The CBC, Alberta, and the Power of Suppressed Potential
It’s difficult to understand the nuances of Alberta’s situation unless you live in Canada. The recent CBC feature targeting Alberta seems less like journalism and more like a hit piece. What the CBC fails to acknowledge is that many Albertans—and indeed, many Canadians who watched—are educated in Austrian economics and recognize what’s not being said.
Alberta’s Untapped Power
Alberta has never been allowed to reach its full potential. One major reason is federal obstruction. Canada has consistently blocked Alberta from accessing global markets, particularly when it comes to energy exports.
Contrast that with Texas, whose oil industry helped fuel its emergence as a tech and innovation hub. That’s the nature of capitalism and free markets—they attract capital from unexpected places.
Switzerland, a landlocked nation with limited natural resources, became a financial powerhouse due to its strong property rights and limited federal interference. If given the same economic freedom, Alberta could transform in ways we’ve never imagined.
Alberta’s Case for Separation
What CBC fails to see is that their own data only strengthens Alberta’s case for greater autonomy—or even separation. The issue isn’t just oil and gas; it’s the entire ecosystem of industries that could be thriving if not for Ottawa’s restrictions.
Canada as a whole would be wealthier today had it not been for decades of economic mismanagement out of Ottawa. Before far-left policies began eroding their competitiveness, California and New York were economic giants that propelled the U.S. forward. Despite current dysfunction, investors still believe those states can recover. That same optimism is being denied to Alberta.
Provincial Mismanagement Elsewhere
If British Columbia weren’t governed by economic incompetence, it could easily be the richest province on Earth, given its geography and untapped resources. But unlike Alberta, B.C. and Saskatchewan have nationalized auto insurance, a laughable policy from a serious economic perspective.
It’s bad enough that Canada has socialized health care, but nationalizing auto insurance crosses into absurdity. Risk belongs in the private sector. When governments interfere with market pricing and property rights to win votes, they make provinces less competitive and less serious as economic actors.
The Pension Trap and Ottawa’s Dependence on Alberta
One area Albertans must understand better is pensions. Why Alberta doesn’t yet have its own provincial police force is baffling—but even more baffling is how Alberta continues to subsidize Canada’s pension system.
For example, the Quebec Pension Plan is essentially being supported by Alberta. Transfer payments flow to “have-not” provinces, where public sector employees “contribute” to pensions that are ultimately backstopped by Alberta’s younger, more productive workforce.
Pensions, like insurance, depend on more people contributing than withdrawing. Alberta has the younger demographics and the economic engine needed to sustain a pension plan. Yet Ottawa continues to act as a drag, making Alberta less competitive through federal policies and regulations.
What CBC Is Really Counting On
The CBC isn’t offering insight—they’re betting on Albertans backing down. They’re hoping emotional reactions will keep Alberta in check, instead of having Albertans stand strong in their convictions.
Yes, Alberta is the economic engine of Canada, but it’s more than that—Alberta is a symbol of what Canada could be if it fully embraced its potential.
But let’s take this deeper: CBC’s ultimate fear isn’t Alberta’s oil—it’s Alberta’s faith. Or rather, its lack of it. Many Albertans have abandoned the Judeo-Christian roots that once gave them strength and unity. In that spiritual vacuum, socialism and statism thrive.
When societies abandon God, they become weak and divided. Socialists sense this weakness and exploit it. Alberta doesn’t just need economic reform—it needs spiritual restoration.
The Real Answer: Return to Christ
Some in Alberta are turning to pagan idols, cultural myths, or materialism in their search for meaning. But history has shown us: Pagan gods never built anything lasting. Intelligence and ambition can only go so far without moral and spiritual grounding.
What made the West strong—what made Alberta strong—was faith in Jesus Christ. And until that faith is renewed, the province will continue to struggle under both spiritual and economic burdens.
The CBC can’t offer hope, only narratives. But the truth doesn’t require spin: Alberta is being held back by federal mismanagement and spiritual drift. The path forward starts by putting God back at the center of both governance and daily life.
Consider giving your life to Christ today. That is how true liberation begins.
