Oooooph. Dion was doing good until the end. “Your parents had it hard too,” “we had double digit inflation,” “you should travel the world and be adored like a rock star like I was.” Took a good argument about staying Canadian and drove it straight off a cliff. Tell me you you're an elite without telling me you're an elite. Unconsciously belittling the struggles of the upcoming generations is emphatically not helping.
I am a senior......my three sons in their 40's are in a better position financially at their age than I was....my 4 Grandkids are taking advantage of RESP to attend post secondary school without going into debt....I was in debt at the end of post secondary.
My wife and I through hard work and some luck are comfortable and we travel extensively. ...but we didn't have the wherewithal to travel until our late 40's. It boggles our mind when we go to YYC and see all the families with very young children traveling to sun destinations and Europe. Strollers and Car Seats out number golf clubs to the sun destinations.
Its different times now, as it was from my parents generation to ours. People in Canada are living longer, standard of living is higher and expectation of homes and personal time is greater....all good.... I do know from our travels in Europe, Africa and Asia that Canada is well respected (despite the 10 years of our embarrassing crown prince) and Canada has a lot of positives....and we are thankful to live in such a great country.
100% agree that he definitely lost the plot at the end. I'm a retired baby boomer and I regularly worry about the future for my kids and maybe someday, grandkids.
The last question about the 26 year old oil worker in Ft Mac worker was telling though. Until we have a better answer than referring to double digit interest rates, young people will continue to rage, up to and including, being separatists. We have a generation of people who grew up in the suburbs who are now realizing they will never own a house as nice as the one they grew up in. They're understandably pretty upset about that.
I remember in the 1980s when I was a young soldier living in Calgary, my GF at the time and I dreamed about a house too. I remember I think in Lakeview there were really nice bungalows there for $350K. (If I moved back, I'd want to live in Lakeview still.) I was making $24K a year and she was about the same. Not a chance in those days when you needed 20% down.
For me, I think now it is far, far worse and one of the reasons we can't get more houses built fast enough because there is and has been a critical shortage of skilled tradespeople to build them. I didn't hear or see the current government addressing this matter. In the 80s in Calgary we were all suffering under the National Energy Program. There was always a tradesperson looking for work and always a place for them.
I wish it were so today because I have three adult children, one bought a house last year, barely. The other two, big nope. It sucks.
This is about more than building houses. This is about building homes and there is a big difference between the two, I think.
I was waiting for an argument from Dion explaining why remaining in Canada for Alberta would be beneficial, other than "Separation bad, unified Canada, good". I was left wanting very much.
There were really no tough questions for Dion, pushing him to explain why federalism is good. The hand-waive dismissal of Canada as a post-national state was telling. Has he looked at our government's track record in the last 10 years?
He seems forever stuck in 2015.
Another example of an out-of-touch Laurentian elite telling us that our concerns are not valid. How original.
If federalism is so good, why aren't they engaging in good faith conversations with the separatists? Why aren't they really digging down into what's causing this in the first place?
There is an easy way to nip this in the bud: give Albertans what they want.
The lack of self-introspection is very telling.
Hiding behind the legalities and possible difficulties of a separation to dismiss it as infeasible shows a failure of imagination on a grand scale. Separatists don't care about technicalities. They want to be heard.
I enjoyed the discussion with Stephane Dion. There's a lot I've disagreed with him about, but I've never had any doubt that he's a Canadian patriot. Moreover, a discussion with him is a fact-based rational exchange of ideas. That's a sharp contrast to the Alberta separatists, who reject any discourse or facts that contradict the talk swirling in their own information bubble.
It was one of Jen's better interviews, Mr. Dion needed very little prompting to articulate a well thought out , knowledgeable and passionate answer. As Mr. Dion stated IF the vote was a clear majority yes, there would be long, detailed and complex negotiations that would take years... And there will be contentious issues like settling on form of government, aboriginal rights, what does representation look like......I'm pretty sure the rural separatists won't want the Laurentian Elites replaced by the suburban Calgary/Edmonton Elites. But what I found most interesting was it must be a clear majority of Albertans in favor, not just those that voted.......so if 60 % of voters turn out....and 52 % vote for separation...thats only 31 % for separation. Based on Clarity Act, that vote would fall short.
