Canada socioeconomic politics

From http://network.nationalpost.com/NP/blogs/fullcomment/archive/2010/03/13/407147.aspx

How easy it is to forget the confederation principles Canada was founded upon.

Other than perhaps the last 30-35 years, all those out west need to consider which way the money was originally flowing?

Before the oil crisis of the 1970's, who originally built and paid for the west? Who paid for your ports, your trains, your roads, your schools and all your infrastructure? - In fact, who built the original transcanada pipeline to Central Canada?

For all those out west, bashing the transfer payments they pay out what happens when Ontario starts buying their natural gas from Pennsylvania?

What happens when Quebec starts producing gas from their recently discovered shale desposits?

How about when Newfoundland and Nova Scotia ramp up their oil production and their local jobs are in demand for skilled workers, where will you get your workers from?

Alberta already did an about face on royalties and scared away business, what happens when your dedicated customers (Central and Eastern Canada) finally start going elsewhere?

Or think longer term? What happens when technology changes and oil and gas get stiff competition from other energy sources, or there is peace in the middle east, and Iraqi oil fields come onstream and/or when and if oil drops down to $20 a barrel again?

Which way will the money be flowing then?

On the topic of all those soft-separatists whether in Quebec or Alberta, who keep claiming how they get ruled by outsiders thousands of miles away, to you I say go ahead and separate.

Lets see how land-locked Alberta exports their oil and gas without providing royalty revenues to Canada or the US.

With the comments like this from the general voting public its no wonder our politicians have such a short-term narrow minded approach to solving our issues. We're asking for it.

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Quebec

Quebec receives 60% of federal transfer payments. Quebec's population is 7,560,592. What amount does Quebec pay to the federal system?