Just who does Harper speak for?

Harper now talks about a "Canada First" policy but for thirty years he and the pro-American think tank at the University of Calgarypromoted "Alberta First." In a letter to the National Post in 2000, Harper wrote:

"If Ottawa giveth, then Ottawa can taketh away... This is one more reason why Westerners, but Albertans in particular, need to think hard about their future in this country. After sober reflection, Albertans should decide that it is time to seek a new relationship with Canada.... It is time to look at Quebec and to learn. What Albertans should take from this example What Albertans should take from this example is to become 'maitres chez nous.'"

In another letter to the Post, Harper stated:

"It is imperative to take the initiative, to build firewalls around Alberta, to limit the extent to which an aggressive and hostile federal government can encroach upon legitimate provincial jurisdiction."

He also recommended Alberta:

1. "Withdraw from the Canada Pension Plan to create an Alberta Pension Plan...
2. Collect their own revenue from personal income tax,
3. Start preparing to let the contract with the RCMP run out in 2012 and create an Alberta provincial police force...
4. Resume provincial responsibility for health care policy.... "we can afford the financial penalties Ottawa might try to impose under the Canada Health Act."