JerrySeinfeld

Yes. And part of his job as a public servant to the country is to point out the fact that the coalition was supported by a separatist party. And that a Quebec enviro-nazi who can barely speak english - remember, that OTHER official language? - who was resoundingly rejected in a very recent eletion tried to weasel his way to the primeministership through the support and lynchpinning of a separatist party. What part of this FACT don't YOU understand?

A little qcccounting lesson: Accelerated CCA is a common tax write down tool used by companies who make large capital expenditures. These capital expenditures (projects) employ people - which is why governments allow the accelerated write downs. In 2007 the feds took away this ability for oil companies specifically, partly to appease zealous environmentalists seeking to curtail oilsands development, but more likely to extend the write downs to Ontario manufacturing companies to encourage investment in that sagging sector (ie. to help out the sagging Ontario manufacturing sector). It was politicALLY AN EASY DECISION to screw the oil patch (once again) at the time because the Oilsands were overflowing with money and with oil at $145, projects would still go ahead. Now, companies are putting projects on hold - so all the minister is asking for is the same treatment that Ontario Manufacturing companies get - which is to reinstate the accelerated CCA write down ability. That's not special tax treatment. It's just asking to get the same break as the companies in Ontario are getting.

The Bloc's stated objective is to divide Canada. You're blaming the PM for citing the Bloc's stated objective? If we're gonnaq accuse someone of wanting to "divide" as you put it - shouldn't we at least give g=creidt where credit is due?

Maybe you should read your own article. The accelerated CCA write off was always in place and specifically TAKEN AWAY from the capex for oilsands development. At the same time,the same accelerated CCA write off is allowed for manufacturing and alternative energy. Got that? MANUFACTURING. So to summarize, in 2007 the government specifically took away the accelerated CCA write off from oil companies and gave it to MANUFACTURING. Got it? MANUFACTURING: READ: ONTARIO. ALL ALBERTA IS ASKING FOR IS THE SAME CCA WRITE DOWN TREATMENT THAT IS EXTENDED TO ONTARIO MANUFACTURING COMPANIES. Gee. What a terrible province. Asking to be treated equal to Ontario. The nerve! Could Ontario get any more self-absorbed? I think not.

The sad part is that this is actually a really GOOD predicament to be in when compared to QUebec, however for some reason everyone feels the need to take THEIR threats more seriously.

And here lies the REAL reason why Alberta should leave Canada. In large part, we are an entrepreneural, pioneering self supporting people who haven't generally grown up on the government teet the way the rest of Canada has been indoctrinated to do. Here lies the fundamental difference. See, most people in central or eastern Canada think like "Smallc" and actually think that, when they threaten that Alberta will no longer have the "Canada Pension Plan" or "Health Transfer Payments", they actually consider that to be a legitimate threat. This is because most central and eastern Canadians are trained to think of the federal government as a giant nanny who is gonig to take care of you. The breakdown in communication comes when they make these "threats" to take away government programs, when in reality we couldn't care less. Albertans would just look blindly at this kind of threat and say "so freaking what"?

ARRRRG! As a ration, logical person it is so frustrating and difficult to see people spew this kind of crap. Harper demonized quebec? Are you FREAKING KIDDING ME?! This has got to be the only country in the world where an entire province elects a party who's stated objective is to think about QUEBEC FIRST and to BREAK UP THE COUNTRY. Then when THAT party is the lynchpin that holds an entire new government in place, somehow the left wing nutjobs find a perverse way to pin it all on the "fear mongering conservatives". You should go join Michael Moore. After all, when 3,000 innocent civilians were blown up on 9-11, it was their fault, right? Talk about seeing the world from the inside of your own ass. Jesus.

Gee. So we're supposed to be happy when we write a big cheque to Ottawa and get a minue amount of that back? Golly - we sure are grateful!!

Alberta gets nuttin'. The Big Zilch. 'nuff said.

