André Pratte: Dialogue key to decreasing tensions between Alberta and Quebec

Yahoo

6 days ago

Seven years ago, Quebec Premier François Legault made a very unfortunate comment, calling oil from Alberta's oil sands 'dirty energy.' 'I am not embarrassed to refuse dirty energy while we are offering clean energy at a competitive price,' Legault said, rejecting the idea of a pipeline crossing Quebec's territory to reach the port of Saint John, New Brunswick. Albertans were incensed, and rightfully so, considering that Quebec receives billions in equalization payments thanks, in part, to Alberta's prosperity. Consider also that Quebecers consume millions of barrels of gas from the oil sands each year.
Last week, at a hearing held by the Alberta Next panel, Premier Danielle Smith made a derogatory comment about Quebec that went largely unnoticed. Regarding the possibility that her province might withdraw from the national supply management regime, Smith stated: 'Creating our own Alberta version of supply management, maybe as a pathway to a market system and … just because it would stick our finger in the eye of Quebec … might be (something) we want to do a little consultation on.'
Let's leave aside that sticking a finger in fellow Canadians' eyes is a very poor basis for crucial policy decisions. Her comment is of the kind that responsible politicians in Canada should not encourage, let alone make. There is enough anti-Alberta, anti-Toronto, anti-Quebec prejudice in our country; while defending their province's interests, provincial premiers should avoid language that escalates rather than calms tensions within our federation.
I understand why many Albertans are angry with Quebec. I also understand how Quebecers came to hold negative views about the oil sands. I believe that such misunderstandings can be alleviated by dialogue. Unfortunately, few of our elected officials, federally or provincially, appear willing to engage in such open-minded discussions.
Politically, it is often easier to ride on people's prejudices than to challenge them. This is certainly what Legault has been doing since being elected in 2018. Unfortunately, Mr. Legault has invested very little energy in improving relationships between Quebec and other provinces.
My impression is that Smith is doing exactly the same in encouraging the view that Alberta's problems are mainly caused by a federal government controlled by Ontario and Quebec. I noticed that the Premier's message on Canada Day said very little about what unites Canadians; it was all about Alberta.
It is unclear how Mr. Legault feels about Canada, so we should not expect more from him. But we know that Smith is a proud Canadian; her words and actions should reflect that. I am afraid that, for the moment, the Alberta Premier is more concerned about not losing the separatist vote than about promoting Alberta's interests within a united Canada.
This is a time where Canadians need to hold hands to face the new, threatening world we live in. This can only happen if we overcome our simplistic views of Canadians from other regions, cultures, religions, age groups, etc. Diversity is Canada's strength, we often hear. However, we need to go beyond flowery statements. Our national unity is based on respect for diversity. This requires hard work from everybody, especially our leaders.
I had the privilege of sitting in Canada's Senate for three and a half years. There are things I did not like in the Red Chamber, which is why I resigned. What I enjoyed the most was working with thoughtful Canadians from all walks of life and regions in order to solve common problems, from pipelines to supply management, from the environment to public finance, from official languages to national unity. The vast majority of Senators I worked with were willing to listen to my concerns, and I certainly tried my best to listen, really listen, to theirs. In the end, most of the time, we found a pathway to a win-win solution.
Sitting beside me in the Senate for two years was Murray Sinclair, who sadly passed last year. Murray, as we all know, had courageously chaired the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. I learned more from Senator Sinclair during those two years, not only about Indigenous issues but about life in general, than in my 35 years in journalism. I could say the same about quite of few of my former colleagues.
Listening and keeping an open mind is the key to keeping this country together at a crucial time in our common history. Our past demonstrates that we are up to the task if we put our hearts into it. Let's begin.
André Pratte, a former Senator, is a communications consultant and a doctoral student in history.
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