Alberta Premier Rejects Federal Tariff Plan
The Story: A Canadian first ministers meeting focused on tariff threats from the United States resulted in a joint statement signed by all Canadian premiers, with one exception: Alberta’s Danielle Smith. Premier Smith stated that she cannot agree to the federal plan if a ban on oil exports to the United States is on the table. Estimates indicate that, if an export ban were implemented, up to a quarter of Alberta’s government revenues would evaporate and tens of thousands of jobs would be lost.
Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe joined Premier Smith in her opposition to energy export bans, although he did sign the joint statement. Outgoing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau criticized Smith, saying that “every single premier except Danielle Smith” put Canada first.
Smith has argued that a “Team Canada” policy cannot truly exist unless the country unites on getting Canadian energy to tidewater and treating Alberta’s taxpayers “with respect, and as an equal partner.”
The Significance: The truth is that all of Canada’s premiers are in a difficult position, needing to reconcile duty to country with duty to those they lead. And of all the Premiers, Smith’s position is uniquely difficult.
Alberta’s oilsands have long been the target of “environmentalists” within the Federal Liberal government. Provinces like British Columbia and Quebec have also set up roadblocks on efforts to get oil to tidewater, resulting in the cancellation of two significant pipelines that would have reduced Canadian dependence on the American market. And, above all, there is little doubt from political insiders that if Smith gives an inch, the oil sands would be the first industry on the chopping block to protect the large industries of other provinces such as Ontario’s auto manufacturing or Quebec’s aerospace.
The proposed ban would destroy Alberta’s economy, which means it would destroy the lives and livelihoods of the people for whom Danielle Smith is responsible. It is true that Smith owes a responsibility to Canada, but her primary responsibility is to the people of Alberta. As much as possible, she must find a way to reconcile those responsibilities but, where they conflict, the Christian principles of subsidiarity and the common good must take precedence.
The virtue of patriotism is an outgrowth of love for one’s neighbour. It’s hard to see how one can be patriotic by willingly allowing their neighbours to lose everything.
Read More: National Post, “NP View: Alberta has never been more alone”
Report: Government of Ontario Pays for 19 American Abortions
The Story: According to an alarming new report, the Province of Ontario covered the cost of 19 abortions for women who traveled to the United States for the procedure in 2023 and 2024. The average cost of each abortion was a stunning $17,381.58. According to Patricia Maloney, the publisher of the report, the steep cost likely indicates that the women received late-term, third-trimester abortions during which the unborn child is torn limb-from-limb and punctured in the brain before being fully removed from the womb.
Every province in Canada fully covers the cost of privately procured abortions, even as most plans do not fund similar private care for cancer and heart disease treatment despite 74,000 wait time deaths over the last six years.
The Significance: Canadians have long taken deep pride in the nation’s universal healthcare system. In 2004, Canadian television viewers even selected universal healthcare pioneer and NDP founder Tommy Douglas as the “Greatest Canadian.”
Under Canada’s revered universal system, very few private medical procedures are covered by public insurance plans. This includes many medically necessary procedures for which there are long public wait times. If a Canadian woman requires triple bypass heart surgery, she may have no choice but to wait for several months. If a Canadian woman wishes to receive an abortion, however, she is provided a litany of easily accessible private—and public—options from which to choose. Once the selected procedure is complete, the bloody premium is paid for by the Government.
This reveals, soberingly, that Canadian reverence for publicly delivered healthcare is still surpassed by a deeper reverence for the so-called right to abortion. Perhaps Henry Morgentaler would have made a more fitting “Greatest Canadian”.
Canada’s governments have been swift to shed innocent blood. God’s judgement will not relent forever. Our nation would do very well to turn away from the deadly wickedness of our past and embrace the risen Lord of life for forgiveness.
Read More: Clare Marie Merkowsky, LifeSiteNews, “19 Ontario women sent to US for abortions, costing taxpayers over $300,000”
Former Central Bank Governor Mark Carney Enters Liberal Leadership Race
The Story: On Thursday, former Bank of Canada and Bank of England Governor Mark Carney announced that he will run to become the next Leader of the Liberal Party and the next Prime Minister of Canada. Carney made the announcement in his hometown of Edmonton, Alberta, where he said, “I’ve helped manage multiple crises, and I’ve helped save two economies. I know how business works, and I know how to make it work for you.” In an apparent soft criticism of the Prime Minister, Carney stated that “our growth has been too slow. People’s wages are too low. The federal government spends too much, but it invests too little. Middle-class taxes are too high.”
In response to Carney’s announcement, the Conservative Party of Canada immediately released an advertisement criticizing the newly minted candidate as being “just like Justin” and drawing attention to his long history of supporting aggressive anti-climate change measures.
The Liberal Leadership race will conclude on Sunday, March 9, with the winner set to become Canada’s next Prime Minister. The race is widely expected to be a two-way contest between Carney and former Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland.
The Significance: Despite his “outsider” veneer, Mark Carney represents the same progressive ideals that Justin Trudeau pursued to the point of political destruction and national disaster. In a 2022 tweet responding to the United States Supreme Court’s reversal of Roe v Wade, Carney stated: “I’m proud to live in a country where a woman’s right to choose is so strongly supported. But the devastating decision today in the US is a clear reminder that progress should never be taken for granted. Our commitment to protecting fundamental rights must be unwavering.”
A desire to fix the financial chaos of the Liberal regime will not remove the moral degradation that has preceded Canada’s lack of fiscal prudence. We should pray for a Prime Minister that protects life and administers justice—not a Prime Minister who merely pursues death at a slightly slower pace than his predecessor.
Read More: Nadine Yousif, BBC News, “Mark Carney runs for leader of Canada’s Liberal Party”