Since when did 'strong and free' become scary-redneck and American?

Good find, and some of those comments were indeed made in various articles I read about this.

Canada's Cash Cow works for me...give us your money and shut your piehole

good article

Good article?! Are you kidding me?!

All it does is throw around baseless arguments and meaningless "thoughts" about Ontario and Toronto.

This is nothing more than Rick Bell pandering to the uneducated, partisan, biased and just plain ignorant/disenfranchised Albertans out there who, like Torontonians, don't really know/give a shit about what's going on outside of their city/province.

Actually he's right on the money Arctic. The comments from people have been exactly like he said 'Too American', 'Too agressive'. These idiots didn't even realize those words were taken right out of our national anthem.

The article is spot on Ontario is a cess pool of bought liberals.

He may be correct in that too many people are associating the motto with American mentality but his article is ruined by his non-stop bitching about Ontario, especially Toronto as if it was us complaining about it. His beef is with the overwhelming negative response from his own province rather then the response from us given that 98% haven't even heard about it let alone care about what they choose to put on their plate.

The way many Albertans bitch about Toronto is the way many Canadians bitch about Americans. Bitch and complain that they look down their noses at us when the truth is that the few who even think about it don't.

It seemed to me rather, that he was making fun of Albertans that would be concerned about what people in Ontario would think.

He may be correct in that too many people are associating the motto with American mentality but his article is ruined by his non-stop bitching about Ontario, especially Toronto as if it was us complaining about it. His beef is with the overwhelming negative response from his own province rather then the response from us given that 98% haven't even heard about it let alone care about what they choose to put on their plate.

The way many Albertans bitch about Toronto is the way many Canadians bitch about Americans. Bitch and complain that they look down their noses at us when the truth is that the few who even think about it don't.

That's not true. But if did get rid of Toronto Canada would be the best country on the planet.

Case in point, why would people in the Centre of the Universe really care about Alberta's Licence Plate?

No, he isn't right on the money.

And which people? Albertans or people in the rest of Canada who really don't give a shit what goes on Alberta's licence plate?

True enough, those words ARE right from our national Anthem, but let's not forget; there are also Torontonians who think they're the Capital of Canada...

Is that what you got from:

I didn't. He also compounds his own ignorance and does exactly what he complains others are doing when he provides a strawman article over the opposition reasons.

His insulting cafe comments seem to think that its only urban yuppies dissenting and the city of which he is embarrassed to be a part of voted in an informal poll of 98% to keep it.

Perhaps they are traditionalists. Perhaps they like the image Wild Rose Country counjures up. Shame on them for having an opinion.

This guys wants the new motto and when it seems he isn't going to get his way he throws a tantrum and insults Calgary, Calgarians, Torontonians, and pretty much anybody who doesn't share his opinion.

What I see is the Albertan gov't trying to change soemthing people view as traditional and Albertans voting for themselves what they want.

Economic Cost of Federation for Alberta, 1961 � Present
Alberta has, on a per capita basis, been Ottawa's largest single contributor. For example, between 1961 and 1992, Alberta paid $139 billion more to Ottawa than it received back from Ottawa. That is what it cost Albertans to be Canadian. *
And where did the money go? During that time frame, the province of Quebec, despite its large population and vibrant economy, was a net recipient of over $ 168 billion from Ottawa. Alberta was paying Quebec to be Canadian. *
* Source: Dr. Robert Mansell and Ronald Schlenker, "The Provincial Distribution of Federal Fiscal Balances," Canadian Business Economics 3:2 (Winter, 1995), 3-21
There are two net contributors to Ottawa: Alberta and Ontario. The difference is that Ontario gets a return on investment. They have a diversified economy with end use manufacturing. They also have a strong voice in federal policy. The Kyoto Accord would have adversely affected Alberta and Ontario, however, Ottawa exempted the Ontario Auto Industry from the Accord.

Alberta's cost 1997 - 2003 **
In Billions Canadian Dollars: $54.933
1997: $5.668
1998: $6.279
1999: $6.130
2000: $7.190
2001: $8.568
2002: $9.998
2003: $11.100
**Source: Alberta Finance, March 2004

Alberta has fought Ottawa on numerous issues. Here are some issues that Alberta fought and lost the battle, because of weak leaders:
# National Energy Program
# Kyoto
# Interference in Agriculture Policy
# Family Rights
# Personal Property Rights
# Federal Health Care Payments

National issues that waste taxpayer dollars and frustrate Albertans:
# Jane Stewart's HRDC Boondoggle
# Helicopters cancelled, then reordered
# Submarine Debacle
# Firearms Registry Fiasco
# Broken Election Promises (no GST)
# No Serious National Debt Reduction
# Budgets Balanced at worker's expense
# Lack of Parliamentary Reform
# Canada Pension Plan is broke
# Out of control National Debt
# Ottawa's lack of respect for Alberta
# Sponsorship Scandal

Albertans are tired of losing these battles. It is time to take what is rightfully ours. An independent Alberta would have a great future with a strong, viable, diversified economy.

What is the Long-Term Plan?
To give Alberta to Albertans
To facilitate the peaceful Separation of Alberta from Canadian Confederation
To become the most viable nation in the western hemisphere

Petitions and rallies do not force change
It is time to take decisive action

No, he isn't right on the money.

And which people? Albertans or people in the rest of Canada who really don't give a shit what goes on Alberta's licence plate?

True enough, those words ARE right from our national Anthem, but let's not forget; there are also Torontonians who think they're the Capital of Canada...
Actually yes he is right on the money. The very first article I read about the new plate, I think it was posted by MTBR, had comments from people that said those exact things. And yes these are comments coming from people in Alberta and elsewhere. I think this guy is making fun more of Albertans that are concerned with what others might think of Alberta.