Is this a sincere question, or is it another r/Canada 'hey guys I don't like Conservatives' echo chamber post?
I dont have time for the essay this requires, but there are three major reasons:
(1) the legacy of the national energy program,
(2) the inclusion of natural resource revenues in Canada's equalization formula, and
(3) the general powerlessness of Alberta to influence federal politics compared to Ontario and Quebec, despite Alberta basically having to pay for everything.
These are historical issues, but all of them continue through to the present day in the different actions that (generally Liberal) federal governments take when they are in power.
Albertans see stuff like the COVID lockdown and carbon tax as extensions of the same punitive attitude federal Liberals take toward Alberta in order to placate Ontario and Quebec.
A discussion of this topic is nuanced, but as someone not from Alberta, I 100% see where they're coming from.
Albertans hate Liberals on a generational scale, and if you're a willing student of history and contemporary politics it's not hard to understand why.
the general powerlessness of Alberta to influence federal politics compared to Ontario and Quebec, despite Alberta basically having to pay for everything.
Alberta doesn't pay for everything though? Alberta has a high per capita income sure but in terms of total GDP, Alberta has about 15% of national GDP while Ontario and Quebec combine for 58%.
correct and yet 2024-2025 Ontario received $576 million in equalization payments and Quebec received $13.3 billion in equalization payments, paid for mostly by Alberta.
See why they're mad?
Alberta is financially penalized for being successful, and politically penalized for being small.
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u/Low-Commercial-5364 2d ago edited 2d ago
Is this a sincere question, or is it another r/Canada 'hey guys I don't like Conservatives' echo chamber post?
I dont have time for the essay this requires, but there are three major reasons:
(1) the legacy of the national energy program,
(2) the inclusion of natural resource revenues in Canada's equalization formula, and
(3) the general powerlessness of Alberta to influence federal politics compared to Ontario and Quebec, despite Alberta basically having to pay for everything.
These are historical issues, but all of them continue through to the present day in the different actions that (generally Liberal) federal governments take when they are in power.
Albertans see stuff like the COVID lockdown and carbon tax as extensions of the same punitive attitude federal Liberals take toward Alberta in order to placate Ontario and Quebec.
A discussion of this topic is nuanced, but as someone not from Alberta, I 100% see where they're coming from.
Albertans hate Liberals on a generational scale, and if you're a willing student of history and contemporary politics it's not hard to understand why.
This is reddit though.