You still can't mention Trudeau in Alberta

After all these years, you still can't mention Trudeau without getting an earful from Albertans. I mean, get over it. The National Energy Program was created in 1980 in response to the arab oil cartel, which was fixing prices and keeping them high. That led to the energy crisis of the '70s. Whatever you think of Trudeau -- and I think he was one of the worst prime ministers we have ever had -- he had a vision for all of Canada. Quebec didn't like it because it wasn't "Quebec" enough'; Aberta didn't like it because it wasn't "rich oil" enough.

Here's the deal: Canada runs on food and oil. You need oil to get food to Canadians and the energy crisis had led to harsh unemployment in Canada -- particularly in the Maritimes. Trudeau's energy program was three-pronged:
1. To ensure the security of supply and ultimate independence from the world oil markets,
2. To ensure that all Canadians had the opportunity to participate in the energy industry, particularly oil and gas, and to share in the benefits of its expansion, and
3. To ensure national equity, with a pricing and revenue-sharing regime which recognized the needs and rights of all Canadians.

Albertans didn't like that because it meant they had to forego revenues world oil markets would have given them. Well, that's what being a part of Canada is all about. While it's true natural resources are within the provincial purvue, Trudeau realized that the national interest had to override provincial coffers. That's why he is still hated here.

Let's not forget that Alberta was a have-not province until the 1940's. Before that, Ontario supported it, so let's not hate Ottawans and Ontarians too hard out here.