I am an Albertan who loves this country (faults and all), who loves this province, who is embarrassed by our current provincial leaders, and who does not ageee with David Staples one iota. I am terrified at the prospect of becoming American. That offers zero appeal, and would make life markedly worse.
Mr. Staples was co-opted years ago by Danielle Smith and her UCP masters. He is not a journalist; Staples is a run-on sentence for everything that Smith et al represent. By definition, everything that is even close to being left of center.
I can agree that in some way Canada is broken in that it gave rise to trump bootlicker Polyester Pete. That being said, take note that he and his broken canadian followers will never lead the rest of us to the kool aid dispenser like our U.S. counterparts have been greedily lapping up. We are way, way better than that. Polivere ,Smith, Mr. Staples and those of their ilk are no more than detrius under trumps feet, you matter not and the people you represent will suffer because of your weakness. However, a warning to those who are seeking to sell us out. Canadians are no longer the quiet ones, no longer the polite apologists we are known for, we are proactive in our protection of democracy. We will stand STRONG against those who seek to bring us down. We will stand FREE to those who seek to suppress us. We will stand TRUE to the tenets of democracy and will fight for them and for those who cannot fight for themselves. Anything less, anything that dimishes these ideals besmirches the canadian ethos.
Thanks Charlie. My dad grew up in Mussolini’s Italy. Some of the things he told me about fascists still stick with me today. Horrible things happened which I know gave him nightmares till his dying day. Shortly after the war was over, he left for Canada and a new life trying to leave behind the horrors of his youth. He and many thousands of Italians did the same. For many those scars were always there. They came to Canada to have families and help build a nation. Thank you for keeping the Mango Mussolini at bay.
Let's not bee too hard on Alberta Charlie. I am from Ontario originally (like MANY Albertans), but I had to move to AB to get work. Oil and has has been the backbone of the Canadian economy and AB is a major reason for that.
The fact is, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia have received no equalization payments during the last 15 years.
Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Quebec and Manitoba have received payments every year since 1957.
Newfoundland and Labrador as well as Ontario are also receiving payments in 2024-2025, the first time since 2007-08 for Newfoundland and Labrador.
As the FAIRNESS AB group says, "Funding for Equalization comes from federal taxes and goes directly to provincial governments calculated to be below average in “fiscal capacity.” Albertans’ higher per capita tax payments mean they have been making a net contribution of $15-27 billion annually – over $3 billion of that goes towards the $20 billion Equalization program. This is entirely a “net” contribution since Alberta receives no payments."
I will admit however that Daniel Smith's willingness to suck up to Trump and do his dance has me more than a little pissed off at her. She clearly doesn't get it. You can't negotiate with a narcissistic psychopath.
I believe Albertans are as much behind the buy/support Canada wave, as any other Canadian.
Interesting enough, Eastern Canadians are a lot more interested in an eastward pipeline now, than they were just a few short moths ago. I wonder why?
Treat Canadians right and we can be warm as the sun. Try to humiliate and insult us, and we’ll be as cold as a northern Alberta night in Feb.
I am very encourage by the unity and strength Canadians have shown in the face of a bully. To all of those who act brave and talk about us being loosers and deserve to be taken over, are scared and are cowards in the face of danger.
They would be the same ones that still dwell on having their freedom taken away by having to slip on a mask to help prevent the spread of a deadly disease.
Ask Russian citizens if they have more freedom after supporting a dictator. You’re free as long as you don’t disagree.
I n case all you brainless loudmouths haven’t noticed, you still have the right to bitch and complain, even when your mouth is spewing diarrhea.
Charlie, I am stunned at the absence of voices belonging to our 'leading' citizens. People who are routinely selected for 'councils of prominent Canadians' have remained silent. Why aren't the Bronfmans, Thomsons, Irvings, etc leading the charge?
I’ve been thinking about Austria in 1938 and how Nazi Germany annexed it with little or no resistance. And I’ve been thinking about Dunkirk and Churchill’s “defend our Island what ever the cost maybe” speech.
With apologies to Winston:
I have, myself, full confidence that if all do their duty, if nothing is neglected, and if the best arrangements are made, as they are being made, we shall prove ourselves once again able to defend our northern home, to ride out the storm of war, and to outlive the menace of tyranny, if necessary for years, if necessary alone.
At any rate, that is what we are going to try to do. That is the resolve of the Canadian people. That is the will of the nation. Every Canadian, linked together in our cause and in our need, will “stand on guard” and defend to the death our “home and native land”, aiding each other like good neighbours to the utmost of our strength.
