Thread by @Norlaine

So, I heard on the radio about Jason Kenney wanting to open the constitution to eliminate equalization payments. 1/15 #cdnpoli #abpoli #AbLeg #Canada
nationalpost.com/news/politics/…

So, aside from the fact that it makes it look like Albertans are a bunch of mean-spirited, cruel, greedy tight-wads, what does this mean? 2/15

Well, the conservatives have been chomping at the bit for quite a number of years now to open the constitution and hack out the bits they don't like. 3/15

They have been deprived of this by virtue of not having the full constitutional formula - a federal government and 7 provinces representing at least 50% of the population on side. And they were denied again this past election. 4/15

I really think what Kenney is doing now has nothing to do with equalization, or Albertans. After all, when has he ever cared about Albertans? And he was one of the architects of the current equalization formula. 5/15

No. The referendum was an end-run around the constitutional amendment formula. A lot of Albertans don't understand equalization. But they voted for the foaming-at-the-mouth angry "Fair Deal". Never mind that most Albertans have it pretty good compared to other Canadians. 6/15

And what bits are they most worked up about? Well, it's not really equalization... 7/15

What the conservatives really want is the ability to discriminate, to jail those who criticize and disagree, and shut down democracy in all practical terms. They are about control and dominance and funneling money to their friends and donors. 8/15

They are looking for a way in, because Canadians keep stubbornly refusing to give them the magic formula. Just like they tried sex-selective abortion as a way to get a law, any law, on the books about abortion, they are trying an end run on tearing up the constitution. 9/15

They are ravenous to turn this country into a wealth factory for their friends, and have no care for the people who actually live here. The UCP have been gleefully shutting down or cutting back supports for Albertans who are the most vulnerable. 10/15

They danced in a fountain to celebrate cutting protection for LGBTQ2+ youth. We are governed by monsters. 11/15

Why else would a governing party allow people to be uninformed, to encourage perpetuation of misinformation about what equalization really is? The UCP did squat all to try to inform anyone about how equalization works. They played the myth card. 12/15

It was never about a "fair deal" for Albertans. It was a matter of finding a hot button issue that would. at the very least, provoke a constitutional debate. And, just maybe, let the conservatives get their cold, clammy, tiny hands on the constitution and charter. 13/15

And it wasn't really a win. About 1/4 of Albertans voted on the equalization referendum, and of those, 61.7% voted the way Kenney wanted them to.
"Just over a million Albertans voted on the equalization question" 14/15
calgary.ctvnews.ca/ridiculous-in-…

So, what's 61.7% of 25%? And can we get a Venn diagram of those who voted yes, those who are unvaccinated, those who belong to organizations like Alberta Proud & yellow vesters, those who did not finish high school? Now that would be interesting... 15/15