It’s time for Alberta to demand a fairer deal from Canada – by Brian Jean (Financial Post – May 15, 2018)

http://business.financialpost.com/

Albertans have carried the weight of Confederation on their shoulders for several decades and have spent billions on services for other provinces

A column in Maclean’s last month told Albertans to “Get A Grip” in regard to the pending demise of the Kinder Morgan Trans Mountain pipeline expansion. “You are not victims,” Stephen Maher lectured us.

“You should count your blessings, stop feeling sorry for yourselves and quit yelling at people who disagree with you.” I would argue that it’s not Alberta that needs to get a grip. It’s those that believe constitutional rights are meant to be one-sided.

Albertans have disproportionately carried the weight of Confederation on their shoulders for the last several decades on almost every metric. Between 2007 and 2014, Alberta was the only province to not be a net-positive recipient from the federal government.

On average, Albertans contributed over $20 billion per year more to Ottawa than they ever got back in transfers or services. Alberta billions financed services for other provinces.

Yet during that same period, all levels of government across the country were launching unprecedented attacks against Alberta’s industries and livelihoods while continuing to cash the Alberta-funded cheques pouring in.

For the rest of this column: http://business.financialpost.com/opinion/brian-jean-its-time-for-alberta-to-demand-a-fairer-deal-from-canada