Would the State of Alberta have more freedom?

“I want my freedoms. Canada is a socialist state where I can’t do anything!”

Some Albertans believe that America is freer than Canada and Alberta, as the 51st State would be freer.

Let’s look at that.

First, what are those “freedoms”?

Guns?

Well yes, gun regulations are much looser in the United States than in Canada (or most western democracies for that matter). So, what does that buy you?

America has one of the highest homicide rates in the western world, and its roughly 3x as high per population than Canada’s. The United States is a much more violent place, with far more places that are simply not safe to walk.

Yes, you can carry a gun, but at what cost to your other freedoms?

Education?

I could talk about PISA scores and international testing that demonstrate that Canada’s education system is outperforming America’s. I could look at the numbers and show how Canada’s system is cheaper per population. From a quality perspective, there’s a lot that I could talk about.

However, the question here is freedom, not quality.

So, let’s look at freedom.

In the United States, there is a Federal Department of Education. In Canada? There is no such equivalent. In the United States, the federal government sets standards in some areas. In Canada? The federal government is simply not involved, in any meaningful way, in education. In Canada, that’s strictly a provincial responsibility.

Put quite bluntly, if you’re not happy with your educational freedom, take it up with your Premier. Don’t point your finger at Ottawa. It’s not their responsibility.

Put another way, the Province of Alberta already has more power over education than the State of Alberta ever would.

Charter schools and school vouchers?

Each province makes its own mind up about such things.

Healthcare?

I could talk about cost and I could show how even the public, taxpayer funded portion of Canada's healthcare system is cheaper per person than the public, taxpayer funded portion of the American system. I could talk about population health and I could show you how Canadians are living longer, healthier lives than Americans.

I could talk about all of that, but that's not the real question here. The question is freedom, and who might be restricting it.

So, let's start with where the constitutional power lies. It lies with the provinces. Healthcare is a provincial responsibility.

Yes, the federal government offers the provinces money to build and maintain a universal healthcare system that complies with the Canada Health Act. A province is fully within its rights to build whatever form of healthcare it wishes. If it chooses a system that does not comply with the Canada Health Act, then it has essentially opted out of the federal program and it will receive no transfers from that program.

So yes, a province is well within its rights to build a healthcare system that mirrors the American system. If you think your healthcare system doesn’t offer you all the choices you want, take it up with your Premier.

With that said, if a province were to adopt the American model, would it really increase freedom of choice?

In Canada, if you’re sick or you’re injured, and you need hospital care, you go to the hospital.

Which one?

Well, if you arrange your own transportation, whichever hospital you choose.

In the United States?

If you can afford it, I suppose you have the option of whichever hospital you choose. However, that really is only an option for wealthier Americans. For the majority of Americans, there are certain limitations.

So, how are those limitations defined?

If you’re fortunate enough to have health insurance, and truth is most are, then you have the option to choose from the hospitals and doctors that are in the health network that your insurance covers. In other words, your options, and your freedom to choose, is limited by your insurance policy.

And what about that ambulance?

In Canada, you go where that ambulance takes you.

In the United States, you have to decide if you can even afford that ambulance, never mind consider where it might take you. It might not be in your health insurance plan's network, and if it's not, the cost might be more than you can afford.

Yes, private for-profit insurance companies define where you can go and who you can seek treatment from. And they're not directly accountable to the voters.

Does that really sound like “Freedom”?

So, answer me this: How is America’s healthcare system freer than Canada’s?

Economic Development?

Alberta’s economy is overwhelmingly based on resources and agriculture.

The United States has a Department of Energy. Canada does not. The United States federal government has real legislative authority over resource development. Canada’s federal government does not. In Canada, natural resources are strictly a provincial area of responsibility.

Simply put, individual Canadian provinces have much more authority and autonomy over resource development that U.S. states do.

So, which model gives Albertans more freedom?

And finally Freedom of Speech

Yes, we have hate speech laws in Canada and those laws do place some additional boundaries on public speech. With that said, look at the prosecutions. They are very rare, and let’s be honest, those prosecutions are absolutely reserved for the most vile and dangerous of public comments. And that word “dangerous” really matters. You can be as vile as you want, so long as you don’t directly threaten an individual or a group and you don’t encourage others to act violently against and individual or group. That is the history of Hate Speech laws and their execution in Canada.

So, what about the United States?

Yes, America doesn’t have hate-speech laws. They do, however, have laws against uttering threats and they do have laws against conspiring to commit violent acts. The biggest difference between Canada’s hate speech laws, and America’s laws are that Americans must make very specific threats before they are charged, where Canadians can be charged as a result of much more generalized threats.

So, are you really that much freer to say what’s on your mind in the United States?