If Alberta was her own Country........

[FishingMOM]

If Alberta were its own country, it would rank No. 3 in the world when it comes to the Human Development Index, a global measure of income, education and life expectancy, according to an Ottawa think-tank.

The Centre for the Study of Living Standards has ranked the provinces in the same manner countries were ranked by the United Nations last year, a list that saw Canada as a whole place 6th in the world relative to HDI.

“Canada falls into an impressive sixth place in the international HDI rankings,” said the report released on Friday.

“However, this ranking hides significant regional variations among the Canadian provinces and territories.”

Among the provinces and territories, Alberta was found to have the highest HDI, while Ontario and the Northwest Territories came in second and third. Prince Edward Island and Nunavut were in the bottom two places for 2011.

If Nunavut were ranked as its own country, it would place 38th in the world.

“It is also important to understand why Alberta is the top ranking region, and Nunavut is the lowest ranking one,” said the report.

“Given the small differences between provinces and territories in the education indicators, it is clear that these differences are primarily driven by differences in life expectancy and income.”

The report said most provinces experienced similar levels of growth between 2000 and 2011, with two exceptions: Nunavut, and Newfoundland and Labrador — where the HDI grew the fastest of all the provinces and territories.

kcryderman@calgaryherald.com

[Hagalaz]

If Alberta was a country.

As nice as it would be, I think that its a dream that will never be recognized.

[leeaspell]

Would that mean all the newfies would need passports and visas?

[whitetail Junkie]

Alberta....The Divorce Capital of canada....Longer Life\more income doesnt mean its a better place to live.To even think Alberta should be seperated from Canada is a Disgrace.

[Arn?Narn.]

Originally Posted by whitetail Junkie

Alberta....The Divorce Capital of canada....Longer Life\more income doesnt mean its a better place to live.To even think Alberta should be seperated from Canada is a Disgrace.

^this

[hal53]

Originally Posted by Arn?Narn.

^this

ahhh yes...much better to let the Mulcairs of the world kick us in the face , while sucking up our money like a Hoover, so we can all say we're great Canadians....you guys are pretty pathetic.....radio talk show in Quebec the other day asked "whose fault is the student protests?"...a lady called in and said it was Alberta's fault, when asked why...she said because they should send us more money, then we wouldn't have to raise the tuition. Nice, real nice......

[Mutter87]

Originally Posted by whitetail Junkie

Alberta....The Divorce Capital of canada....Longer Life\more income doesnt mean its a better place to live.To even think Alberta should be seperated from Canada is a Disgrace.

Lol a disgrace? Should a wife let her Husband cheat on her and treat her like garbage so she doesn't seem Immoral by getting a divorce?

[elkhunter11]

ahhh yes...much better to let the Muclairs of the world kick us in the face , while sucking up our money like a Hoover, so we can all say we're great Canadians....you guys are pretty pathetic.....radio talk show in Quebec the other day asked "whose fault is the student protests?"...a lady called in and said it was Alberta's fault, when asked why...she said because they should send us more money, then we wouldn't have to raise the tuition. Nice, real nice......

+1

The bloodsuckers of Canada, Ontario and Quebec condemn our industry, and our way of life, then they take our money and demand even more. If that is the cost of being Canadian, then the price is getting too high.

[pseelk]

Originally Posted by elkhunter11

+1

The bloodsuckers of Canada, Ontario and Quebec condemn our industry, and our way of life, then they take our money and demand even more. If that is the cost of being Canadian, then the price is getting too high.

x2

[greylynx]

Not enough true Albertans living here any longer.

The province has been demographically diluted and is on a road to the status quo numb liberal mind.

Grab what you can while you can is the current atitude and there is going to be a price to pay for that.

[SonnyJ]

Originally Posted by hal53

ahhh yes...much better to let the Mulcairs of the world kick us in the face , while sucking up our money like a Hoover, so we can all say we're great Canadians....you guys are pretty pathetic.....radio talk show in Quebec the other day asked "whose fault is the student protests?"...a lady called in and said it was Alberta's fault, when asked why...she said because they should send us more money, then we wouldn't have to raise the tuition. Nice, real nice......

Unbelievable..

[GunnerySgtJackson]

Mulcair--------The PM must put his hands together every night before going to bed and say, "Thank you Lord, I needed this"!

[rugatika]

I don't see what the big taboo is about discussing Alberta separation. We have a good industry here, we support a standard of living across Canada that provinces such as quebec would not be able to afford were it not for Alberta (at great expense to our own standard of living...Albertans pay almost twice as much in tuition as Quebecers). In return we are supposed to shut up and allow ourselves to be a political punching bag so some scummy politician (in a long line of politicians) from Quebec can win himself votes from the ignorant masses east of Thunderbay?

If it was just political rhetoric (and right now that's all it is) I don't think I would be too worried about it...but when it has the possibility to ascend to power and destroy an entire economy and way of life for an entire province and it's people (PET...NEP) I think it's perfectly natural and even intelligent to begin considering separation as a way of protecting ourselves. Just makes sense to me.

[Big Daddy Badger]

Originally Posted by Mutter87

Lol a disgrace? Should a wife let her Husband cheat on her and treat her like garbage so she doesn't seem Immoral by getting a divorce?

