They all know it’s a pipe dream. But with Canada’s future at stake, politicians need to play the game before finally acknowledging there’ll be no new pipeline to ship Alberta crude.

Timing is what counts. Can this charade — that some company will step up to announce it’ll be the willing sucker to invest billions of dollars in an ultimately doomed project — last beyond the date of a vote on Alberta separation?

That’s the key. Because, for now, those supporting the idea of Alberta independence have nowhere near enough votes to carry such a momentous day. However, there’s almost certainly enough separatist backing to sign the petition, ensuring a provincial referendum goes ahead later this year.

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If this much-ballyhooed memorandum of understanding on energy development between Alberta and the federal government collapses in acrimony before that vote, it’ll become an entirely different ball game.

That’s because, for now, many Albertans, long since fed up with the disdain shown by Ottawa to this province, are giving........

© Calgary Herald