Hydraboss

This sounds like a Caledonia-related issue.

I'm just curious what people on this board think. Should Canada remain status quo, or should it operate as a confederation of independant/semi-independant states? Every once in a while, the seperation issue is brought up although it most often is regarding Kwebek. What about the other provinces? If you agree that they should have the power, what conditions should be placed upon the seperation?

By the way, could anyone name the other provinces that could seperate and accept their portion of the national debt and the CPP unfunded liability? Just curious who they are.

If it is so easy, why are you waiting?!?!? I think the only difference between Albertans and rest-of-Canadians is that they have oil. I doubt they have the courage to stand on their own. Nowhere in my post did I say that it would be easy. Anything worth having or doing rarely is. Courage? I think that you are misleading yourself if you feel that Albertans lack the courage. They are no doubt hesitant, but I believe that this is more because of laziness to change the welfare-state mentality of supporting the ROC (Ontario excepted). After so many years of supporting others on national welfare, it is not only impossible for the ROC to give up as receipients, but for Albertans to end the handouts as the providers. This is comparable to the parent that just can't let their children make their own way and their own mistakes. The ROC will forever live in the basement suites of Alberta and Ontario, eating TV dinners that their parents bought, collecting their cheques to go out on Friday night, and complaining that it's not enough. As for Alberta being no different than the rest of Canada, I strongly disagree. We need nothing from the other parts of the country. A great number of the anti-oil (anti-Alberta?) crowd that posts here are from the east. They complain about the environment by typing it on a plastic keyboard made from natural gas stock. Just where do these people think the products of the oilpatch go? Ask the Dow Chemical people, the BP Canada people, and the EMC (Exxon-Mobil-Imperial) people about Sarnia, and about where they get their NG feedstock. If Alberta were to firewall itself either on a national basis, or just a resource basis, the east would have to either buy from us, or from the States, who in turn would buy somewhat from Alberta. Net reduction in emissions of zero. Without a doubt, Alberta could stand on it's own. Maybe we should apply for "distinct society" status? Being financially independant and debt free certainly makes us different from other parts of Canada. According to the ROC, we say "ya'all" and "howdy" all the time, so does that qualify as a language? I think we meet the requirements of the definition. Maybe our next Premiere should be Duceppe. We'd just have to give him Stephen's cowboy hat.

The whole country likes to take shots at Alberta for "polluting this" and "contributing to that" but if Alberta reduces its oilpatch and oil supply falls, or it reduces its oilpatch and natural gas pipelines to the east aren't up to full pressure, prices will rise. And then the moaning and bitching will start! Why is everything so expensive?????? Why don't they just increase production so my gas is cheaper?????? There's no making anyone happy, and therefore I say...to hell with it. Let Alberta seperate, and sell its products to the highest bidder. No more Liberals. No more Feds. No more Kyotocrime. If you're going to bitch, we'll give you a reason. And we'll control our own immigration. NO MORE TRANSFER PAYMENTS!!! WHOO-HOO!!!!!!!

Okay, what about Newfoundland? If Kwebek is a nation, then so is Newfoundland. Should they have special status as a nation? God knows the language may or may not be english.

Led, read again what I wrote about the fishermen. This group of people is representative of way, way too many groups throughout Canada. I have said the same things about the unemployed in Alberta (but they were not the subject of this thread, this time). I was in Alberta when oil went below $10, and I didn't sit on my ass. I moved to get a job, family and all. I believe that ANYONE who sits on EI for half a year or more as a lifestyle is f*cking lazy. Everyone wants the finer things in life, but not everyone believes they should have to work for it. That alone makes me sick. The whole internet for free issue is a symtom of a much larger problem in this country, and until the political will is there to end this social communism it will continue to worsen. Got $20? Give me 8 just cause I want it. It's my right, you know.

Led, I appreciate your input on the matter. I believe in fairness and equality in ALL of Canada. Transfer payments were created to ensure that essential services were made available equally in Canada. Internet is not an essential service. Why are all working Canadians paying for it? So you think I'm disgusting? Care to specify why? What is it you don't like about my comments? I have a ton of eastern guys working for me, and they will tell you firsthand what the coast is like. There is no more credible witness to that situation than people born and raised there. If you don't like my comments, dispute them. Want to take cheap shots? Go ahead. I am more than capable of defending myself. My views have never been hidden in any of the threads that I have posted in. Go ahead and check. Until you have something of value to say, why not sit quietly.

Actually, the signature is something I was called on this board because I am a conservative. The member is now banned, but I wanted the stupid comment to live on.... It's not a contest. It's a difference of opinion about the entitlement of regional peoples in Canada. Poor, poor east coast people. Big, bad, rich "others". I find the stereotyping abhorent, and therefore I will stereotype all fishermen as a group to illicit the expected response.

The perpetual EI train should end for everyone. It is a safety net, not a fishing net. Fisherman work no harder than any rig hand in Alberta. But rig hands work a hell of a lot longer hours for a hell of a lot more months...and no "short qualification" for them to collect EI. They get other jobs, as do construction workers (building or infrastructure) and a host of other professions. The reason they don't work the full year is BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE TO. It always amazes me that people will jump to the defence of an east coast fisherman, but ignore the other professions that have it harder (ie oil workers). Higgly - very intelligent rebuttal.

