Brian Crossman is a partner in Estevan-based Independent Well Servicing. The opinions expressed in this column are the opinions of the author and not necessarily the opinions of Independent Well Servicing.
Since the current election cycle has begun, talk about “Team Canada” has been at the forefront of many conversations. The election results south of the border have magnified the attention to our sovereignty. But is there really a team Canada? When the Olympics are on, absolutely. NHL hockey, Blue Jays in a pennant race, Maple Syrup, Stomping Tom, Rush, November 11 and the Rocky Mountains definitely make you proud to be Canadian. (Decent beer, whiskey and a common disdain for the Toronto Maple Leafs may also be included.) Our shared history also includes building a cross-country railway and helping save freedom in two world wars.
Where are we at today, in the here and now? Canada has racked up the largest debt in history, crime is at an all-time high, an underfunded military and a plethora of issues in the past decade. The threat of western separation has never been greater, and the resource sector, primarily the oil and gas industry is leading the charge. The sentiment of east vs west has always been background noise, but this past nine years, the noise has become deafening.
The Liberal Party of Canada and the NDP can spin it all they want and say, “Elbows up,” “Team Canada” and any number of meaningless platitudes. But the sad truth is Team Canada has primarily existed in urban Ontario, maybe part of Quebec, (small part) the Laurentians and various pockets across Canada. The problem being is in those urban ridings and various pockets also decide how a federal election is won or lost. Now I don’t want to lump all non-western Canadians into one big pile. I am sure there are vast numbers of people all across the country that love the West, just as we in the West have family and friends from sea to shining sea. But as with most things, it really isn’t about the regular person, it is about politics, trading favors and using money from one part of the country to subsidize and buy votes from another part of the country. Sometimes it is a benefit to the regular people, and often it isn’t. How you fare on these decisions is based on the voting power of that particular riding.
And therein lies the problem with “Team Canada.” The current government will find ways to garner support from the areas with the power to maintain or change the course of fiscal and political policy. So, in effect “Team Canada” corresponds directly with where the political parties can get elected. One mention of Western separation brings about such terms as “traitor” and separatist. It has gotten worse since Trump started “the 51st State” rhetoric. If the Liberal Party gets back in, will western separation be a reality? Possibly. If not, it may be time to start leveraging the threat of separation to change the structure of the constitution to create fairness across the board. Quebec certainly used the same tactic with great success, maybe its time western Canada employ the same tactics.
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How do we proceed and prevent the collapse of the country? Well, Ideally the rest of Canada would tell the West how wonderful we are and let us develop our natural resources as we see fit. More control over the money generated in the west would also be nice. We can move forward with “mega projects,” which have been stalled over the course of many decades. Repeal C-48 (Tanker Ban), cut the emissions cap, expand trade outside the USA. Access to the Port of Churchill for oil, potash and grain is a good start. A “super-highway” (think autobahn) should be built to make driving and trucking goods across Canada safe and efficient. The Energy East corridor makes so much sense it is insanity not to push it through.
My point is as a whole, the west has been feeling ignored. As is often said in life, “prove me wrong.” Mark Carney may have distanced himself from Justin Trudeau and has embraced a large part of the conservative party platform, but a leopard can’t change his spots. It is well-documented that he has an agenda the does not include Canadian oil and gas, has deep ties to the WEF, and his wife is a staunch climate activist. Going into the type of debt declared in the Liberal Party plan will require vast amounts of revenue, and if the resource sector is held back, repayment will be impossible. I am admittedly a supporter of Pierre Poilievre, but at least he has been consistent with his convictions and his platform. (Poilievre has spent his life in Canada, can Carney say that?)
“Ideologies separate us, dreams and anguish bring us together.” Canada may be separated by differing ideologies, but the collective anguish, along with doom and gloom scenarios we currently face could (and should) be replaced by the dreams of a fair and balanced nation.
Brian Crossman is a partner at Independent Well Servicing in Estevan, Saskatchewan. He urges people across Canada to vote in what is the most important election of our generation. Vote for change, and vote for the future of a united and free Canada. If Canada makes the wrong choice, separation of parts of our country could be inevitable.
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- 0088 WBPC_2025_30SEC_PROMO0088 WBPC_2025_30SEC_PROMO
- 0087 Lori Carr Coal Expansion0087 Lori Carr Coal Expansion
- 0086 Sask Gov Oil and Gas Incentive Programs0086 Sask Gov Oil and Gas Incentive Programs
- 0085 Turnbull snow removal call office0085 Turnbull snow removal call office
- 0084 EMP Metals Pipeline Online0084 EMP Metals Pipeline Online
- 0077 Caprice Resources Stand Up For Free Speech0077 Caprice Resources Stand Up For Free Speech
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- 0055 Smart Power Be Smart with your Power office0055 Smart Power Be Smart with your Power office
- 0051 JML Hiring Pumpjack assembly0051 JML Hiring Pumpjack assembly
- 0049 Scotsburn Dental soft guitar0049 Scotsburn Dental soft guitar
- 0041 DEEP Since 2018 now we are going to build0041 DEEP Since 2018 now we are going to build
- 0032 IWS Summer hiring rock trailer music
- 0022 Grimes winter hiring
- 0021 OSY Rentals S8 Promo
- 0018 IWS Hiring Royal Summer
- 0013 Panther Drilling PO ad 03 top drive rigs
- 0011
- 0006 JK Junior
- 0002 gilliss casing services0002 gilliss casing services
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