Dear Canada, it's time for us to leave

Dear Canada, 

When I was a child, Pierre Elliotte Trudeau was our Prime Minister, and when he instituted the National Energy Program,  Alberta was devastated. My Dad was a successful business owner, who employed dozens and dozens of people. All his employees lost their jobs. We declared bankruptcy, and were foreclosed on. My Dad lost everything, so my parents,  my sister and I lost our home. 

Our family went from being successful, to living in our Uncles basement for a year.  Our family spent a full year, with 10 people in a house that only had one bathroom. It was rough for all of us...but we made it through. Alberta eventually recovered, but our family never fully bounced back, and we still feel the pain to this day. 

On October 21rst, you re-elected Justin Trudeau to be your Prime Minister.

Like you, I’m a proud Canadian, and have proven my loyalty by risking my life in a war zone to protect our country.  I was wounded there, and have been suffering from those wounds for over 20 years. My family has also suffered from those wounds, and is still suffering today. 

Canada, you elected a Prime Minister who said that Veterans were asking for more than the government is willing to give….so every day another Veteran who is desperate for help, takes their own life. Their cries for help continue to go unanswered. 

Canada, you elected a Government who has openly declared they will destroy the Alberta energy sector, which will destroy Alberta.  Your response…”Well, I guess Alberta should have diversified their economy...so tough luck”. You don’t seem to understand, that it’s more than the oil sector you’ve shut down.  Hundreds of restaurants have already shut down, with hundreds more about too.. Downtown Calgary high rises are vacant, property values are dropping, and businesses of all sorts are evaporating with no end in sight.  

Tens of thousands of people have lost their jobs, have gone bankrupt, and have lost their homes.  Suicide is on the rise, and mental health is on the decline. All of this pain...and you don’t seem to notice.  Still...somehow it is US who is paying YOU equalization payments. How is this possible? If you won’t help us by sending the cash back in our direction, at least stop taking our money until we can get back on our feet….please!

Canada, you chose to replace the cleanest, most ethical oil in the world with Saudi oil.  By doing so, you are supporting a dictatorship that kills homosexuals, and subjugates women. How can you be in favor of human rights, gay rights, and womens rights….and yet support Saudi oil?  

The result of your decision, is LESS clean, ethical oil, and MORE dirty, unethical oil.   ZERO improvement will occur with carbon emissions, instead there will be MORE emissions, and LESS progress on human rights. Destroying the Alberta energy sector goes against all of your beliefs and morals...yet somehow you still justify your decision.

When we pleaded for help, you rolled your eyes. When Alberta warned you that our separtist sentiment was on the rise, you scoffed.  When Justin Trudeau...the man who openly hates the west won the election...you cheered. You cheered for the devastation of the west. 

I love you Canada..I love you so very much.  I love you so much that I’ve given all that I have to give to you. I love you, but we are in an abusive relationship.  

There is no pain so great as unrequited love.  

A good marriage is one where each has an equal say.  A good marriage is one where each respects the opinions of the other, even if they disagree.  In a good marriage, each spouse not just allows for the individuality of the other, they support and encourage individuality.  

Alberta has done all that we can to be a good partner to you. We have put bread on the table, paid your bills, put your kids through school, and supported  your freedom to be whoever you want to be. But still, ...you don’t love us back. You don’t even want to treat us as casual friends. Alberta feels more than just left out, we feel despised. 

Dear Canada, the time has come for us to go our separate ways.  We love you...SOOOO MUCH, but we now realize that you will never love us back.  For most of my life, Separation was not a possibility, but now I realize it’s the only way we can survive. 

Heart broken, 

Alberta

(Written by Mark E. Meincke, blending his real life story with the persona of Alberta)