James Moore

I think a British Columbian in Nova Scotia and an Ontarian or in Quebec are telling Albertans that they need to recognize the virtues of Canada is probably not the way to go.

That I really think that it needs to be Alberta voices that come and speak to this.

I also think it's important that people who are not Albertans need to recognize that a lot of this, Bob, it seems strange.

A lot of this is, well, first of all, it is democratic.

Premier Smith has given people who are antagonists toward the status quo the tools to do all of this.

They are playing by the rules that have been put in front of them.

This is not a rogue element.

This is not an effort at a unilateral declaration of independence.

This is not... Well, it's not helpful, and I don't like it, and I wish it weren't happening.

It is happening within the rules that have been put in front of us.

There is sort of a deference and a respect to the authorities that are currently in place.

But also...

Tensions within confederation being expressed politically and democratically, there's nothing new about this.

When Stephen Harper was prime minister, Danny Williams, premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, said take down the flags and said that Canada doesn't work, and ABC, anybody but conservatives, and he was pretty robust and aggressive about it.

Clyde Wells had his moments as well.

Ralph Klein wanted to tear up the Canada Health Act and tell Ottawa to go jump out of this province and get out of there on the biggest social program that exists in our country.

W.A.C.

Bennett had his moments with the federal government.

Obviously, Quebec has had two referendums and tensions for generations.

There's nothing new about this.