This is Vanese Ferguson with Coffee Talk. I think the Alberta referendum had its uses. It brought to light the gross inequities in transfer payments between Quebec and the rest of the country. I’m not opposed to the concept of transfer payments. Saskatchewan has been a recipient in the past. However the disproportianate amount going to Quebec infuriates me. Some in Alberta who are in the separatist camp wanted the referendum to also shed light on how the Senate is populated. Again a disproportianate amount in certain parts of country which transpires because they are appointed by the Prime Minister of the day who of course wants to stack it in favour of the government in office. I don’t disagree its wrong but Canadians have been calling for senate reform for generations and it won’t happen as long it serves whoever has been voted in. Is the separatist faction in Alberta going to go away now that they lost the referendum? They got a quarter of the vote. And I think that’s a lot for first time out of the blocks. And they will continue to beat that drum as long as an obnoxious amount of money, much of it generated by Alberta, goes to Quebec. But will we have a Prime Minister who has the back bone to stand up to Le Belle Province – i don’t believe it will happen in my lifetime.
Alberta referendum may benefit much of Canada – if the Prime Minister was willing to act
By Vanese M. Ferguson
Oct 21, 2026 | 9:01 AM

























