ST. JOHN’S, Nfld. (Staff) – Little more than a decade ago, Quebec often found it had an ally in Alberta when it demanded greater power-sharing with Ottawa.
Then-Alberta premier Peter Lougheed often lined up behind then-Quebec separatist premier RenŽ Levesque in asserting provincial jurisdiction demands.
Last week at the federal-provincial agriculture ministers’ meeting, there was an indication of how much that old alliance has been shattered.
The separatist Quebec government refused to send a minister, claiming it had little interest in the future agriculture policy of a country it did not want to belong to anymore.
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Quebec news reports also claimed the government was angry because Ottawa would not give Quebec more say in devising strategy for the trade battle with the United States over protection for the dairy industry, a politically sensitive sector in the province.
Heavy-handed approach
Quebec said Ottawa was being heavy-handed and “inflexible”.
But instead of supporting Quebec’s call for a greater provincial voice, ministers from the other nine provinces unanimously supported Ottawa’s stand and leadership role against the Americans.
“As far as Alberta is concerned, international trade is conducted on a federal basis,” said Alberta minister Walter Paszkowski at an Aug. 3 news conference.
“This would break with tradition to have provinces negotiating. We would not agree with that.”
Nor, said Walter Bradley, would Prince Edward Island.
The province was glad to have Ottawa negotiating with the Americans for potato access last year, said the provincial minister. “They (Quebec) will get no support from P.E.I.”
Federal minister Ralph Goodale said it was a sign of a unanimous “Team Canada” approach to the Americans that reflects a common view and lots of consultation.
