Do None Dare Call Them Traitors?

A quick post on Mark Norris, who is running to replace Ralph Klein as Leader of the Alberta Conservative Party. Mark Norris is a Western Seperatist, or at least one of his slogans is "Separation if necessary, but not necessarily separation." Mr. Norris apparently believes that the ROC is jealous of Alberta, and that if Ottawa passes lets say a carbon tax to combat Global Warming, Alberta should "take steps to secede".

And apparently, Mr. Norris isn't the only one running for the Alberta Conservative Party leadership that holds such views. Calgary MLS Ted Morton is also ready to threaten separation if Alberta doesn't recieve "the kind of respect and deference Quebec has received".

In other words, two would-be leaders of the richest province in Canada are willing to threaten secession if Alberta doesn't get more federal handouts.

Two comments:

First a minor point: I know of hardly any Canadians outside of Alberta that are "jealous" or "envious" of Alberta. In fact, in Toronto, most people don't really care what goes on North of Steeles. What happens in the outer suburbs is entirely off the radar screen.

Secondly, I'd like to know if is there anyone on the Right of the political spectrum, like newly minted PM Stephen Harper for example, who is willing to brand these two pricks as they traitors that they are.

Because as an Ontarion I have always been urged by my Western brothers to take a hard line against Quebec Seperatists, but I wonder if I have been held to a double standard? Now suddenly it's Western Conservatives that are ready to split up the country. They weren't conquered and don't have "humiliation" issues, but if Ottawa raises gas taxes a penny to save the seals and the Inuit, they're ready to bolt!

These people are a revolting disgrace, and it is incumbent upon our new government (which despite its Western roots is supposed to govern for all of Canada) to denounce them!

I'd hate to see tanks around the Saddledome as much as anyone, but maybe that's what it will take to save the country from the likes of Mark Norris and Ted Morton.

Full story is in Licia Corbella's Calgary Sun column, "Norris Ready to Play Hardball", at:

http://calsun.canoe.ca/News/Columnists/Corbella_Licia/2006/03/19/1495405.html