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At last, there’s a serious chance Ottawa will pay Alberta about $1.7 billion in fiscal stabilization money.

Thirteen provincial and territorial premiers agreed in Toronto to ask Ottawa for major revisions to the plan, including lifting the $60 per capita limit on payments.

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The Quebec government broke the ice with a supportive column by Finance Minister Eric Girard, published Nov. 22 in the Financial Post.

This was little noticed by the public outside Alberta, but it was very important. Ottawa can now pony up without fear of Quebec backlash.

It’s hard to see how the Trudeau Liberals can simply refuse to pay, given the unanimity of the demand, and all the federal vows to listen hard to the West.

But still, this is Ottawa we’re talking about.

“The premiers come together to ask Ottawa for money all the time,” says Opposition Leader Rachel Notley, whose NDP government also made stabilization demands.