Canada at Crossroads
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Los Angeles/June 05, 2026
NRIpress.club/Ramesh/ A.Gary Singh
Canada is one of the most multicultural, open, diverse, welcoming,peaceloving and resource rich countries in the world. This is one of the few countries in the world, whose governments have publicly recognized and apologized for the injustice by some of the previous administrations. Like many other countries, Canada has also gone through some very turbulent times. Canada’s ten provinces and three territories extend between three oceans-Atlantic, Pacific and Arctic. It is the second largest country by area after Russia. Canada has the longest coastline of any country in the world. In a sense, Canada is a very blessed country. However, even a blessed country like Canada can have turbulent times as it happened in 1970 with the rise of a separatist movement in Quebec led by FLQ in 1970. A provincial government minister in Quebec even lost his life.
It was extremely difficult time for every Canadian. The federal government at that time led by then Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau took drastic action to crush that separatist organization bent on tearing Canada apart. Two referendums in Quebec to separate from Canada were attempted but failed. Same kind of scenario is now emerging in our neighboring province, Alberta. The unfairness of the national equalization grants program seems to be one of the major concerns of the Albertans. Under this federal equalization grants program, some of the supposedly rich/have provinces like BC, Alberta and Ontario subsidize other supposedly have- not provinces like Quebec and the Newfoundland.
These, along with some of Alberta’s other concerns, are genuine and must be addressed by Ottawa. However, for Albertta to separate from Canada seems like a very drastic step. Alberta belongs in Canada. Like every Canadian, Albertans need good healthcare, affordable living, a place to live and good jobs. It is good to see our Prime Minister Mark Carney reaching out to Alberta and address their concerns. Ottawa’s willingness to explore the possibility of an oil pipeline to the BC coast is a step in the right direction. However, there is a lot more that can be done to meet Alberta’s needs and demands. Certainly, Ottawa must do heavy lifting in this regard. However, as Canadians, we can also play a major role in convincing our fellow Canadians in Alberta to cool the rhetoric down and do some serious thinking.
Our media, at the national, provincial, and local levels, has a very important role to play in this regard. We need to convince Albertans that a unified Canada is much stronger than a divided Canada. We must take pride in being the citizens of such a great country. Rather than splitting Canada apart we need to work to-gether to make this country even better. This is a challenge for all of us.
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