See more Toronto Sun on Google — save as a Preferred Source

CALGARY — The first thing you notice are the Canadian flags.

KINSELLA: Alberta's fraught relationship with Canada Back to video

On poles, tacked to garage doors, on makeshift displays, the maple leaf is much more evident than before. If you drive around Calgary’s Southeast, where four rock-ribbed Conservative federal ridings are found, there are many more Canadian flags than Alberta flags. It is noticeable.

It is also consequential. Albertans generally, and Calgarians specifically, have always had a fraught relationship with Canada. Alberta’s historic complaints about Confederation – an uneven equalization system, punitive regulation of the energy sector, inadequate representation at the federal level – are all valid.

Peter Lougheed, the Conservative giant against whom all subsequent Alberta Premiers are measured, fought that imbalance, and usually won. Lougheed forced Pierre Trudeau to compromise on the constitutional amending formula, on control of natural resources, on the notwithstanding clause.

But he was a Canadian, always.........

© Edmonton Sun