(Submitted)

By Jason Stephan

OP-ED

Op-ed: Jason Stephan — Unity for Albertans

May 7, 2025 | 4:05 PM

“My duty is to seek freedom and prosperity for Alberta families and individuals, their businesses and workers. That means speaking the truth even if some do not like it.

What Canada was, is not important as what Canada is, and what it is becoming.

Canada could be the most prosperous nation on the earth, but it is not even close, and many are watching their standard of living getting destroyed, feeling helpless to do anything about it.

Yet, we get the governments we deserve.

This election result was a vote for the status quo, motivated out of fear.

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Watching the taxpayer funded CBC coverage of the election, the bias, was not good.

In 2023, at the World Economic Forum in Davos, the new prime minister rejected referring to himself as a Canadian, preferring to refer to himself as a “European”.

Europe will not save us.

In 2023, Alberta exported $155 BILLION to the US, mostly from our oil and gas resources.

But this new prime minister speaks of diminishing Canada’s trade relationship with the US, preferring new partnerships with other nations. Is this going to produce prosperity for Alberta? No.

Alberta cannot trust in the desire or competence of Ottawa and some other provinces to see new pipeline infrastructure which could displace the US as the principal customer of Alberta’s oil and gas resources.

The new prime minister says their No Pipelines Law stays, so why would pipeline businesses risk participating in a money sucking black holes?

Premier Danielle Smith is right in seeking win-win outcomes with the US.

This new prime minister calls for unity.

But unity to “what”?

For the sake of “unity”, should Albertans continue to be exploited, transferring hundreds of billions to Quebec and other hypocrites who seek to attack and hold Alberta back? No.

For the sake of “unity”, should Albertans continue to fund government jobs in Ottawa, an entrenched SWAMP who glut themselves on our labors and act in hostile ways to Alberta’s freedom and prosperity? No.

For the sake of “unity”, should Albertans be forced to remain in a corrupt political system where they depend on the virtue of whomever is prime minister, who at any time, can leverage this system to undermine and attack Alberta for political gain? No.

Unity without integrity is fake.

Canada is broken and these politicians cannot be trusted to fix what they broke.

Didn’t Albertans vote in a referendum to get rid of equalization? And what did the rest of Canada do?

Nothing. This will never change.

The Premier of Quebec said one of his favorite things about Canada is equalization.

Those who benefit from this corrupt, broken system will not change it.

But what is the vision of the new prime minister, other than fear mongering the US President, and spending Canada even more into oblivion?

Over the past ten years, Trudeau added more to the national debt than all prime ministers prior to him combined!

Over the past ten years, Canada’s GDP growth per capita was second to last in the 38 nation OCED! The United States and the rest of the world are leaving Canada in the dust.

And Canadians voted to reward this?

This new prime minister says things, but if he has not rejected and repudiated the many destructive policies of his predecessor, how can we expect different results?

If you are being led over a cliff, for the sake of “unity”, should you follow like a lemming? No.

In adult relationships, loyalty is not conferred, it is earned, as adults are principled with each other, acting in good faith and with mutual respect.

Yes, Canada may be suffering under economic warfare, but what about Alberta, who has suffered economic warfare from Trudeau for many years? Where was Team Canada, was the team” loyal to us, did they have our backs? No.

Other than taking many billions from us every year, attacking, and holding us back, what does Canada offer Alberta?

Many Albertans, and others, are concluding that they and their families would have more freedom and prosperity leaving Canada.

Alberta is a land of freedom and prosperity, and it is under these values we can unite, because no one will do it for us, and failing to do so, enables and perpetuates their abuse.

There is great unity when men and women share a commitment to the truth and to do what is right. Albertans will see it, feel it, embrace it, and will unite with it. That is hope. Freedom and prosperity produce hope.

The status quo is unacceptable, and that is the truth.

The new prime minister said “we should hope for the best and prepare for the worst”. He is right. It is time for Alberta to explore other options.”

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EDITOR’S NOTE: The views expressed above are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of rdnewsNOW or Pattison Media. Column suggestions and letters to the editor can be sent to news@rdnewsNOW.com.