeline would help fund the very transfer payments that Quebec depends on.
Despite Prime Minister Mark Carney and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith currently negotiating a memorandum of understanding for a new pipeline, Liberal MPs have indicated they would oppose the project. The negotiations appear to be more about future talks than actual pipeline approval.
Political Gamesmanship or Genuine Opposition?
While Premier Smith seems sincere in her belief that Carney can be trusted, evidence suggests this may be a Liberal delaying tactic. The federal Liberals remain as opposed to oil development as they were under Justin Trudeau's leadership, but recognize that outright rejecting a pipeline could spark a national unity crisis.
Earlier this year, the government employed similar tactics by questioning whether private companies were stepping forward to build pipelines and suggesting Canada should focus on becoming a "green energy" superpower. However, Carney's two lists of national-priority projects notably exclude any alternative energy initiatives, revealing the inconsistency in federal energy policy.
The contrasting federal approaches to Quebec's sovereignty ambitions and Alberta's economic development needs highlight a troubling imbalance in how Ottawa treats different regions of Canada, with potentially serious consequences for national cohesion.
