David Adams Richards concerned about national unity in wake of election

Writer and senator says divisive election results speak to a fracturing country

CBC News · Posted: Oct 24, 2019 12:59 PM AT

Author and senator David Adams Richards says the alienation of Western Canada poses a threat to national unity. (Doubleday Canada)

New Brunswick author and senator David Adams Richards says Canada's national unity is one of his biggest concerns coming out of Monday's election.

Richards said divisive politics seem to be fracturing the country, and the federal election results, which saw the Liberals shut out of Alberta and Saskatchewan, are an example.

"I think there are two very divergent trains of thought about our infrastructure and our economy," Richards said. "And I think that we have to realize that and try to make some headway in coming together."

He said he thinks the concerns of premiers like Conservative Jason Kenney of Alberta are genuine and hopes Prime Minister Justin Trudeau can pull together a "meeting of minds somewhere," whether that is in cabinet or elsewhere.

New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs also expressed concern about national unity and the alienation of Western provinces in an interview with CBC's As it Happens on Wednesday.

Higgs has been the first premier since the election to come out and say he will look at creating his own carbon tax because of the elections results, which gave Trudeau and the Liberals enough seats to form a minority government.

Higgs may create his own carbon tax in wake of federal Liberal win

Analysis
Higgs may create his own carbon tax. Here are his options

Higgs, a Progressive Conservative, had opposed the carbon-tax approach to responding to climate change, so the federal government imposed one on New Brunswick.

"Here in New Brunswick we've seen the electorate support seven out of 10 seats for parties that are supporting a carbon tax," Higgs said.

He said the resurgence of the Bloc Québécois in Quebec is an example of a divergent political landscape.

"The biggest challenge is the alienation from one end of the country to the other," Higgs said.

"I know in Atlantic Canada we've often just said, 'Well, you know, just throw more money at Atlantic Canada and they'll just be quiet and carry on.' And I've said I want to build an economy here. And [I'm] trying to do that through this transition into a greener economy."

Premier Blaine Higgs says he may create his own carbon tax for New Brunswick in light of the federal election results. (CBC)

Richards echoed the premier's sentiments regarding the Western provinces.

"I think the West feels really alienated," said Richards, who was appointed to the Senate in 2017 and sits as an Independent.

"I know that society is changing, I know oil is not always going to be the prime product that it once was, but we still have a place for it in our society. And I think Alberta and Saskatchewan have to be listened to as much as the other regions."

Richards said concerns about climate change and the economy need to be addressed together to bring Canada together.

"We love our country. We can, we must continue to continue to try, and I think there's enough of us to want to do that."

With files from Information Morning Fredericton and As it Happens

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31 comments
Commenting is now closed for this story.

David Raymond Amos
Trust that I contacted this dude before he was sworn in as a Senator

David Raymond Amos

Reply to @David Raymond Amos: Methinks Premier Higgs and Senator David Adams Richards should have a long talk with their friends Rob Moore and Senator Joe Day whom I addressed as he sat in the audience in Hampton during my last debate with all my political foes in Fundy Royal on October 17th N'es Pas?

Jared Henderson

Reply to @David Raymond Amos: much respect for putting yourself out there over and over again ( I couldn't do it)

But do you really think any NB'ers watched the debates in Fundy Royal (aside from maybe those who attended it) so all of these examples you give fall on deaf ears until more information is provided...I know personally I am not going to go look up a debate in Fundy Royal lol

David Raymond Amos

Reply to @Jared Henderson: Methinks because apathy rules the day you get the governments you deserve N'esy Pas?

Donald Gallant
Canada comes first.

Your culture and your language and province come second.

Canada is on the verge of Dystopia.

Fix the Constitution so the Courts have to follow the laws and not interpret the laws .

David Raymond Amos

Reply to @Donald Gallant: Methinks you should read Rule 55 of the Federal Court Rules if you think Canada's Constitution holds any water N'esy Pas?

Tim Biddiscombe
"Here in New Brunswick we've seen the electorate support seven out of 10 seats for parties that are supporting a carbon tax," Higgs said.

David Raymond Amos

Reply to @Tim Biddiscombe: Who cares what Higgy claims?

Donald Gallant
“ And so, my fellow Canadians :

ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country.

David Raymond Amos
Reply to @Donald Gallant: Methinks you wish to forget who Higgs and Trudeau work for N'esy Pas?

Neil MacLean
Failure to enact electoral reform is a key factor in exacerbating divisions. That was the biggest failure of all by our Prime Minister. With electoral reform Tories would not have been shut out of representation in Toronto. With electoral reform Liberals would not have been shut out of SK and AB. Some folks seem to want to exacerbate divisions to serve their own ends: Mr Kenny says the Prime Minister campaigned against the interests of his province which is kind of a poisonous way of portraying a policy difference on the carbon tax where the guy you are attacking is taking lots of heat for his support of pipelines. I think people need to try to do better all around.

David Raymond Amos

Reply to @Neil MacLean: Methinks you should go the the Parliamentary records of the ERRE Committee to review all that was said in when that Traveling Roadshow came to Fat Fred City just before Thanksgiving in 2016 Trust that I had fun arguing with the chair of the aforesaid committees and I proved to be correct N'esy Pas?

David Raymond Amos Round 3

Tuesday 29 October 2019