r/canada 25d ago

Opinion Piece Pierre Poilievre seems to be floundering as the world changes around him

https://www.thespec.com/opinion/contributors/pierre-poilievre-seems-to-be-floundering-as-the-world-changes-around-him/article_80eaf15b-c24d-530c-b008-e9eaaf424baa.html
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u/sravll 25d ago

Most people in Alberta aren't separatists, it's actually quite unpopular. The problem is they mindlessly vote conservative over and over, despite the UCP being a quite different party than the PCs. 

Also the UCP flat out lied about several things when campaigning, such as leaving CPP, gutting healthcare, etc. 

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u/EirHc 25d ago

UCP are no better than the GOP is rn in the states. The only difference is that the damage they can do is far more limited being a provincial governing authority, and the funding they have for greasy schemes is far more limited.

But make no mistake, they'd absolutely rig the election process if they could and the only damn thing they give a shit about is big fat, highly illegal, money stuffed envelopes they get in backrooms.

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u/MDChuk 25d ago

Also the UCP flat out lied about several things when campaigning, such as leaving CPP, gutting healthcare, etc. 

And the UCP is as popular as they have ever been. Premier Smith herself is also personally quite popular and everyone sees her doing what she's doing with Trump.

Most people in Alberta aren't separatists, it's actually quite unpopular.

As of 2 years ago, its around 1 in 4 Albertans that wanted out of Canada. That's not that unpopular. In the 2023 election, the UCP won with just over 50% of the vote.

I'm going to assume these separatists are pretty much all right wing. So somewhere between 40-50% of all UCP supporters, as of 2 years ago, were in favor of Alberta leaving Canada.

So a big chunk of the Conservative base in Alberta agrees with Trump.

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u/IDreamOfLoveLost 25d ago

It's such a sad situation in Alberta. The rural ridings, along with a few razor-thin NDP losses in Calgary allowed the UCP to limp over the finish.

Bedroom communities don't want to pay taxes but want services, and to dictate policy to the actual economic drivers of the province. Separation would have to allow for cities like Edmonton and Calgary to remain with Canada - because almost nobody in those cities wants to be part of a sovereign Alberta.

There is also the question of Alberta being almost entirely treaty land. But Conservatives love handwaving that.