Kheiriddin: Carney must take new approach on separatism |
Prime Minister John A. Macdonald famously described dealing with provincial leaders as “herding cats.” He was right: like cats, premiers will purr loudly to get what they want but ignore you when it suits them. Or worse, scratch you when you least expect it. But MacDonald knew how to cajole them, humour them and get his way, and ultimately triumphed in uniting the country we call Canada.
Now it’s Prime Minister Mark Carney’s turn to do the herding. He is a cat guy, so you’d think he would be good at it. So far, he’s managed pretty well: he’s given Alberta treats, patted Ontario on the head and tickled Quebec under the chin. But now, the nasty business of separatism is yowling at the door.
On Monday, Carney called Alberta’s referendum a “dangerous bluff” and referenced his experience with Brexit in the United Kingdom, which he says is “still........