Nice avoidance of the issue. "...spend pennis to help these people..." I spend lots of pennies helping all kinds of "these people". In fact, several million pennies every year. They're called taxes. And I pay far more than my share so that "these people" do not have to work like "those people", and don't have to pay taxes like "those people", and don't have to pay for their internet like "those people". When you start paying out 40+% of your hard-earned income, let's see if you still have the same attitude. "People like you" disgust me. You believe that my kids should not have everything that I can afford to give them (it's my income and therefore my right) because someone else wants to sit on the "package". I typically only run into "people like you" at hiring fairs. "They" are usually fresh from university and have not paid their dues.....or their taxes. Get off your high horse.

It certainly rings the stupidity bell. Mortality rates are due to unsafe working conditions, not six months of employment. Soldiers die too. Should we give them half a year off with pay? As for comparing WCB to mortality rates.... First, I used that statement to prove that mortality rates had no more place in this discussion than injury rates. Second, the mortality rates for industry ARE RECORDED AND PUBLISHED BY THE WCB!. Safety and WCB are what I do for a living. You should learn what the hell you are talking about before you start this fight. That's right, lazy f*cking fisherman.

*double post*

What the hell does the mortality rate got to do with anything? Roofers have the highest WCB lost time claims rate.

No, Higgly, you are wrong about my attitude. People scream for equality, except when it comes to personal responsibility. Then it's okay for someone to sit on their lazy ass. They're owed everything. Want services? Pay taxes. As for the Alberta trust company thing. BS. The oil and gas industry supports this country (in part), so that lazy f*cking fisherman can have free internet. And yes, I have mine. I worked my ass off to get it. Why should I take less so others can have for free what I pay for? Communism

This makes me sick. "You have it, but I can't afford it so the government owes it to me!" Bullshit. I have cable tv, high speed internet, and a phone too. AND I PAY FOR IT ALL. Lazy f*cking fishermen don't want to move, don't want to work, but YES I will take free services that the rest of the WORKING PART OF CANADA has to pay for. Cut them off completely. End the EI gravy train. Want services? Move. Want internet? Pay for it. What a load of whiny, self-entitled BS!

What does happen to them? Give you an idea.....back in 1967 my cousin was driving a petrol truck to CFB Bordon when he swerved to avoid a head on collision. He ended up in hospital with 3rd degree burns over 75% of his body. Two or three month into his hospital stay he was told he was being discharged from the hospital because he was being discharged from the army. My uncle, his dad was a warrent officer at the time...he hit the roof and raised serious shit.....but to no end. He was released, he collected a bugger all disability pension and underwent another few years of hospital care. His life was hell. I've just been reading along, but I have this uncontrollable urge to call BULLSHIT!!!!!!!!! A person receiving 3rd degree burns to over 75% of his body COULD NOT be released in three months. Impossible. And I must state again...BULLSHIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The human body cannot recover itself to a point of sufficience in that short of a timespan. Check with the University of Alberta Burn unit. I have. If you want to relay a story for impact, quit lying and tell the story as it happened.

That would explain jazz drummers.

w&w, I do believe that I have seen your vision in a few sci-fi movies. That being said, I'm all for it. Instead of ankle bracelets, could we go with the neck bracelets that explode if the convicts cross a certain invisible line? The bleeding hearts of this country would no doubt cry and moan about Canada setting up another Siberia. Still, a good idea none the less. While this idea may have merit, I still like the idea of forced labour camps better (in the Arctic> Fine!). I have been involved in discussions here that followed along the same lines, and the opposition always comes up with the same line, "And how would that reform the (poor & downtrodden) prisoners? What about when they get out? What then?" Who cares. The types of crimes that would get you sent to a camp like this would reassign you to the "couldn't care less if you live or die" category. Rehab means nothing to a murderer. And if it does, and he's truly sorry? Who cares.

Actually, I can....USA....got a point?

My wife and I are both Roman Catholic, and there is no way in hell we would leave either of our kids in the sole company of a priest. The days of trust without question of the clergy has long since passed, and the Catholic church will never do anything to counteract that because that would be an admission that these things could still happen. And what's worse, I think they will.

Same question requires the same answer: Can work?...Get a job or starve. Can't work?...We'll pay for the basics. Anything other than that and it's purely paying people to sit on their asses, smoke and drink cheap beer (cause you get more cheap stuff for the same taxpayer money, and that leaves some cash to go to cheap beer night at the bar.) People will argue this to death, but there is no such thing as a person who can't find a job in Alberta. Yet we have thousands of dumb-asses that "can't find work" and would much rather live off the taxpayer teat. It's frickin embarrasing as a province, and in most cases applies to the rest of Canada too. If we cut off the money, they'll sure find work in a hurry.

Deleted for double post.

I had no intention of starting a debate on whether or not the residential schools debate is based on truth. My interest is solely in the statement that Margrace made. Priests were killers. If not able to prove it, this would represent the most heinous slander I have ever heard. I only wanted to know if there was in fact documented proof of this ever occuring.

Perhaps I am not completely knowledgeable in the entire residential schools issue, but is there any proof that these priests were murderers, because that's one hell of a claim you just made. I would be interested in a link to documented proof.