I hope Albertans thinks long and hard at what it truly means to separate from the rest of Canada. It is a land-locked province and (separation) would take many many years for it to happen. If (Alberta) becomes its own country, it will no longer get any of the perks the federal government provides to it. Some of those perks include, transfer payments for all programs like health, education, infrastructure, CPP, OAS, GIC and policing to name just a few. It would need to establish its own government, currency, banking and financial investment systems, courts, judiciary, passports, national anthem, border guards and security, policing and military, with its own equipment and soldiers. (It would also have to) establish trade deals with other provinces, especially B.C., because its pipeline to the coast goes through B.C., which would still be in Canada. First Nations land would have to be respected and allowed to stay within Canada, which would not leave much of Alberta to carve out for Albertans, not to mention the federal government bought the second pipeline of TMX, so Alberta would have to negotiate a repayment plan. It would also lose all national sports teams with no one to compete with. Who would it represent as a country at the Olympics? I could go on and I am sure I missed a lot, but you get the idea. It would be the same if it thought of joining the U.S. It would have its president, flag, passport and currency, pay-as-yo- go healthcare and scary loose gun laws. It would have to trade MPs for congressmen (and congresswomen) and senators, either Democrats or Republicans. Are Albertans ready for that? I suggest if Albertans do not want to be a patriotic Canadians, willing to put country first and work together to help things get better when things are tough instead of whining like toddlers who did not get their way, then maybe it is time to just move away from Canada altogether and make a go of it in another country of their choosing. I am a third-generation proud Canadian. My husband is a son of immigrants and are thankful every day to be in this great country. Is it perfect, no. Have we had tough times in the past, absolutely. But we have always persevered to be better. There is a reason people around the world admire us and want to come to this country. Carole Kormendy