Once again, you lack a basic understanding of economics. Whether directly (auto plant jobs) or indirectly (all the other businesses that feed of the auto industry), a collapse in the auto manufacturing sector is a serious problem for Ontario. By contrast, given the major labour shortage in Alberta due to overwhelming growth, many Albertans are happy to see some return to normalcy - if only so that they can actually get a coffee at Tim Hortons witho0ut waiting in line for 40 minutes (people refuse to take these jobs due to the power of choice). By the way, Alberta's also debt free. Anyway, as I said, regardless of economics (your command of which leave much to be desired), I'd be glad to help your cause any way I can. Your post is lovely. For the west, it would be like convincing a fat, ugly, ungrateful, unemployed wife to agree to a divorce.

If you knew anything about economics your outlook might now be so promising, seeing as your province has chosen in typical backward-looking fashion to hitch your entire economic engine's wagon to Detroit's "big three" automakers. In other words good luck! Given the choice to bet on the future of the global economic picture I'd much rather be in the west's position, correlating to the massive long term growth profiles of both China & India, rather than Detroit's club of bankrupt dinosaurs. But regardless of how things play out, out west we'd love to see this split occur. Is there anything we can do to help your cause? Pretty please!!! Meantime, read this

Ahh. A familiar old standard red herring remork, designed to, yet again, deflect attention. What's next? "Muslims worry of backlash in anticipation of tomorrow's bombings"?

This is the kind of bossy overconfident, aggresive and demanding remark that makes your religion such an easy target for criticism. At least GW Bush had the vision to be able to recognize your dangerous attitudes and abundant intolerance for others' opinions.

See - NOW we're talking. We can start a wealthy country and the lefties in the remaining ROC can vote themselves more lollipops with no-one left to pay for 'em. Sounds good to me!

I just thought of a fun friday debate: If Alberta, BC, Sask and Throw in Manitoba, separated (god willing), who would have the better Hockey team, the rest of Canada or the new republic? I just looked at our 2002 gold-medal winning hockey team. It looks like the "Bloc Torontois" would have an edge, but we're not factoring in players who didn't make the squad. The West's players: Paul Kariya Eric Brewer Scott Neidermeyer Ryan Smyth Joe Sakic Steve Yzerman Theo Fleury Ed Belfour The East's: Martin Brodeur Rob Blake Ed Jovanovski Al McCinnes Chris Pronger SImon Gagner Mario Lemieux Eric Lindros Joe Newendyk Mike Peca Brendan Shanahan It looks like the east produced our goalies and defense, while the west has the best scoring talent. WOuld be a GREAT rivalry! Yet another good reason for the West's independence!!!

Decent points. Here are my replies: Only a benefit if they're not on the dole - an arguable point here in this country. Reputation? I'd rather trade the reputation in for cold hard cash any day of the week. What industries, by the way? And please....PLEASE don't hurt your own ause by saying "Bombardier"....ick. And if you mention th auto industry I think I'll start laughing so hard my head will blow up. The auto industry in Ontario is a creation of the government. We could do the same thing if we were so stupid: erect big tariffs and force the "big 3" (if they even exist anymore hahahahahaha) to set up plants in Pacificalta. One very good point - but not insurmountable. Besides, if we separated it's not as if Royal, BNS, CIBC et. al. would roll up and leave. Wouldn't disap[pear with independence. Decent point - might be some tariffs erected to move goods to halifax for shipping. BUt I'd rather pay a few tariffs than subsidize Ontario and Quebec for the rest of my life. Manufacturing is going to China. Forever. Give it up already, Ontario. That would be our choice. If we did choose to nationlize, it would be superior due to our wealth. ugh. I think I just swallowed my own vomit. so? the norwegian passport. the trinidadian passport. the Alberta Passport....etc.... The Pacificalta (working title haha) bill of rights. The supreme court of Pacificalta Rich? The country's constitution is 27 years old. Great new rivalry between the two new teams. Culture doesn't go away with new boundaries. Same places. New names, new borders. Great new vacation plans!

You're arguing my point. And yes - there is a long laundry list if benefits FOR the West to separate. My question, which has only been addressed once so far in 8...count them EIGHT pages of dialogue, is what are the benefits to STAYING IN CANADA. Seems to be a pretty slim list.

