Alberta's Endless Struggle for Change Within Canada

Alberta Health Services bureaucrat Cameron Donald recently expressed his views on Alberta's place within the Canadian federation in an article published by the Calgary Herald as part of their 'Alberta Voices' series.

Donald argued that despite decades of effort, including the Western Canada Concept efforts of the early 1980s and the Reform Party's 'West wants in' campaign in the 1990s, Alberta has not achieved significant change within the federation. He cited the Senate imbalance as a major issue affecting the West.

Donald admitted that things are indeed bad for Alberta but suggested that independence would lead to workers contributing almost 50% of their gross pay towards pension plans and other national expenses, and an additional 15% Alberta Sales Tax with no food exemptions or low-income rebates. However, pro-independence analyses project the ability to replace federal programs while reducing overall burdens on households.

Donald also raised concerns about the end of oil and gas resources, but this is pessimistic forecasting as demand for these resources is expected to remain strong in the coming decades.