From the Frontier Centre for Public Policy

By Lee Harding

In a fiery takedown of Alberta sovereigntists, Jann Arden may have poured gas on the sovereignty fire instead of dousing it. Lee Harding argues that her vulgar swipe ignored Alberta’s raw deal in Confederation, from lopsided equalization to federal overreach, and only deepens Western alienation. Rather than shaming Albertans into silence, her outburst might push them closer to the exit.

The singer’s foul-mouthed tirade won’t shame Alberta into silence. It’ll only push the province further toward the door

Jann Arden’s recent tirade against sovereigntist Albertans will probably do more to motivate them than set them back.

In an online rant, the Calgary-born-and-raised singer lowered public discourse a few notches.

“Hey, Alberta. Hey, you bunch of fu-king separatist wackos. How you doing? Feeling good about yourselves? You’re an embarrassment to this country. Everything you have, everything that you have enjoyed, cherished and benefited from, comes from being part of one of the greatest countries on the planet.”

Ha! Arden only embarrassed herself with her rudeness and ignorance.

Canada has been milking Alberta for a long time. In a 2024 study, the Fraser Institute showed that from 2007 to 2022, Albertans contributed $244.6 billion more in taxes and other payments to the federal government than they received in federal spending, more than five times as much as British Columbians or Ontarians. The other seven provinces were net takers.

Alberta is carrying Canada’s load by doing many things right, only to get zero respect and little benefit in return. For the past 10 years, Ottawa has done everything it can to undermine the energy sector through regulation and taxation, and encroach on provincial jurisdiction through legislation. Rather than feeding and protecting the goose that lays the golden eggs, it would rather pluck out its feathers.

The imbalance is nothing new. Since Confederation, most Canadian provinces have enjoyed jurisdiction over their natural resources. However, Alberta and Saskatchewan didn’t get that until 1930. When equalization began in 1957, Alberta received payments for eight years and never again. Quebec has been paid every year.

Ottawa went the route of more taxation, programs and debt, while Alberta took a more conservative approach. Its capacity to spend rose and fell with the price of oil. Just when Alberta hit another good wave, Ottawa launched the National Energy Program in the early 1980s—just to remind them who ruled the country and to whose benefit. Alberta got reduced profits and Eastern Canadians got cheap gas.

Alberta has been stuck in an abusive relationship for a long time and is wondering if it wouldn’t be better to be on her own. In the background is another suitor named Donald Trump, who would relieve Alberta of those pesky equalization payments and onerous regulations. The province would become the “cherished 51st state” instead of some western challenger to Central Canadian dominance that always needs to be put in its place.

Arden can’t see any of this. And her vitriol does nothing to make Albertans want to stay.

“You guys have your head so far up your as-es that you obviously can’t see what pri-ks you are,” Arden ranted. “The way you are treating your fellow citizens, your fellow Canadians, you guys are a bunch of creepy little pri-ks…

“Alberta will never separate from Canada. It’s never going to happen because people like me are going to stand up, throw their shoulders back, and keep fu-king yelling and keep standing up for what I know is right.”

Oh? Should Albertans stay because an insulting singer inspires a screaming mob? Will they suddenly find gratitude?

No. Abused Albertans have had enough. Their wants are not only reasonable, they’re good and fair policy. Canadians and their federal government should treat Alberta with proper respect, care about its grievances and feelings, and appreciate how they’d be a whole lot worse without her.

Lee Harding is a research fellow for the Frontier Centre for Public Policy.

This article supplied by Troy Media.

By Michel Gagnon and Krystle Wittevrongel

Alberta’s shift to activity-based hospital funding could be the blueprint other provinces need to fix Canada’s ailing health-care system

Canada’s health-care system is broken, and most Canadians have given up hope it will improve. Delayed surgeries, overcrowded emergency rooms and long wait times have become the norm. But in Alberta, there is finally a reason to believe change is possible.

The Smith government has announced plans to overhaul hospital funding by introducing activity-based funding, a model where hospitals are paid based on the number and type of treatments they provide, rather than receiving a fixed annual lump sum.

Currently, Alberta uses global budgets: hospitals receive a set amount each year, usually based on the previous year’s volume, regardless of how many patients they end up treating. This rigid funding model limits hospitals’ ability to respond to growing demand and discourages efficiency. It’s a little like only stocking two lifejackets on a boat because two people fell in the water last time around. Under this system, patients become a financial burden, creating an incentive to ration care.

The Montreal Economic Institute has advocated for change since 2012. About a year ago, we urged Alberta to abandon global budgeting in favour of a model that lets money follow the patient. Activity-based funding does just that, rewarding hospitals for providing timely, efficient care rather than merely staying afloat within a fixed budget.

Other countries with universal health care have already embraced this approach. Canada remains a notable outlier among OECD nations. Australia adopted activity-based funding 30 years ago. Within a year, care volumes rose and wait times dropped by 16 per cent. Today, this model accounts for 87 per cent of hospital funding in Australia. In 2022, the median wait time for hip replacement surgery was 232 days in Alberta, compared to 175 days in Australia. Importantly, countries such as Australia and Sweden maintained universal access to care while adopting this system.

Closer to home, Quebec’s gradual shift to activity-based funding has also yielded encouraging results. After the province applied the change to MRIs, costs fell by four per cent and procedures increased by 22 per cent. In radiology and oncology, costs dropped by seven per cent while productivity rose by 26 per cent. Quebec now aims for full adoption by 2027-28, showing that meaningful change is possible within our public system.

These examples show that a better way is possible. Yet most provinces remain stuck in outdated funding models that reward bureaucracy over patient care. If Alberta and Quebec can move forward, so can others. The case for action is national, not just provincial.

Of course, no funding model is without its flaws. That’s why Alberta is taking a phased approach, beginning with a pilot program and consultations to make sure the system fits the province’s needs before the full rollout in 2026. The good news is Alberta doesn’t have to start from scratch. Countries like the United Kingdom, Norway, Sweden and Australia have already faced—and overcome—common challenges such as gaming the coding system (inflating or misclassifying treatments to receive higher payments) or favouring quantity over quality. With the right safeguards in place, hospitals can stay focused on delivering care, not just managing budgets.

Alberta’s move to activity-based funding gives patients something rare in Canadian health care: a real reason to hope for better. But this  opportunity shouldn’t be limited to one province. With its thoughtful approach and clear commitment to reform, Alberta is offering the rest of Canada a blueprint for fixing what’s broken. Other provinces should take notice—and follow its lead.

Michel Kelly-Gagnon is founding president, and Krystle Wittevrongel is director of research at the Montreal Economic Institute, a think-tank with offices in Montreal Ottawa and Calgary.

Troy Media empowers Canadian community news outlets by providing independent, insightful analysis and commentary. Our mission is to support local media in helping Canadians stay informed and engaged by delivering reliable content that strengthens community connections and deepens understanding across the country