OPEN UP ON EQUALIZATION

Opening up the equalization payments issue in Canada is a bit like opening up a Pandora’s box. It’s not quite as acrimonious as opening up the Constitution, although that may just be because equalization is confusing and difficult to understand.

But the program that sees money transferred from “have” to “have not” provinces is once again under scrutiny following the Oct. 21 federal election results.

Despite Alberta’s well-known economic challenges, it only contributes to the equalization pot. It does not receive.

Currently, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec and Manitoba are on the receiving end.

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney is now calling for a referendum on the issue, to see whether Canadians even want this confusing and — in the eyes of some — unfair program to continue.

(In Saskatchewan, Premier Scott Moe wants Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to restructure equalization, put the federal carbon backstop on hold and ensure pipelines get built.)

One Liberal cabinet minister is signalling that there may be movement on the equalization file. Procurement Minister Carla Qualtrough appeared on Global News last weekend to say “that nothing is off the table” when it comes to dealing with feelings of western separation and, more specifically, equalization payments.

Qualtrough may have been freestyling and may come to regret her comments. Regardless, ears perked up when she made them.

“My understanding is nothing is off the table,” Qualtrough said. “We want to make sure everyone is being treated equally and fairly, and if people aren’t feeling like they’re being treated that way, then, of course, we are going to have to have these really important conversations.”

That’s good news. Let’s hope she was speaking for the government.

Revising the equalization formula, or doing away with it entirely, will certainly satisfy provinces that have felt for a long time that they are not well-served by the program.

Let’s not stop at that, though. If everything is going to be on the table, then so should the other issues that concern the West.

Justin Trudeau needs to be open to downgrading the scope of Bill C-69, so that it’s no longer seen as placing a chokehold on the entire oil and gas sector.

He also needs to drop his obsession with ramming the carbon tax down the throats of unwilling provinces and step away from the looming Supreme Court battle.

These are all actions worth considering.