Right on cue, conservatives over-reach on #TransMountain decision.


As if planned this way, Conservative cry-babies react to the Trans-Mountain decision by appropriating the pipeline setback as "western alienation".

Spare me for a moment while I try not to throw up.

Albertans and pro-pipelines folks are no doubt upset by the Appeals Court to overturn Cabinet approval for the pipeline project, but not because the Ottawa Liberals suddenly turned anti-West. 

To be sure, I have never seen such a pro-pipeline party as Justin Trudeau's Liberal Party; so much so that the Natural Resources Minister had to apologize for threatening to call in the military on pipeline protesters. Even Stephen Harper didn't go that far.

What Trudeau is guilty of is betraying a central campaign promise. He said that his new government would reboot the approval process as the 'current model' was flawed. He was right. The process was flawed - it is still flawed. That is why the court acted as it did. The problem is that Trudeau didn't deliver on his pledge and let the Harper model remain in place.

Imagine an alternative universe where Alberta based Stephen Harper was still Prime Minister. Would conservative types in the west still moan 'western alienation' had this same verdict come down? Or is that merely a political reaction when things don't go your way? Did anyone mention that the judges involved in this decision were all appointed in the Harper era? 




in case the original tweet is deleted

Don't get me wrong, I'm not defending Justin or Stephen; nor am I saying that the west doesn't get its equitable due from Ottawa. But lets get something straight: the appeals court decision had nothing to do with Liberal, or Conservative, or Harper, or Trudeau, or Scheer, or western alienation, or Alberta or BC for that matter. It came down to a failure to adequately consult in a meaningful way with various affected first nation's. It came down to a failure to consider any adverse affect of a catastrophic spill and the dramatic expansion of tanker traffic on the west coast. 

This pipeline may still go ahead after all, the court even gave a road map to navigate the problems in the current approval process (that Trudeau should have fixed, but didn't). 

The court ignored the political considerations (as they should) and focused on the meaningful consultations shortcoming and environmental concerns. But true to form, crybaby conservatives made it all about themselves. 

Well, go fuck yourselves. Canada is bigger than you, you regionalist, opportunist, cynical 'populists'. Trying to split the country like this makes you just as bad if not worse than the failing separatist movement in Quebec. How un-Canadian of you.

My 2 bits  

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