I got this on line: new countries since 1990 Given this MASSIVE trend toward independence and self-determination all around the world, I have a couple of questions: 1. If Palau, Iritria, Montenegro, Serbia, Kosovo, Micronesia, Croatia, Macedonia, East Timor, etc etc etc can separate, then why can't Quebec? This Quebec separatist movement has got to be the most futile in the earth's history. Basically everyone who wants to, is getting independence. But Quebec, in the biggest money shakedown in the history of consitutional politics, keeps "somehow" missing the mark - if ever so slightly. Always. 2. Why shouldn't Canada look at this trend a little more seriously. Why should Quebec be in Canada? Or The West, for that matter. It seems obvious that these two regions would operate in greater peace and prosperity (well, the West, anyway) as independent nations. Shouldn't we just follow this trend? Peaceful coexistence is still possible, and perhaps even more LIKELY if we were to reorganize and create some "friendly fences" between our neighbouring countries. I think it's a great idea, a peaceful, friendly disbanding of this perverse nation.

You make some good points. But take a look at countries in the mid-east - who are constantly able to attract people from all over the world to work in the oil industry. Alberta has been successful at attracting mexicans for construction jobs as another example. Labour, as with capital, should be fluid and easily able to move. That's actually part of the problem with Canada's ideals as it sits now: people look at "provinces" as if they are homeless people - when they are down on their luck we need to give them money. But it makes no sense to give a "province" (a peiec of land) welfare, when there are perfectly good paying jobs elsewhere in the country. People can move. Who says you have a god-given right to plant your ass wherever you want and expect the government to pay for it. Basic economics; go where the dough is! I don't think it's unreasonable to expect that in a hypothetical new republic, that the border could easily still be porous enough for Newfies and others to come work and live in "Pacificalta" (working title haha) if they want to. On your other point, I agree it hasn't been all bad and that there was a long time ago when the federal government actually briefly put money IN to Alberta. But wait a second. That's not necessarily a great reason to be part of confederation. A big part has to do with self-determination. Imagine a heavy handed parent who, in your youth, helped you out with a bit of cash from time to time. I think we can all put ourselves in that place for a moment, and realize that, perhaps the odd cheque in time of need wasn't really worth being told what to do, and that independence is sometimes more important than someone holding a dollar over your nose making you jump. It's not a great analogy, but you get the idea. I know I for one would be perfectly willing to risk some hard times from time to time if that's the price of liberty and self-determination. Besides, the old "if you leave you'll have no one to take care of you in the bad times" suonds like famous last words before you grow a spine, walk out and never look back.

Humble pie for what? For financing the country? For constantly being beat up by the "Bloc Torontois" (ie. Quebec and Toronto)? How can you suggest a wealthy, huge net contributor to Canada's finances, province who wants some control over it's own destiny...how can you suggest they need some humble pie? Meantime the ogre middle brother, Quebec, smashes down the household door, pronounces it's grievances, how it is "unhappy" and "different", demands whatever it wants and always gets it for decades on end? But no. It's ALBERTA thast needs the humble pie. WHat colour is the sky in your world?

I completely agree. For all the hype, this guy had to be dragged across the finish lnie, not once (primaries) but TWICE (general election) by the media. So much for all the hype. As with GW Bush, he's just another president who won by a sliver.

That's a strawman you built up to tear back down. Give me one example...ONE example where the west has EVER gotten "it's way." What a joke. Dis be true. But let's please remember that next time somone tries to sound intelligent by announcing the obvious: "Saddam used to be an american ALLY!!" ooooooh ahhhhhhh.

You're funny, Kimmy. That's actually the best answer so far. Regretfully , that's not saying much for the other responses, however. Nuttin' wrong with a bit o' humor though.

Mark Steyn in classic form: and and my personal favorite: Freaking hilarious. When reality is too ridiculous, why not laugh.

Gee. what an intelligent post. Such well constructed arguments... LOL. You sound like you're in grade 3. Next! p.s. This thread is now on to 7...count them...SEVEN...pages and yet still no answer to my simple, basic, direct question: What are the benefits to the west staying in Canada. Still waiting....