May 14 , 2011

Needed: A Quebec-Alberta Dialogue

by Preston Manning*
The Montreal Economic Institute (MEI), an independent, non-partisan, not-for-
profit research and educational organization, has just released a study entitled A
Plea for a Quebec-Alberta Dialogue. (It is available at www.iedm.org). I strongly
agree with the authors that such a Dialogue is in the interests of both provinces and
would urge Albertans – in particular leaders in government, business, and civil
society – to respond positively to this invitation.
Such a positive response at the provincial and private sector levels is particularly
important in the aftermath of the federal election which saw Quebec and Alberta
send representatives of opposite political persuasions to the federal Parliament.
Are there significant areas of misunderstanding and disagreement between the two
provinces? Of course there are, for example, with respect to language policy and
environmental conservation. But better to engage in direct and open dialogue, even
on such issues, than to allow those with vested interests in pitting Quebecers
against Albertans and vice-versa to go unchallenged. Better still, to focus on
defining and expanding the substantial “common ground” which exists between
the two provinces.
As the authors of the MEI report point out, both Quebec and Alberta favour a more
decentralized federation and should cooperate more to achieve it. Alberta wants
more control over its own destiny primarily for economic reasons whereas Quebec
wants more control over its own affairs for primarily cultural and linguistic
reasons. But the bottom line is that both provinces want to safeguard key areas of
provincial jurisdiction from arbitrary intrusion by the federal government (such as
occurred under Prime Minister Trudeau) and should engage in greater dialogue in
order to refine and strengthen this constitutional position.
As the authors of the MEI report also remind us, Quebec and Alberta have
significant economic interests in common. Both are major energy producers and
exporters of energy to the United States, with major contributions to make toward
continental energy security. Alberta is Quebec’s main trading partner after Ontario,
and Albertans are the second group of interprovincial migrants in importance for
Quebec after Ontarians.
Alberta is also the principal source of federal revenues supporting equalization
transfers to Quebec, giving Quebecers a vested interest in the strength of the

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Alberta economy and Albertans a vested interest in how those equalization
payments are used. Increased dialogue between representatives of the economic
interests of both provinces would facilitate greater interprovincial trade and greater
cooperation rather than conflict between the two provinces on the energy and fiscal
fronts.
And politically, Alberta and Quebec are the two provinces in Confederation with a
long track record of innovating politically by the creation and support of new
bottom up political movements. In the case of Quebec – these have included the
Union Nationale, the Ralliement des Créditistes, the Parti Québécois, the Action
Démocratique du Québec, and the Bloc Québécois. In Alberta these have included
the United Farmers of Alberta (part of the Progressive movement), the Social
Credit Party, the Reform Party, and more recently the Wildrose Alliance Party.
Unfortunately, in the past, these movements and their federal counterparts have
never been on the same wavelength at the same time on the issues of concern to
both provinces, such as constitutional decentralization. Greater dialogue between
civil society groups and grassroots political activists in both provinces might one
day enable them to make common cause on issues of importance to both provinces.
It is encouraging to see that a poll commissioned by the MEI for the occasion of
the study’s release shows very favourable attitudes on the part of Quebecers
towards Alberta. 60% have either a positive or very positive image of Alberta, and
68% agree that Quebec must further develop its economic and political
relationships with Alberta.
Quebecers and Albertans prepared to respond positively to the Montreal Economic
Institute’s plea for a Quebec–Alberta dialogue might wonder what practical steps
need to be taken to make this dialogue a reality. Certainly Quebec–Alberta
conferences, roundtables, and on-line discussions as suggested by the MEI, are one
approach.
And I have another suggestion for the politicians: Why doesn’t the Quebec
National Assembly convene an “Alberta Day” in which Alberta’s new Premier
(whoever that might be) would be invited to address the Assembly and take
questions. The Premier could be accompanied by his ministers and MLAs who
would also engage in meetings with their Quebec counterparts, and the day might
conclude with a banquet or a golf tournament designed to strengthen informal
relations. Alberta might then reciprocate with a similar Quebec Day at the Alberta
Legislature.

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However it is done, a vigorous and on-going Quebec–Alberta Dialogue is in the
best interests of both provinces and the Montreal Economic Institute is to be
commended for promoting it.
*Preston Manning is the President and CEO of the Manning Centre for Building
Democracy