Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - October 12, 2008, Winnipeg, Manitoba C m y k Page 1 perspective editor Buzz Currie 697 7577 Buzz. Currie free press. My. Ca i Winnipeg repress. Com sunday october 12, 2008 b 1 Send news tips and photos to tips free press. My. Ca for breaking news go to Winnipeg repress. Com c Algary on the three hour drive South of Calgary to Paul Hinmans farm you would be hard pressed to find evidence the Federal election Campaign had reached Alberta. In fact there Are so few election related signs you need All of the fingers on one hand to count them. Hinman Isnit surprised. The former Alberta la and current Leader of the Wildrose Alliance party a right Wing party that captures significant support from disenchanted provincial tories believes albertan Are just bystanders in a fight that is being waged in other provinces. That is not to say albertan Are have no interest. Despite the fact there is absolutely no suspense about the result in Alberta Hinman is certain the outcome of this election will resonate throughout the Oil Rich province. If prime minister Stephen Harper can earn a majority there will be a sense that finally a party built in Large part by Alberta conservatives has been accepted by the rest of the country. People Here Are excited about the possibility of a majority Hinman said. This will be harpers judgment Day. If he comes Back with a majority this is where albertan will say weave finally arrived on a National stage. However if Harper is once again stopped by voters in Ontario and Quebec on the precipice of a majority theress going to be quite a different reaction. I guess you could say there would be a Little family feud if that happens Hinman said. That family feud will define the foreseeable future of Federal politics not just in Alberta but across the country. If Harper fails to achieve a majority and the tightening race suggests it is slipping away from him Alberta and huge tracts of Western Canada May be More alienated from and More distrustful of the rest of the country than Ever before. Right now there is no real separatist movement in the province said Roger Gibbons head of the Canada West foundation and one of the most thoughtful conservative pundits in the country. And alienation is a term that almost never comes up these Days in the Alberta political Arena. But there Are circumstances where that might be reinvigorated. You can imagine a perfect storm of outcomes that would do the trick. Albertan have a lot of investment in Harper winning a majority government or something close to a majority government. To understand Harper and what he is attempting to do to Canadas political Economy it is important to understand Alberta and the conservative values forged Here. Continued please see Alberta b2 All or nothing in Alberta if Harper is denied his majority its Western alienation like never before Federal election guide Jessica Gergely / can West news service Paul Hinman Leader of the Wildrose Alliance foresees a family feud if the tories fall Short of 155 seats. Phil Carpenter / can West news service Stephen harpers Alberta supporters know their Man has to court the Quebec vote if he Hopes to win a majority. But they dont like it. Dan Lett a 01_ oct 12 08_ Smyk. Ind 1 1 0/ 11/ 08 6 08 09 pm ;