Canada has national suicide pill embedded in its own legislation - in the grossly unfair Constitution, designed to keep some western provinces in forever-servitude, financially exploited as Colonies.
The Clarity Act is useful and necessary piece of legislation for modern times. The Clarity Act is also a rational safety valve to decrease the possibility of a violent separatist uprising.
In no way is Canada an exceptional nation. Just look at how readily is a large portion of population accepting of legislative agenda by Leftists currently in power which is giving them increasingly dictatorial powers. Just look at how passive the Leftists state apparatus is face of violent imported ideologies, with whom they happen to agree.
Overall a good interview. Dion did a good job of articulating his viewpoint.
One error though, countries have joined the UN against their origin countries wishes. The breakup of Yugoslavia is one example. And other countries have been prevented only by single veto powers, making it a technically true but pedantic point.
And of course the boomer liberal completely lost it in the end. I don't know if I could have enrolled my eyes any harder. Shows of how out of touch he is, and why radical policies like separatism will continue to gain traction.
Bottom line when you have a marriage that no longer works and both parties will be better off on their own the sooner the better. The whole involved bureaucratic process seems to be a poison pill designed intentionally or not to ensure that by the time the terms are settled the initial petitioners will have either died off or lost interest. It’s the difference between one party walking off vs staying and asking the other party for permission.
And it seems rich that a government that still has the abomination of the Indian act after enslaving the First Nations for centuries and sexually abusing their children in the residential school system suddenly has an epiphany and sets its itself up as the protector of their interests in divorce negotiations.
Frankly if it comes to pass I believe the American experience will wind up being the model to follow. No wonder the govern is trying to disarm Canadians as fast as possible.
Oooooph. Dion was doing good until the end. “Your parents had it hard too,” “we had double digit inflation,” “you should travel the world and be adored like a rock star like I was.” Took a good argument about staying Canadian and drove it straight off a cliff. Tell me you you're an elite without telling me you're an elite. Unconsciously belittling the struggles of the upcoming generations is emphatically not helping.
I am a senior......my three sons in their 40's are in a better position financially at their age than I was....my 4 Grandkids are taking advantage of RESP to attend post secondary school without going into debt....I was in debt at the end of post secondary.
My wife and I through hard work and some luck are comfortable and we travel extensively. ...but we didn't have the wherewithal to travel until our late 40's. It boggles our mind when we go to YYC and see all the families with very young children traveling to sun destinations and Europe. Strollers and Car Seats out number golf clubs to the sun destinations.
Its different times now, as it was from my parents generation to ours. People in Canada are living longer, standard of living is higher and expectation of homes and personal time is greater....all good.... I do know from our travels in Europe, Africa and Asia that Canada is well respected (despite the 10 years of our embarrassing crown prince) and Canada has a lot of positives....and we are thankful to live in such a great country.
100% agree that he definitely lost the plot at the end. I'm a retired baby boomer and I regularly worry about the future for my kids and maybe someday, grandkids.
Interesting interview— a great get!
The last question about the 26 year old oil worker in Ft Mac worker was telling though. Until we have a better answer than referring to double digit interest rates, young people will continue to rage, up to and including, being separatists. We have a generation of people who grew up in the suburbs who are now realizing they will never own a house as nice as the one they grew up in. They're understandably pretty upset about that.
I remember in the 1980s when I was a young soldier living in Calgary, my GF at the time and I dreamed about a house too. I remember I think in Lakeview there were really nice bungalows there for $350K. (If I moved back, I'd want to live in Lakeview still.) I was making $24K a year and she was about the same. Not a chance in those days when you needed 20% down.
For me, I think now it is far, far worse and one of the reasons we can't get more houses built fast enough because there is and has been a critical shortage of skilled tradespeople to build them. I didn't hear or see the current government addressing this matter. In the 80s in Calgary we were all suffering under the National Energy Program. There was always a tradesperson looking for work and always a place for them.
I wish it were so today because I have three adult children, one bought a house last year, barely. The other two, big nope. It sucks.
This is about more than building houses. This is about building homes and there is a big difference between the two, I think.
I was waiting for an argument from Dion explaining why remaining in Canada for Alberta would be beneficial, other than "Separation bad, unified Canada, good". I was left wanting very much.