Even though large tracts of the globe and many older nations may fall from the slashing of the DOGE and all the odious apparatus of MAGA rule, we shall not flag or fail. We shall go on to the end, we shall fight in the media, we shall fight in the market and exchanges, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength, we shall defend the “True North Strong and Free,” whatever the cost may be.
We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender, and even if, which I do not for a moment believe, this Nation or a large part of it were subjugated and starving, then our friends beyond the seas, armed and guarded by our common interests, would carry on the struggle, until, in good time, the American people, with all their “freedom and bravery”, might steps forth, gives their collective heads a shake, rise up against their tyrannical government & liberate themself from the grip of the morons and their fascist oligarchy.
My Dad was in the underground movement in Denmark during Second World War, fighting the Nazi occupation. The traitors did not do well when the war ended. Keep up the good work. Thank you for speaking up so loudly.
Canada 🇨🇦 strong in UNITY !! We're bigger and better than ANYTHING or ANY PERSON who threatens our identity of peace, harmony, beauty and friendship for all if you want to join us…let's have a WAR OF PEACE AND LOVE…
The Stapler* got his start as a hockey columnist, I don't know if he ever played but he writes like someone who took too many shots to the head without a helmet. He makes Big Bobby Clobber look educated and erudite. Sometime in the 20 teens as the EJ was purging anyone to the left of Stephen Harper they figured out he should be an op-ed writer, he has the right combination of ignorance, stupid, and 'I was just following orders' for the NP empire. During the pandemic he published 'opinions' about public health measures and vaccines that weren't just wrong, they were dangerous and stupid. He's one of the reasons we cancelled the EJ in 2019, got tired of paying to have our intelligence insulted by another blithering idiot in the paper.
The bottom line is Staples will say whatever the UCP, the energy industry, and the far right cabal that runs the media in AB, tell him to say. He might actually even believe it, but like most of those people, I think the only thing he believes in is his paycheque.
* I know this is unfair to staplers, they're actually useful.
I am an Albertan who loves this country (faults and all), who loves this province, who is embarrassed by our current provincial leaders, and who does not ageee with David Staples one iota. I am terrified at the prospect of becoming American. That offers zero appeal, and would make life markedly worse.
I feel like David Staples has lost his marbles. I honestly thought he was brighter than the screed he's turning out these days.
Mr. Staples was co-opted years ago by Danielle Smith and her UCP masters. He is not a journalist; Staples is a run-on sentence for everything that Smith et al represent. By definition, everything that is even close to being left of center.
Maybe let’s not vote in PP Canada.
I can agree that in some way Canada is broken in that it gave rise to trump bootlicker Polyester Pete. That being said, take note that he and his broken canadian followers will never lead the rest of us to the kool aid dispenser like our U.S. counterparts have been greedily lapping up. We are way, way better than that. Polivere ,Smith, Mr. Staples and those of their ilk are no more than detrius under trumps feet, you matter not and the people you represent will suffer because of your weakness. However, a warning to those who are seeking to sell us out. Canadians are no longer the quiet ones, no longer the polite apologists we are known for, we are proactive in our protection of democracy. We will stand STRONG against those who seek to bring us down. We will stand FREE to those who seek to suppress us. We will stand TRUE to the tenets of democracy and will fight for them and for those who cannot fight for themselves. Anything less, anything that dimishes these ideals besmirches the canadian ethos.
Thanks Charlie. My dad grew up in Mussolini’s Italy. Some of the things he told me about fascists still stick with me today. Horrible things happened which I know gave him nightmares till his dying day. Shortly after the war was over, he left for Canada and a new life trying to leave behind the horrors of his youth. He and many thousands of Italians did the same. For many those scars were always there. They came to Canada to have families and help build a nation. Thank you for keeping the Mango Mussolini at bay.
Let's not bee too hard on Alberta Charlie. I am from Ontario originally (like MANY Albertans), but I had to move to AB to get work. Oil and has has been the backbone of the Canadian economy and AB is a major reason for that.
The fact is, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia have received no equalization payments during the last 15 years.
Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Quebec and Manitoba have received payments every year since 1957.
Newfoundland and Labrador as well as Ontario are also receiving payments in 2024-2025, the first time since 2007-08 for Newfoundland and Labrador.
