Alberta will owe Ottawa precisely nothing – no gratitude, no slavish thanks – if the pipeline reboot is approved.

                                                        ~ Don Braid, Calgary Herald, 06/17/19  

I heartily disagree with that sentiment.

Today, Justin Trudeau announced that the pipeline expansion is again approved and shovels will be in the ground this construction season. B.C. Premier John Horgan acknowledged the federal government’s authority in the matter. 

On behalf of a number of Albertans, and Canadians, who are very grateful to see this project approved, I would like to say “thank you”.

Thank you for telling opposition to the pipeline that they were heard, and respected, and that economic considerations must also be made. 

Thank you for listening to the Supreme Court of Canada’s suggestions on how to improve consultations and ensuring they were completed effectively. 

Thank you for publicly standing up for Alberta’s economy when even the former Prime Minister would not tell Christy Clark, former B.C. Premier, that a pipeline was in the national interest. 

Thank you for shrugging off every one of the petulant threats, ignorant cat-calls, the personal attacks on your speech, your education, your work history, your father’s legacy, and even your mother, and still working to approve a pipeline that will benefit those same Albertans and Canadians. 

Thank you for putting your political capital on the line in every other province where your Party could actually gain votes to help a province where the majority will never, ever, vote anything but Conservative. 

But above all, thank you, for trying to be fair and consider the concerns of all Canadians while too many Albertans shouted “me, me, me, me, me” every, single, f*$%king, day. 

This post contains uncomfortable, and, frankly, incredibly disappointing facts.

Deirdre Mitchell-MacLean

contact: [email protected]

Twitter: @Mitchell_AB for all the commentary, @thisweekinAB for posts.