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Bernier argued western separation, at least as a tactic to squeeze more benefits from Ottawa, is a “weak threat.”

“And if separatism failed to achieve much that was beneficial in Quebec despite a more credible threat, imagine what it will accomplish here,” he said.

Photo by Tyler Dawson

Rather, what Alberta and other provinces should push for is more provincial autonomy — a less centralized federation with a smaller national government. He said that, in retrospect, the approach of Quebec nationalists has proven to be a mistake.

“Quebecers who want more autonomy for Quebec should have allied with (other provinces) instead of making unrealistic demands on Ottawa and the rest of the country,” Bernier said.

In so doing, Bernier argued, there cannot be another western protest party like the old Reform party, which failed to make inroads with voters from Quebec and ultimately ended up subsumed by an establishment party, the Conservatives, under Stephen Harper.

“What we need to solve our unity problems and make our federation work better is a good manager of a smaller, much less intrusive and interventionist government,” Bernier said.

On that point, he took the opportunity to take a shot at Andrew Scheer, the Conservative leader, for failing to stick to more conservative principles.

“Scheer’s only program was to buy votes,” he said.

And, he said, small-c conservatives must reject the calls after losing the last election to be even less conservative, as if to emulate the Liberals. If they do that, Bernier warned, “you’re screwed.”

“We must stop compromising. We must keep defending our ideas. Even if it means we’re not mainstream enough in today’s political culture to form a government.”

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