Mandryk: Quebec separatists make the case against Western separatism

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Those contemplating Western separatism should listen to Quebec separatists.

In fact, we all should. It might help us better understand why recent Western separatist rumblings out of Alberta and Saskatchewan are so ludicrous.

Asked if he had any tips for Western separatists, Bloc Quebecois Leader Yves-Francois Blanchett provided the following:

“The first idea is to define oneself as a nation,” Blanchett replied, after modestly admitting he hasn’t had much separation success. “(A nation) requires a culture of their own.”

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“I am not certain oil and gas qualify to define a culture.”

Similarly in Saskatchewan, potash, wheat, canola and beef are what we produce out here. It’s not who we are. So if the only arguments for Western separation are economic considerations, is it a valid cause?

And shouldn’t Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe be the one making that point — especially to Western separatists who seem hell-bent on taking us down this road at great costs to us and no costs to them?

Of course, there’s the issue as to whether our economic grievances are as bad as we make them out to be. Suncor just recorded record quarter profit in Alberta. In Saskatchewan, farmland is more valuable than ever and keeps on increasing.

And if one is inclined to believe the ceaseless flow of propaganda from the Saskatchewan and Alberta governments, we are enjoying unparalleled success in the nation and even the world.

Heck, the Saskatchewan Party caucus sponsored a debate in the legislature Thursday over whether this province has ever enjoyed more prosperity.

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So why would we risk this? Hasn’t anyone noticed what happened to the Quebec economy since the first referendum almost 50 years ago?

This is not to suggest that none of our grievances are legitimate or that Western alienation is something new that we just conjured up.

It is frustrating to be taxed on prosperity. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith makes a damn fine point that it’s patently ridiculous to have an equalization formula subsidizing the country’s biggest provincial economies — Quebec and Ontario.

Moe might have been right when he said, while stumping for Pierre Poilievre’s Conservatives in their recent election bid, that Ottawa seems a million miles away. There remains a long grocery list of grievances that the new federal Liberal minority government under Prime Minister Mark Carney needs to address.

But grievances over Ottawa polices annoying the hell out of us hardly makes Saskatchewan and Alberta distinct societies. And they are surely not grounds for separation … even if we think there are political gains to be made by the mere threat.

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The problem is the political gamesmanship tied to the recent Western separation threats — threats now being aided and/or abetted by Smith and Moe to different degrees.

Smith is obviously being more proactive, changing the provincial legislation on referendums to make the threat of one more viable.

Somewhat to his credit, Moe hasn’t gone that far. But what he has said (or hasn’t said) is certainly aiding those pushing a potentially costly separation vote.

Moe has repeatedly told the NDP Opposition that this is not an either/or choice between separation and the status quo with Ottawa. He further argues it’s wrong to stifle the voices of discontent by changing the referendum law.

But how are voices being stifled by simply shoring up this law to ensure a substantive number of signatures — say 30 per cent of eligible voters, as suggested by the NDP — are required to hold a referendum on becoming our own separate country?

What about the vast majority of us who don’t want to deal with the instability and economic consequences that referendum talk will create? Don’t we get to have our say by signing this stupid petition?

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And why isn’t the premier the first to take up this cause for a Saskatchewan in a united Canada? Isn’t that the premier’s job? The one to which he swore an oath?

The best lesson we can learn from Quebec separatists is why we should not be like Quebec separatists.

Mandryk is the political columnist for the Regina Leader-Post and the Saskatoon StarPhoenix.

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