Gerald Butts

And I think the duty of the federal government in this, certainly in these early stages, is to remind people that the country is worth fighting for, that there's a positive vision of the future of the country.

We talked about this a couple of years ago.

This is why I thought that read

about Canada being broken was so dangerous because if you've got a bunch of federal politicians who are basically agreeing with the diagnosis of the problem being promulgated by the secessionist movement, then it's hard to disagree with them on the remedies for that, right?

And while I do agree as a very proud Nova Scotian

every province that does not begin and end with O has this feeling from time to time.

And some of it is based on real stuff.

Some of it is based on political culture and the reality that serves the interests of the people who happen to be in power in those provinces.

And I always remind my Albertan family,

things that happened from ottawa that alberta has been governed for all intents and purposes by one party for a century and that party should take responsibility for some of the problems that they are governing don't you like how jerry is now basically claimed ownership from

Jerry, you had the last word on that topic.

Well, I mean, look, the business community has never to be diplomatic about it up front about these divisive issues because, as one of my favorite quotes on this, Michael Jordan was once asked why he isn't more outspoken about racial politics in the United States.

And he said that Republicans buy sneakers, too.

And I think that that's true in the business community writ large.

They don't like to be front and center.

And I understand why they don't, because they have customers on both sides and their responsibilities and employees and their responsibilities ultimately to their, the commercial health of their enterprise, their shareholders.

shareholders, they're able to make the payroll.

So the business community will never ride in and save the country in moments like this.

It certainly hasn't in the past Quebec referenda, and it won't in this case either.

And while I do, I take the slight admonishment from my British