Ottawa needs to tread lightly on two issues: oil and gas and the notwithstanding clause. Is Mark Carney wise and strong enough to back off?

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The federal government has a challenging list of priorities, none more challenging or important than national unity, especially Alberta’s role in Confederation. Western alienation has been growing since 2015, the result of federal incursions into provincial jurisdiction and Justin Trudeau’s hostility to natural resources. In a Leger poll in May, 47 per cent of Albertans said they favoured separation, while fully 55 per cent of Canadians said they understood Alberta’s desire for independence.

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Even though Central Canada