Will they or won't they?

Stephen Harper and his policy adviser Univeristy of Calgary Professor Tom Flanagan

Will they or won't they?

Regarding: Why the right will not unite.

Vancouver - Tuesday, August 20, 2002 - by: Michael Watkins

UTR
Will they or won't they "unite the right" this weekend?

confused
It is understandable many Canadians are confused over what appears, on the surface, to be a simple case of fighting between related "conservatives".

weaken
federalism
Understand this, though. At the very core of the Alliance leadership reside ideologues who are bent on returning Canada to their view of the 1867 division of federal / provincial responsibilities. They seek to use whatever morsel of prior law, constitutional act or precedent to buttress their case for weakened federalism.

autonomous
Alberta
Stephen Harper, leader of the Canadian Alliance, wrote ^[1]

"[The next step] is to take the bricks and begin building another home a stronger and much more autonomous Alberta. It is time to look at Quebec and to learn. What Albertans should take from this example is to become "maîtres chez nous. [S The] CA will be under considerable pressure to rid itself of any tinge of a Western agenda or Alberta control. This we must fight."

firewall
around
Alberta
Mr. Harper, CA chief of staff Tom Flanagan and policy work Ted Morton urged Alberta Premier Ralph Klein to ^[2]

"build firewalls around Alberta, to limit the extent to which an aggressive and hostile federal government can encroach upon legitimate provincial jurisdiction".

divide
Canada
These men now leading the Canadian Alliance party and developing its policies seek to divide, not build and must not ever be entrusted with the management of our country. Canada deserves better.

301+
So, when you see on your television newscasts this week Tories wearing "301+" buttons in Edmonton, know they are prideful of standing for a strongly united Canada.

All putting Canada first are welcome to unite with them but those holding Alliance membership must leave what it stands for at the door.

Michael Watkins

Delegate, Progressive Conservative Convention 2002

References:

1.
.
"Albertans Must Re-Think Their Role in Canada" -Stephen Harper, then-president of the National Citizen's Coalition http://www.morefreedom.org/new/harper/albertans.html

2.
.
Open Letter to Ralph Klien, by Stephen Harper, Tom Flanagan, Ted Morton, Rainer Knopff, Andrew Crooks and Ken Boessenkool , appeared in the National Post January 24, 2001

3.
.
From Riel to Reform: Understanding Western Canada October 1996 by Tom Flanagan gives a fairly comprehensive view of the man's thinking towards confederation.

4.
.
Separation, Alberta-style: It is time to seek a new relationship with Canada, By Stephen Harper, appeared in the National Post December 8, 2000


	Stephen Harper and his policy adviser Univeristy of Calgary Professor Tom Flanagan

Will they or won't they?
Regarding: Why the right will not unite.

Vancouver - Tuesday, August 20, 2002 - by: Michael Watkins

UTR	Will they or won't they "unite the right" this weekend?

confused	It is understandable many Canadians are confused over what appears, on the surface, to be a simple case of fighting between related "conservatives".

weaken federalism	Understand this, though. At the very core of the Alliance leadership reside ideologues who are bent on returning Canada to their view of the 1867 division of federal / provincial responsibilities. They seek to use whatever morsel of prior law, constitutional act or precedent to buttress their case for weakened federalism.

autonomous Alberta	Stephen Harper, leader of the Canadian Alliance, wrote ^[1]
autonomous Alberta	`"[The next step] is to take the bricks and begin building another home a stronger and much more autonomous Alberta. It is time to look at Quebec and to learn. What Albertans should take from this example is to become "maîtres chez nous. [S The] CA will be under considerable pressure to rid itself of any tinge of a Western agenda or Alberta control. This we must fight."`

firewall around Alberta	Mr. Harper, CA chief of staff Tom Flanagan and policy work Ted Morton urged Alberta Premier Ralph Klein to ^[2]
firewall around Alberta	`"build firewalls around Alberta, to limit the extent to which an aggressive and hostile federal government can encroach upon legitimate provincial jurisdiction".`

divide Canada	These men now leading the Canadian Alliance party and developing its policies seek to divide, not build and must not ever be entrusted with the management of our country. Canada deserves better.

301+	So, when you see on your television newscasts this week Tories wearing "301+" buttons in Edmonton, know they are prideful of standing for a strongly united Canada.

	All putting Canada first are welcome to unite with them but those holding Alliance membership must leave what it stands for at the door.

	Michael Watkins
	Delegate, Progressive Conservative Convention 2002

References:
1. .	"Albertans Must Re-Think Their Role in Canada" -Stephen Harper, then-president of the National Citizen's Coalition http://www.morefreedom.org/new/harper/albertans.html

2. .	Open Letter to Ralph Klien, by Stephen Harper, Tom Flanagan, Ted Morton, Rainer Knopff, Andrew Crooks and Ken Boessenkool , appeared in the National Post January 24, 2001

3. .	From Riel to Reform: Understanding Western Canada October 1996 by Tom Flanagan gives a fairly comprehensive view of the man's thinking towards confederation.

4. .	Separation, Alberta-style: It is time to seek a new relationship with Canada, By Stephen Harper, appeared in the National Post December 8, 2000