As the FAIRNESS AB group says, "Funding for Equalization comes from federal taxes and goes directly to provincial governments calculated to be below average in “fiscal capacity.” Albertans’ higher per capita tax payments mean they have been making a net contribution of $15-27 billion annually – over $3 billion of that goes towards the $20 billion Equalization program. This is entirely a “net” contribution since Alberta receives no payments."
I will admit however that Daniel Smith's willingness to suck up to Trump and do his dance has me more than a little pissed off at her. She clearly doesn't get it. You can't negotiate with a narcissistic psychopath.
I believe Albertans are as much behind the buy/support Canada wave, as any other Canadian.
Interesting enough, Eastern Canadians are a lot more interested in an eastward pipeline now, than they were just a few short moths ago. I wonder why?
Anyway, behind you all the way Charlie!
Treat Canadians right and we can be warm as the sun. Try to humiliate and insult us, and we’ll be as cold as a northern Alberta night in Feb.
I am very encourage by the unity and strength Canadians have shown in the face of a bully. To all of those who act brave and talk about us being loosers and deserve to be taken over, are scared and are cowards in the face of danger.
They would be the same ones that still dwell on having their freedom taken away by having to slip on a mask to help prevent the spread of a deadly disease.
Ask Russian citizens if they have more freedom after supporting a dictator. You’re free as long as you don’t disagree.
I n case all you brainless loudmouths haven’t noticed, you still have the right to bitch and complain, even when your mouth is spewing diarrhea.
Charlie, I am stunned at the absence of voices belonging to our 'leading' citizens. People who are routinely selected for 'councils of prominent Canadians' have remained silent. Why aren't the Bronfmans, Thomsons, Irvings, etc leading the charge?
Why anyone with half a brain cell would want Trump as a leader is beyond anything I can comprehend!
I’ve been thinking about Austria in 1938 and how Nazi Germany annexed it with little or no resistance. And I’ve been thinking about Dunkirk and Churchill’s “defend our Island what ever the cost maybe” speech.
With apologies to Winston:
I have, myself, full confidence that if all do their duty, if nothing is neglected, and if the best arrangements are made, as they are being made, we shall prove ourselves once again able to defend our northern home, to ride out the storm of war, and to outlive the menace of tyranny, if necessary for years, if necessary alone.
At any rate, that is what we are going to try to do. That is the resolve of the Canadian people. That is the will of the nation. Every Canadian, linked together in our cause and in our need, will “stand on guard” and defend to the death our “home and native land”, aiding each other like good neighbours to the utmost of our strength.
Even though large tracts of the globe and many older nations may fall from the slashing of the DOGE and all the odious apparatus of MAGA rule, we shall not flag or fail. We shall go on to the end, we shall fight in the media, we shall fight in the market and exchanges, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength, we shall defend the “True North Strong and Free,” whatever the cost may be.
We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender, and even if, which I do not for a moment believe, this Nation or a large part of it were subjugated and starving, then our friends beyond the seas, armed and guarded by our common interests, would carry on the struggle, until, in good time, the American people, with all their “freedom and bravery”, might steps forth, gives their collective heads a shake, rise up against their tyrannical government & liberate themself from the grip of the morons and their fascist oligarchy.
My Dad was in the underground movement in Denmark during Second World War, fighting the Nazi occupation. The traitors did not do well when the war ended. Keep up the good work. Thank you for speaking up so loudly.
We now need to put USA on the top of the list of countries that we need to be vigilant against in election interference.
Canada 🇨🇦 strong in UNITY !! We're bigger and better than ANYTHING or ANY PERSON who threatens our identity of peace, harmony, beauty and friendship for all if you want to join us…let's have a WAR OF PEACE AND LOVE…
The Stapler* got his start as a hockey columnist, I don't know if he ever played but he writes like someone who took too many shots to the head without a helmet. He makes Big Bobby Clobber look educated and erudite. Sometime in the 20 teens as the EJ was purging anyone to the left of Stephen Harper they figured out he should be an op-ed writer, he has the right combination of ignorance, stupid, and 'I was just following orders' for the NP empire. During the pandemic he published 'opinions' about public health measures and vaccines that weren't just wrong, they were dangerous and stupid. He's one of the reasons we cancelled the EJ in 2019, got tired of paying to have our intelligence insulted by another blithering idiot in the paper.
The bottom line is Staples will say whatever the UCP, the energy industry, and the far right cabal that runs the media in AB, tell him to say. He might actually even believe it, but like most of those people, I think the only thing he believes in is his paycheque.
* I know this is unfair to staplers, they're actually useful.
We should help staples with his paperwork and find him a nice bungalow in Arizona