by Michael Darte
After suffering police brutality, Michael Corleone becomes the Godfather who stops further police brutality and drug trafficking by, let’s just say, ending the relationship “permanently”. Then comes the famous line, “It’s nothing personal, it’s strictly business” (Coppola, 1972). Alberta business and lifestyle has suffered its own brutality at the hands of Ottawa. Ottawa has blocked new pipelines (C–69), canceled multiple oil and gas projects, capped oil and gas production, and banned ships needed to carry Alberta resources to various overseas markets (C-48; Smith, 2025). A list of the cancelled projects can be found in the article, “Billions lost in ditched resource projects,” (Resource Works, 2025) where they cite the loss of $670 Billion since 2015 (Canada Action, 2024).
Yet, the expectancy for Alberta to still contribute the same amount of money to Ottawa for personal income tax and Equalization payments remains the same. So, what is the role of the Federal Government as it relates to Alberta?
The role of the Federal Government is defined as overseeing issues that affect the entire country, like the “postal service, national defense, the Supreme Court, passports, federal income tax, and employment insurance” (City of Spruce Grove, n.d.). More importantly than what government manages, is how government effects the businesses of Alberta. Governments can benefit businesses, or suppress businesses; even if those businesses have the ability to create value for the country. When this occurs, officials are said to abuse their power in the form of corruption called, capture. Boyes (2022) states that “While this kind of corruption is illegal in many countries, it’s an expected part of business in others” (“Challenges of Government Politics,” para. 4).
The Albertan needs to recognize that some countries expect capture corruption as a way of business. Daniel Carpenter, Professor of Government and Chair of the Department of Government at Harvard University, mentions that many governments are interested in “regulatory” capture, whereby “certain goals are expressed in legislation but where the achievement of these goals is distorted, corrupted, watered down, or otherwise turned to an industry’s advantage” (Carpenter, 2014, p. 59; as cited by Mahar, 2015, “2.5 Legislation turned to industry’s advantage,” para 1). In other words, through regulation, governments can shut down companies to benefit other companies.
The Albertan who understands that government can operate by capture corruption has the ability to make a decision that benefits Alberta sovereignty.
The question we ask is: What benefit does Alberta have aligning itself with Ottawa? This is a business question, not a question of friendship or patriotism. It is strictly business. One can still be a “Canadian” in the Country of Alberta, for example, without ruining relationships with friends and family. The decision for Independence, or sovereignty, is only business; and it is important to remind people of these two different types of transactions.
A final note to the reader, when you consider the business responsibility outlined above with the Moral Duty of the Albertan, it is most reasonable to conclude: for Alberta to function to its fullest potential, either (1) complete sovereignty, or (2) complete Independence is required for success. Anything else is sabotaging oneself. For these people, they are not “leaving Canada,” they are changing the business relationship. They are saying, “YES,” to Alberta.
Sources below.
The Alberta Prosperity Project is a non-profit group that helps Albertans learn about and support Alberta’s independence. We believe Albertans should have more control over their own decisions, instead of being held back by unfair federal rules and laws. Our main goal is to achieve greater freedom, stronger rights, and a better future for all Albertans by becoming an independent nation.
We stand for personal freedom, respect for the rule of law, lower taxes, and a stronger local economy. We believe Albertans should decide how to use their own natural resources, manage their healthcare and education, and protect their rights and freedoms without federal interference.
We educate people about the possibilities, process towards secession and more through public events, information campaigns, and partnerships with community groups. The APP does not support violence or illegal activity of any kind.
Our mission is to help Albertans understand what sovereignty and independence could look like and why it could lead to a more fair and prosperous province for future generations.
Sources:
- Coppola, F. F. (Director). (1972). The Godfather [Film]. Paramount Pictures.
- Smith, D. (2025, May 5). Alberta Next: Albertans to decide path forward for the province. Alberta. Retrieved from https://www.alberta.ca/article-alberta-next-albertans-to-decide-path-forward-for-the-province
- Resource Works. (2025, 28 January). Billions lost in ditched resource projects. Retrieved from https://resourceworks.com/billions-ditched-projects/
- Canada Action. (2024, 23 September). Billion in Cancelled or Suspended Natural Resource Projects Since 2015. [Web Blog]. Retrieved from https://www.canadaaction.ca/canada-has-670-billion-in-cancelled-suspended-resource-projects-since-2015
- City of Spruce Grove. (n.d.). Government Roles and Responsibilities. The City of Spruce Grove. Retrieved from https://www.sprucegrove.org/government/government-roles-and-responsibilities/
- Boyes, M. (2022, 19 July). Understanding How Politics Can Affect Your Business. Harvard Business School. Retrieved from https://online.hbs.edu/blog/post/politics-and-business
- Mahar, K.M. (2015, 17 August). One Media Law: A case study of regulatory capture, systemic corruption and the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission. Ised-Isde Canada. Retrieved from https://ised-isde.canada.ca/site/broadcasting-telecommunications-legislative-review/sites/default/files/attachments/762_OneMediaLaw_AppendixG.pdf
Mahar cited the following article:
Carpenter, D. (2014). Detecting and Measuring Capture. In D. Carpenter and D.A. Moss (Eds.), Preventing Regulatory Capture: Special Interest Influence and How to Limit It (pp. 57-68). New York: Cambridge University Press