By Patricia Harcourt
Alberta independence was the subject of a meeting in Viking last Friday night at the community hall.
Three speakers spoke during what was billed as an information session for both the already persuaded and those seeking information.
Those present were told that the Alberta separation movement involved the three pillars of faith, family and freedom, and began with a prayer. Someone also stated that all were welcome, even “spies” coming in to find out about the separatist movement in order to spread disinformation.
Two bins were passed around for people to contribute to the speaking tour.
The speakers in Viking included Sheane Meikle, Dr. Michael Wagner and Christopher Scott.
Meikle gave an historical overview to assert that since settlers came to settle on the prairies in the late 1800s there has been an imbalance of power between the western and eastern regions of the country.
“Right from the get go, we were looked at as the lesser,” he said, receiving rights and responsibilities of a territory not a province. The west has always been used as a resource area to provide for the populations in the east.
The Canadian Wheat Board (CWB) was cited as an example of this thinking, which he called “another injustice.” Meikle referred to the former federal legislation requiring farmers in western Canada to sell their wheat through the CWB. He said, these farmers “could not market their own grain.”
Another example of pandering to eastern Canada was during the “Great Flag Debate” in the 1960s, he said. Prime Minister Lester Pearson faced off with Conservative Opposition leader John Diefenbaker. Diefenbaker fiercely opposed the chosen Maple Leaf flag as not representational of the entire country. He points out that maple leaves grow in the east.
“So they rammed it down our throats,” he said.
Another historical issue Meikle said went against western provinces was the National Energy Program in the 1980s, stating: “We had to sell (the energy products) to the East at a price set by Ottawa.”
Then he warned that: “Unless we do something drastic… we will not get out from under Ottawa’s thumb.”
Second speaker Wagner contended that “Alberta independence is the way to preserve what is best in Canada.”
His theme was that the country has changed since the 1960’s and has turned away from its historic identity by turning to a regional identity. He argued that rejecting the country as it currently exists is not being disloyal because it is not the “old country” he knew and loved.
Wagner said he misses this “old Canada” and blamed Pierre Trudeau for fundamentally changing the country by repatriating the Constitution from England and establishing a Charter of Rights in the 1990s.
“Trudeau rules Canada from the grave,” he said, later adding: “We want our country back.”
Scott, a restaurant owner in Mirror, began by asking the crowd if they were convinced on the need for independence after the first two speakers.
“So Albertans are ready for change,” he said.
READ MORE IN THE FEBRUARY 25 EDITION OF THE COMMUNITY PRESS
Never miss an issue, become a subscriber today. Click Here.
