EQUALIZATION

Federal equalization has not only outgrown its original purpose, but has been purposefully rewritten to automatically increase every year, which makes absolutely no economic sense.

It is least understood federal programme in Canada. Even though the current formula was implemented by Harper it was supposed to be part of a grand bargain - more equalization in return for pipelines to make Canada and energy superpower. However, provinces like PQ gladly took the higher equalization formula, but still rejected projects like Energy East and LNG export terminals.

Trudeau quietly extended that formula twice with no negotiations with any of the provinces. There is nothing scared about the existing equalization formula. It is not written in stone, it is not a constitutional right, it is not part of the Meech Lake Accord. Those are all myths.

https://www.westernstandard.news/opinion/giesbrecht-indigenous-threats-unlikely-to-faze-premier-smith/64624
🥱… the “chiefs” need to stay in their lane… blah,blah, blah
“ Pack up your bags and go." That’s what an Alberta Indian chief told Premier Danielle Smith to do, after Smith announced she would not stand in the way of a referendum on Alberta’s future in Canadian confederation. Other indigenous chiefs have been saying basically the same thing. They are promising a summer of protests and turmoil unless Smith backs down.

Albertans who might vote in favour of Alberta independence have meanwhile been called vile names, including “f***ing white trash Alberta separatists.” The chiefs claim that their treaty rights somehow stop Smith from allowing a referendum to be held.

But, as Cory Morgan explains in this video, treaties don’t give indigenous Albertans any more rights than any other Albertan.

If a referendum is held the chiefs and every other indigenous ...