VIEW THE LETTER:
An Urgent Request for Action To Our Leaders
OPEN LETTER CALLS FOR IMMEDIATE AND ACCELERATED ACTION ON NEW DEAL FOR ALBERTA AND SASKATCHEWAN
For immediate release: July 15th, 2020
CALGARY – Today, the Buffalo Project released a letter to Premier Scott Moe, Premier Jason Kenney and leaders across Alberta and Saskatchewan signed by seven concerned citizen groups and over 60 high profile people from the two provinces.
The letter calls for immediate and decisive action to strike a new, fairer deal within confederation.
Dallas Howe, a well-known businessperson from both Saskatchewan and Alberta is the chair of the Buffalo Project. Speaking to the letter, Howe said, “We are pleased the governments of Alberta and Saskatchewan have signaled their intentions to re-negotiate some elements of the federal status quo, but we are calling for an accelerated approach.”
A recent poll conducted on behalf of the Buffalo Project among members of the Angus Reid Forum from June 3-7, 2020 showed 75 per cent of Alberta people and 72 per cent of Saskatchewan people are dissatisfied with their province’s treatment by the federal government.
Further, roughly three-in-five, 58 per cent in Alberta and 57 per cent in Saskatchewan support a new arrangement where their province would have more autonomy from the federal government within confederation.
Of those in support of greater autonomy, roughly half want action immediately and do not want to wait until the pandemic situation or economy stabilizes.
“Our polling found overwhelming dissatisfaction with the status quo and people wanting action now, not later,” said Howe. “There are several ways the provinces can unilaterally, and in a responsible way, pressure the federal government for change while obtaining greater autonomy within Canada.”
“Nothing short of structural change is acceptable and we can’t wait for another electoral cycle to take significant action. We need to take every possible measure to assume control of our finances, services and job creation now or we risk greater calls for separation or missing the opportunity to repair a broken federation.”
The open letter is above. The letter will receive broad public circulation through a combination of advertising in all major dailies across the two provinces and a significant social media campaign.
The Buffalo Project is a group of concerned citizens fighting for a new deal for Alberta and Saskatchewan.
Findings of the study/survey conducted by the Buffalo Project from June 3-7, 2020 were with a representative sample of 800 Alberta residents and 800 Saskatchewan residents who are members of the Angus Reid Forum.
About Angus Reid Forum surveys:
The precision of Angus Reid Forum online polls is measured using a credibility interval. In this case, the poll is accurate for each province to within +/- 3.5 percentage points, 19 times out of 20, had all Canadians been polled. All sample surveys and polls may be subject to other sources of error, including, but not limited to coverage error, and measurement error.
The Angus Reid Forum is Canada’s most well-known and trusted online public opinion community consisting of engaged residents across the country who answer surveys on topical issues that matter to all Canadians.
