The Written Word
for March 14, 2001

Paul Martin came to town a week ago Monday, denying, of course, that there’s any "western alienation" out here. As the famous English tart, Mandy Rice- Davies said when Lord Astor denied bedding her down, "he would say that, wouldn’t he?" The Finance Minister’s amazing ability to self-mesmerize popped into the news over the weekend when, after a meeting in Dayton Valley deep in the midst of Alberta Oil country, he solemnly intoned that "western alienation" was never mentioned in the discussions.

First off lets get the ground rules straight. I know this will come as a shock to Ottawa but there is no "West" out her. There are real people living west of the Lakehead who come from places quite as different from one another as Toronto is from Montreal. Despite what the Toronto Globe and Mail would have us believe, there is no weather from "The West" and there is no "Western" opinion. If that’s not enough shock, try this – the opinions in Saanich, B. C., are not necessarily any more like that of Winnipeg than the weather is. That there is an "eastern" perception of The West, count B.C. out.

British Columbia is a very different place than the Prairie Provinces – different geographically, historically, demographically and economically. If you don’t believe me, get your hands on Jean Barman’s book The West Beyond The West.

Liberals, of course, never listen to anyone but Liberals and have trouble understanding this. Interviewing Stephan "give ‘em tough amour" Dion, about a year ago, and frustrated trying to make him understand that British Columbians didn’t buy this "two founding nations gup," I said "Goddamit, why don’t you listen?" He’s not been back.

Jean Chretien visits Florida far more than he visits Vancouver, a small Canadian village on the country’s western extremity with 2.1 million souls more or less. When he or Paul Martin do come to town, they avoid any talk shows where, because of the host’s penchant for pointed questions, an unpleasant "sound bite" might result. Callers, namely real people, upset them with their frankness. No, the routine is a set piece as predictable as the mating dance of a ruffled grouse in heat. First there is the never-before-heard-of convention of a never-before-heard-of organization with the eminently predictable speech which starts out blah, blah, blah, ends with blah, blah, blah with the same in the middle. Then it’s a suitable Grade VI classroom who get to see a real live (well almost) prime minister or cabinet minister – which is more than their parents do unless they are Liberal donors - followed, if there’s time, mind, for a cocktail party of the faithful where entire constituency of Vancouver Quadra, and not much else, turns up to gush and be gushed at.

British Columbia will probably leave Canada one of these days not because of a surge of separatist feeling but out of boredom spawned by a total lack of influence in national affairs. How galling it is to watch Ottawa, as it tosses our tax dollars about the land, betray a complete misunderstanding of issues like the Nisga’a Treaty. Or to know for twenty years not one federal vessel has been built on the Pacific coast. Canada has become an expensive luxury.

It’s not the Liberal’s fault, I suppose. Under a system of government where 50%+1 gets 100% of the power there’s really no need to pay much attention outside the Ontario Liberal caucus.

The Liberals tell us, of course, that the "West" has powerful people working for "it" like Ralph Goodale and Anne McLellan. Wonderful. Except to most British Columbians - who couldn’t name more than 2 of the 5 Liberal MPs here under penalty of a public stoning - these names have a recognition factor right up there with Millard Fillmore, Mackenzie Bowell and John Abbott.

Who they? Quite.

Perhaps the political flogging of poor old Stephen Owen says it all. Here the shining Liberal rookie MP from Vancouver Quadra states to me, then to Vaughn Palmer, that Mr Chretien’s notions of an Ethics Counselor and his are quite different and, before he can find his seat in the Commons he’s political toast.

Strange we may be in this strange province, but we have figured out that if you want to be heard in Ottawa, electing Liberals is the last thing you do.

Western Alienation? I don’t know – ask a westerner.

British Columbia alienation? Bet on it.