YORKTON - The federal election is in the books, the Liberals so close to a majority they will stay in power, and that has left a bad taste in the mouths of some in the west.
A few are even bandying about the word separation in what seems largely sour grapes that the party they voted for failed to win.
In a democracy your party does not always win, and that shouldn’t mean you want to pack up your suitcase and move out.
If that was the case Regina and Saskatoon would be seeking separation from Saskatchewan since their large populations are under-represented in the Legislature after the return of the Saskatchewan Party almost entirely on the vote of ridings not in the two major centres -- sort of the reverse yet same scenario of the west’s view after the federal vote.
There are some out there also worried the mere remnants of the NDP nationally will formally cross the floor to formally join the Liberals solidifying the majority and perhaps leading to a joining – Liberal Democrats perhaps. They see that as bad news in terms of the Conservatives winning in the future.
Worrying about such a thing from a Saskatchewan perspective is rather ironic as the Saskatchewan Party provides the blueprint for such a move. It cannot be forgotten the Conservative, Liberal and Reform parties got together in a room and formed a new party – one not based on shared ideology, but on a desire to defeat the NDP.
Now realistically the separatists out there are no doubt just a vocal minority, partly because the majority recognize a flawed Canada is still better than any alternative.
It’s also difficult to envision what a separated west would look like.
Some see a massive west, but it is far from clear who would truly want to go, starting with First Nation lands which are there through treaty with Canada not some new western entity.
And what if some patchwork creation did happen, what happens with currency, RCMP policing, postal service, Canadian Food Inspection Agency services and a myriad of other services. The dream of course is some sort of joint sharing with the remainder of Canada but the question is why would they want to support a ‘rump west’ who left?
Of course this will pass as more reasonable viewpoints take over – the ones wanting a stronger Canada that includes us all.
In the regard it truly is time to squelch separatist talk, and have politicians across all parties and levels rowing in the same direction. We need solidarity in Canada right now, and if that means Mark Carney and Pierre Poilievre and the parties they lead finding a way to co-operate more than they ever have before – so be it.
Canada is worth abandoning some ideological rhetoric for in order to ensure a better future coast-to-coast-to-coast.
