On guard

In the past, on Canada Day, this pathetic but patriotic blog relayed the story of the DJ and the national anthem.

I was an MP. He was the morning guy at a two-bit AM radio station operating out of the living room of old house on the main street. It was a dump. But Ross thought well beyond his physical boundaries. One dream was to make a pop rendition of O Canada featuring the country’s best-known artists, like the famous “We Are The World” production that raised zillions for charity.

Alas, he had no money. Nobody would donate to such a wacky idea in the early 1990s. He approached the government (then planning stuff for the 125th anniversary of Confederation) and was turned down. So, in desperation and a meaningful funk, he called me.

A few months later I’d raised well over a million from a bunch of corporations and execs that I knew, and gave it to him. Months later the recording was done featuring rappers, rockers and crooners A genius composer had alos scored a new symphonic version of O Canada as part of the project. Thousands of CDs were made of both versions, with a copy sent to every school. And on Canada Day night some of the artists (like Randy Bachman) performed it on Parliament Hill during a public gala with the Queen there. (I met her. Big moment.)

So why do I mention this today?

Because last night in an Edmonton arena thousands of people lustily sang the anthem to the strains of that symphonic version. So, there ya go. This blog just played a pivotal role in national unity!

In case you missed it, Mark Carmey was a rock star yesterday. The crowd roared approval when he vowed to cut dependence on the US. They cheered when he made jokes about his Alberta rallies and anti-Trump agenda being US election interference. His appearances in Calgary, Red Deer and Edmonton cemented the fact he is more popular in the province than the premier or the national Conservative leader who grew up there and currently represents a cow patch riding in the north.

So tomorrow is the big vote.

This insane, needless and dangerous referendum – coming (as Carney said) – “at the worst possible moment” has ten questions. Nine are about empowering the province and making Ottawa less relevant, the last concerns starting a dialogue about leaving Canada. The entire process was a Danielle Smith creation as she panders to her right-wing and separatist-leaning electoral base and in so doing weakens the Canadian fabric when it’s under assault from the White House.

As reported, the secessionist yahoos have had chats with the US State Department. And a lot of them want to join Montana, for some ragged reason. Maybe the freedom to open-carry and pay for your own health care.

Anyway, the whole notion of a land-locked region with a scant five million people in it becoming a sovereign nation is bonkers. Smith should never have played footsie with economic lightweights or encouraged the impossible, impractical and doomed concept.

The separatists have told many lies, of course. The truth would be too devastating for any of their disciples and gullible followers. There would not be automatic dual-citizenship. No Canadian passports. No transfer payments. No CPP, child support payments or OAS for future retirees. Maybe the Canadian dollar could be used, but without input on monetary policy or interest rates. Major corps would, of course, relocate to a more stable region. And Albertans would shoulder about $300 billion in transferred debt, or $60,000 per capita.

As for the economy, well, figure it out.

Alberta is now part of a $2.8 trillion country, contributing just 15.25% to the national GDP. Ontario accounts for almost 39% and Quebec’s output equals 20% of the total. After years of negotiation, a ‘free’ Alberta would either remain closely aligned to the rest of the nation, as now, with Queen Danielle picking and choosing immigrants (that’s what this is all about, like Brexit) or try to be an independent country with the same status economically as Tennessee or Idaho. Good luck with that.

Meanwhile a Canada without Alberta is also a poorer place. And guess who would be waiting at the door to devour it?

Sometimes political leaders fail us so utterly it is hard to carry on with optimism and hope.

Until you hear it.

About the picture: “My protective Beast Sophie,” writes Nathan, “keeping watch for all the squirrels and magpies for us while we camp across Canada.”

To be in touch or send a picture of your beast, email to ‘[email protected]’.

Source: https://www.greaterfool.ca/2026/10/18/on-guard-3/