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Brad Wall

The former premier of Saskatchewan remembers a time in the 80s when separation sentiments in the country ran high — and says this latest iteration could be worse:

Photo by Kathy Fitzpatrick/Postmedia

I was in high school during the time of the National Energy Program and there were separatist parties, and Trudeau the father was not well liked. That was when we had our first round of significant Western alienation and even separatism. It appears to me that it is an order of magnitude more intense today.I guess the frustration for a lot of people in Saskatchewan is that threats to the oil industry will apparently get worse before they get better. Near the end of the election campaign, things got worse because the rhetoric from Mr. Trudeau toward the oil industry, especially during the French debate, was shocking. I don’t think anyone before that had heard him refer to the oil industry as “oil barons” that must be fought against to protect the interests of Quebec. This is a federal leader, the prime minster. So it’s palpable here, it has been for a while, it’s uncharacteristically more so since Monday. (Interview with National Post)

Stephen Buffalo

The Samson Cree First Nation member and head of the Alberta-based Indian Resource Council, which is looking to purchase a stake in the Trans Mountain pipeline, says the project is critical for many western Indigenous communities:

Photo by Postmedia

For the most part we have to be optimistic that we’re going to see Trans Mountain get built. Following the election we may have to adjust to what the government is going to proceed with on the project, but the latest message from the prime minister seems to be that he’s moving ahead with it. Which is good news. But on our end we’re still looking at getting indigenous ownership in Trans Mountain. When we talk about climate change or about trying to get off of fossil fuels, as is often said by environmentalists from the First Nations perspective, we don’t always realize the ripple effects. It could be an important project for our communities. (Interview with National Post)