Kenney, Moe express frustration, warn of rising alienation

‘FRUSTRATION AND ALIENATION’ SMOULDERING LIKE A PRAIRIE FIRE

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney warned of deepening Western resentments on Tuesday, following a federal election that sharpened divides between the Prairies and Ottawa and laid the groundwork for a potentially raucous parliamentary session this winter.

“If the frustration and alienation in Alberta continues to mount, it will pose a very serious challenge to national unity,” Kenney said, repeating earlier warnings about rising separatist sentiments in the province.

Kenney said he would launch a panel of experts to consult with Albertans about how to “better assert fairness in the federation” as distrust toward Ottawa’s environmental policies grows. Kenney on Tuesday said he spoke with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau about potential deals the province could strike with Ottawa as a way to ensure the expansion of the Trans Mountain pipeline, potentially including a higher tax on the province’s heavy emitters.

“This relationship needs some good faith from Ottawa, and if it doesn’t get that I feel that alienation is going to go in a very problematic direction,” Kenney said.

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe said the federal election results confirm there’s a fire of frustration burning in Western Canada and it’s time for a new deal with Ottawa.

“The path our federal government has been on the last four years has divided our nation,” Moe said in a statement.

“Last night’s election results showed the sense of frustration and alienation in Saskatchewan is now greater than it has been at any point in my lifetime.”

On Monday, Trudeau eked out a narrow minority government on Monday, dropping from 184 seats in 2015 to 157. The result marked the lowest share of the overall vote ever won by a winning party, and stoked new fears that Ottawa was losing touch both with Prairie provinces and with Quebec.

All but one of the 48 seats in Alberta and Saskatchewan went to the Conservatives, while the Bloc Québécois surged from 10 seats in 2015 to 32 as regional alliances appeared to firm up.

“Canadians woke up this morning to a more divided country,” Conservative leader Andrew Scheer said.