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Mike RobinsonAlbertans love the Royal Family. So why does the Queen’s representative in British Columbia speak so rudely to Albertans?

As a returned native son, after 30 years as a B.C. expat in Alberta, I find it fascinating to compare how the two neighbours talk to one another. Especially this month, in the wake of Feb. 9 B.C. Speech from the Throne.

I think there is a noticeable difference in provincial communication styles, whether its B.C.’s Lieutenant Governor or premiers Christy Clark and Rachel Notley and their respective ministers. The B.C. style of communication has become by turns abruptly harsh, critical of the neighbours, and after the fact, indefensible. Alberta’s, by comparison, shows an attempt to accommodate, to understand and ultimately to cooperate.

The Throne Speech was delivered by Her Majesty’s B.C. representative, Lieutenant Governor Judith Guichon, She told Albertans that they had wasted their economic opportunities, spent freely, and had not saved for the proverbial rainy day: “Consider our neighbours in Alberta – a province of similar size, and also blessed with natural resources. Over the decades, Alberta lost its focus. They expected their resource boom never to end, failed to diversify their economy and lost control of government spending.”

Notley’s lieutenants gamely replied that the barbs referred to the previous Progressive Conservative governments’ collective activities. That’s not the way many Albertans read it.

Albertans have a long personal history with various members of Royalty heading west to ranch and Stampede since Confederation. You could start with the E.P. (Edward Prince) Ranch, owned by His Majesty King Edward VIII from 1919 to 1962. Edward purchased the E.P. when he was still the Prince of Wales, and he developed it as a model of breeding excellence.

He also developed numerous friendships with local cowboys, and was celebrated by the Blackfoot Confederacy, who had signed their Treaty 7 with “The Great White Mother” in 1877. From those early days to present, Royalty and Alberta have greatly enjoyed their mutual friendship.

The House of Windsor, over nearly 100 years, has learned to love Alberta’s openness, freedom to act and, perhaps above all, friendly informality. It was and is one of the Royal family’s favoured places in the Commonwealth to relax. In Alberta, the Royals can be appreciated for who they are, as people. It is impossible for Albertans to imagine Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II making dismissive remarks like those contained in the Throne Speech, were she in fact asked to read it.

My family remembers seeing Prince William and Kate (Albertans treasure this kind of informality) at the Calgary Stampede Parade on July 8, 2011. They wore white cowboy hats, cowboy shirts, jeans and boots, and were a hit with families along the route. Where else in the world does this degree of informality fit in with the stuffy Royal culture?

Just look at a photo of B.C.’s Lieutenant Governor’s quasi-military uniform to make a comparison between British Columbia’s take on Royalty, and how the Royals actually dress in Alberta. It’s Gilbert and Sullivan take tea at the Empress versus, “Howdy, glad to be here!”

Strange as it may seem to outsiders accustomed to recent decades of oil affluence, is the shared, mutual experience of hardship. Droughts, floods, ranch failures and oil busts also go hand in hand with being Albertan. In truth they are the defining elements of prairie citizenship.

No one put it better than Wallace Stegner in his evocative memoir [popup url=”http://amzn.to/1WD7bJS” height=”1000″ width=”1000″ scrollbars=”0″]Wolf Willow[/popup] (1962). He wrote that after the horrific livestock-killing prairie winter of 1908-09, “All that remained was the will to cooperate.”

That cooperative will remains today. Alberta is filled with people who came from away to make a fresh start. In this process they have a clear focus. Most understood the reality of oil’s boom-and-bust economics. Many have consequently diversified their skills, and kept a close eye on family spending. And Alberta’s contribution to Canadian equalization payments is second to none.

Albertans would appreciate a little respect for those folks who are struggling right now. It’s what good neighbours do.

Mike Robinson has been CEO of three Canadian NGOs: the Arctic Institute of North America, the Glenbow Museum and the Bill Reid Gallery. Mike has chaired the national boards of Friends of the Earth, the David Suzuki Foundation, and the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society. In 2004, he became a Member of the Order of Canada.

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