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But if the tenor is likely to be less preachy post-blackface, are we going to see a more conciliatory approach when it comes to policy?

The meeting with Moe suggests there may be some grounds for optimism. The premier described his meeting as “disappointing”, citing the lack of progress on his agenda of postponing the carbon tax, renegotiating equalization and ensuring more pipelines are built. But realistically, the chances of the prime minister putting his carbon tax on ice were non-existent. On equalization, Trudeau proved he has a sense of humour by suggesting that Moe take his concerns to the Council of Federation next month, where the premiers will try to gain consensus on a range of issues.

The problem with getting agreement on equalization is that it is a zero sum game – if one province gets a better deal, by definition another loses out. An agreement on the sovereignty of the Golan Heights is more likely than a united provincial front on equalization. But Trudeau at least suggested he is not wed to the current formula, which was put in place by the Harper government and extended by his own.

Western provinces have a convincing case to make that the hydro energy produced by Quebec and Manitoba should be calculated at market rates when the fiscal capacity of those provinces is calculated, rather than at the artificially low rates it is sold at domestically. By one calculation, doing so would have reduced payments to Quebec by 34 per cent, or $14 billion, between 2005 and 2010.