You missed the point being made by a country mile which was that there is more to measuring a society than how much money everyone has.

And...does every divorce in Alberta start with some man cheating on his wife?

If so...maybe he should have referred to the infidelity rates because that would have to be a much better example of a societal fail than simply pointing out that here in the moral conservative capital of Canada...people simply can't commit to one another as well as in other parts of the country.

That said...I'd love to see the west separate but I do not think Alberta could go it alone and maintain the same economic advantage it currently enjoys.

We need more diversity and access to a port.

[rugatika]

Originally Posted by GunnerySgtJackson

Mulcair--------The PM must put his hands together every night before going to bed and say, "Thank you Lord, I needed this"!

You would think so...but sadly, many Canadians are buying what Mulcair is selling. Doesn't look good for Canada in general, and Alberta specifically.

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2012/05...n_1509209.html

And Alberta does not need to be geographically in possession of a port to prosper.

[Kitscoty Bear Slayer(KBS)]

Originally Posted by elkhunter11

+1

The bloodsuckers of Canada, Ontario and Quebec condemn our industry, and our way of life, then they take our money and demand even more. If that is the cost of being Canadian, then the price is getting too high.

X a million.Great post!!

[avb3]

Fortis Et Liber

That is written on the bottom of Alberta's Coat of Arms.

Means Strong and Free.

[Big Daddy Badger]

Originally Posted by rugatika

And Alberta does not need to be geographically in possession of a port to prosper.

Never said they did.
What I said was....that Alberta would maintain the edge better if they joined with others to maintain diversity and access to a port.

Towns, cities, regions and countries that have only one or two horses in the race and no access to sea ports almost always suffer for it economically.

[rugatika]

Originally Posted by pesky672

Never said they did.
What I said was....that Alberta would maintain the edge better if they joined with others to maintain diversity and access to a port.

Towns, cities, regions and countries that have only one or two horses in the race and no access to sea ports almost always suffer for it economically.

It would be interesting to see who would chose to stay with Quebec and Ontario, etc and who would want to be part of a new Canada. Not sure if we could talk BC into pushing Vancouver into the ocean or not.

[Big Daddy Badger]

Originally Posted by rugatika

It would be interesting to see who would chose to stay with Quebec and Ontario, etc and who would want to be part of a new Canada. Not sure if we could talk BC into pushing Vancouver into the ocean or not.

Central Canada is resented by their neighbours to the left and right as you look at the map.

Most of BC would love to push the lower mainland into the drink but unfortunatley... representation by population makes everyone living in 4/5ths of that province a slave to their whims.

I now for a fact that there are a lot of people now wishing that the Kootenays had joined Alberta when they had that chance not so very long ago.

[Gust]

Originally Posted by hal53

ahhh yes...much better to let the Mulcairs of the world kick us in the face , while sucking up our money like a Hoover, so we can all say we're great Canadians....you guys are pretty pathetic.....radio talk show in Quebec the other day asked "whose fault is the student protests?"...a lady called in and said it was Alberta's fault, when asked why...she said because they should send us more money, then we wouldn't have to raise the tuition. Nice, real nice......

What the???? Why were you listening to quebec radio??

[hal53]

Originally Posted by GustavMahler

What the???? Why were you listening to quebec radio??

Inter-Web is a wonderful thing....and as a great soldier said once "know your enemy"

[greylynx]

Originally Posted by hal53

Inter-Web is a wonderful thing....and as a great soldier said once "know your enemy"

You beat me to it Hal

"Know your enemy better than he knows himself"

A very wise saying that can also be applied to hunting and fishing success.

[357mag]

If quebec was allowed to have their own referendum on separatism, why have Albertans not? Actually, let's just invade them (none of them want to own firearms anyway, so should be safe and easy) then relocate them to the arctic, or better yet, give them as a gift to our continental neighbors in the south (you know.... Mexico).

[Arn?Narn.]

be the change...

[Hagalaz]

Originally Posted by elkhunter11

+1

The bloodsuckers of Canada, Ontario and Quebec condemn our industry, and our way of life, then they take our money and demand even more. If that is the cost of being Canadian, then the price is getting too high.

Agreed x 10.

Even a referendum where 30-40% of Albertans voted in favor of seperation would get the attention of those out east, letting them know that they have pushed too hard for too long.

[j3006]

Alberta! the land of opertunity. For now, and in 50 years Russia will take over.


Don't be a hater, just enjoy what we have.

cheers.

[SonnyJ]

Originally Posted by j3006

Alberta! the land of opertunity. For now, and in 50 years Russia will take over.


Don't be a hater, just enjoy what we have.

cheers.

Russia? I don't think so...

I'm thinking China..

[j3006]

Russia has more oil the China? Oil rules the world. Unless China takes over Russia.

China is a buyer in the world economy, butw the country's that produce the product rule.

[dantonsen]

Originally Posted by elkhunter11

+1

The bloodsuckers of Canada, Ontario and Quebec condemn our industry, and our way of life, then they take our money and demand even more. If that is the cost of being Canadian, then the price is getting too high.

i think people get alittle far ahead of themselves thinking our industry contributes alot to canada, forestry is a larger employer and stretches country wide...

As a whole natural resources only contribute something like 17% of our national GDP,it's a surpringly small amount contrary to popular belief in this province.