There were really no tough questions for Dion, pushing him to explain why federalism is good. The hand-waive dismissal of Canada as a post-national state was telling. Has he looked at our government's track record in the last 10 years?
He seems forever stuck in 2015.
Another example of an out-of-touch Laurentian elite telling us that our concerns are not valid. How original.
If federalism is so good, why aren't they engaging in good faith conversations with the separatists? Why aren't they really digging down into what's causing this in the first place?
There is an easy way to nip this in the bud: give Albertans what they want.
The lack of self-introspection is very telling.
Hiding behind the legalities and possible difficulties of a separation to dismiss it as infeasible shows a failure of imagination on a grand scale. Separatists don't care about technicalities. They want to be heard.
So far no one is listening.
Separatists don't care about technicalities. They want to be heard. = Separatists don't care about reality, they want their feelings assuaged.
Trying to make people who don't care about reality feel better is a very fast route to disappointment.
Giving you the benefit of the doubt, what happens when neither side cares about reality? Does it come down to who blinks first?
I enjoyed the discussion with Stephane Dion. There's a lot I've disagreed with him about, but I've never had any doubt that he's a Canadian patriot. Moreover, a discussion with him is a fact-based rational exchange of ideas. That's a sharp contrast to the Alberta separatists, who reject any discourse or facts that contradict the talk swirling in their own information bubble.
It was one of Jen's better interviews, Mr. Dion needed very little prompting to articulate a well thought out , knowledgeable and passionate answer. As Mr. Dion stated IF the vote was a clear majority yes, there would be long, detailed and complex negotiations that would take years... And there will be contentious issues like settling on form of government, aboriginal rights, what does representation look like......I'm pretty sure the rural separatists won't want the Laurentian Elites replaced by the suburban Calgary/Edmonton Elites. But what I found most interesting was it must be a clear majority of Albertans in favor, not just those that voted.......so if 60 % of voters turn out....and 52 % vote for separation...thats only 31 % for separation. Based on Clarity Act, that vote would fall short.
Canada has national suicide pill embedded in its own legislation - in the grossly unfair Constitution, designed to keep some western provinces in forever-servitude, financially exploited as Colonies.
The Clarity Act is useful and necessary piece of legislation for modern times. The Clarity Act is also a rational safety valve to decrease the possibility of a violent separatist uprising.
In no way is Canada an exceptional nation. Just look at how readily is a large portion of population accepting of legislative agenda by Leftists currently in power which is giving them increasingly dictatorial powers. Just look at how passive the Leftists state apparatus is face of violent imported ideologies, with whom they happen to agree.
Overall a good interview. Dion did a good job of articulating his viewpoint.
One error though, countries have joined the UN against their origin countries wishes. The breakup of Yugoslavia is one example. And other countries have been prevented only by single veto powers, making it a technically true but pedantic point.
And of course the boomer liberal completely lost it in the end. I don't know if I could have enrolled my eyes any harder. Shows of how out of touch he is, and why radical policies like separatism will continue to gain traction.
Bottom line when you have a marriage that no longer works and both parties will be better off on their own the sooner the better. The whole involved bureaucratic process seems to be a poison pill designed intentionally or not to ensure that by the time the terms are settled the initial petitioners will have either died off or lost interest. It’s the difference between one party walking off vs staying and asking the other party for permission.
And it seems rich that a government that still has the abomination of the Indian act after enslaving the First Nations for centuries and sexually abusing their children in the residential school system suddenly has an epiphany and sets its itself up as the protector of their interests in divorce negotiations.
Frankly if it comes to pass I believe the American experience will wind up being the model to follow. No wonder the govern is trying to disarm Canadians as fast as possible.
If Alberta was treated by Ottawa like Quebec is, there wouldn't be a separation movement in Alberta.
As for Dion, he never did make an argument why Alberta should stay in Canada other than "Canadians are awesome."
His boomer arguments of "we had it hard too" and using double digit interest rates don't math. I'd gladly pay $150k at 15% rather than $750k at 4%.
So far the best argument for Albertans to stay is inertia.
The dance of separation was the goose that continues to lay the golden eggs. Great interview Ms. Gerson.