Loyalty

by Eduardo del Buey

Loyalty

There are times when our loyalty is put to the test.

Today, as Canada faces its greatest threat to sovereignty in history, loyalty is crucial for the country’s survival.

Donald Trump and his Maga gang stand ready to absorb Canada to gain our valuable resources.

This should not stand.

For several months, nearly all levels of government have worked to present a strong united front against this threat.

All but three.

Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Quebec do not share the rest of Canada’s resolve to establish an internal free trade zone and utilize our natural resources to reduce dependence on U.S. markets and diversify toward Europe and Asia.

Despite public opinion to the contrary, the government of Quebec opposes any pipelines through the province. These pipelines are essential for transporting oil and gas to Atlantic ports to serve European markets. These pipelines would connect Canada from east to west and reduce dependence on U.S. facilities or markets.

Alberta and Saskatchewan intend to sustain tariff-free, discounted oil shipments alongside gas and potash to U.S. markets despite the tariffs imposed by the Trump administration.

Furthermore, Alberta’s Conservative Premier Danielle Smith appears to have ventured into enemy territory.

Last week, in an interview with the extremist U.S. media outlet Breitbart News, she announced “The longer this dispute goes on, politicians posture, and it seems to be benefiting the Liberals right now, so I would hope that we could put things on pause. This is what I’ve told administration officials: Let’s just put things on pause so we can get through an election.”

She went on to say, “I would say, on balance, the perspective that (Conservative leader) Pierre (Poilievre) would bring would be very much in sync with, I think, the new direction in America. And I think we’d have a really great relationship for the period of time they’re both in.”

Even if her intentions were to minimize foreign interference in the election or to reassure Americans that Canada was not the enemy, her actions communicated the exact opposite.

To add further damage, later last week, at Alberta taxpayers’ expense, Smith flew to Florida (with staff and security) to take part in a far-right fundraiser for a group that openly promotes annexing Canada to the USA.

In an article in the Calgary Post last Tuesday, Don Braid wrote, “Premier Danielle Smith heads back into the “lion’s den” Thursday, to speak to American conservatives at an event in Florida. One of the lions is Ben Shapiro, a hugely popular U.S. podcaster who has said Canada is a “silly country” that should be annexed without voting rights for citizens”.

The Oxford Dictionary defines treason as “the crime of betraying one's country”.

Historians will evaluate whether Premier Smith’s actions were treasonous, incompetent, or merely those of an opportunist seeking glorification for opposing the federal government.

Many people in Canada have already reached their conclusions, and her stated positions and actions may hinder Canada’s ability to counter U.S. expansion as defined by President Trump and his supporters.

Meanwhile, Canadians will vote on April 28, and their votes will reflect whether Premier Smith’s actions have impacted the election outcome.

Whoever wins must unify the country behind their government and the vision of Canada they support.

I hope every candidate challenges Premier Smith’s actions and focuses on uniting Canada in its ability to strike deals that benefit all Canadians while avoiding internal confrontations that would only aid the Trump administration in pursuing its goals.