Alberta Premier Danielle Smith was the only provincial leader not to sign the declaration following a cross-Canada meeting on the threat of U.S. tariffs. She was also the only one among them to be invited to Donald Trump’s inauguration. Many blame him. However, his strategy is perfectly legitimate.
Faced with this threat, many people are overplaying the Canadian patriotism card, as if Canada were a country arousing an immense feeling of belonging. However, for people from the West as for Quebecers, this is not the case. This country is just a big soulless market bringing together disparate regions and an obese state mainly serving the interests of Ontario. It is no coincidence that Ontario Premier Doug Ford was the harshest in his criticism of Mr.me Smith. While Canada complains about American imperialism, ironically, it itself deploys a logic worthy of an empire in the service of its central region by letting Mr. Ford lead the charge based on Ontario interests which he confuses with Canadian interests.
In this context, seeing an Alberta premier not get carried away by this circus is reassuring. Because beyond the question of tariffs, this reminds us that there is another vision of Canada than that of Ontarians, a realistic vision based on the fact that the identities of the provinces are stronger than the Canadian identity and that consequently provincial interests must take precedence over Canada’s so-called national interests.
In this context, let us hope that Quebec will also continue to defend its interests, before those of the Canadian chimera. Just as Alberta refuses to allow Canada to exploit its oil industry, which is the heart of its economy and its identity, Quebec should refuse to allow Canada to exploit its hydroelectricity, the economic and identity importance of which is obvious.
