Dear Readers,

When I landed in Alberta in 1988, I was surprised that so many people in this province hated Pierre Trudeau, Justin Trudeau’s father who was Canada’s Prime Minister from 1968 to 1979 and again from 1980 to 1984. When I lived in Germany, I thought he was a pretty cool prime minister. He was progressive, intelligent and innovative, and he had a vision for a better Canada. He “brought home” our Constitution, liberalized family laws, decriminalized homosexuality, and promoted bilingualism and multiculturalism. But he was also responsible for the National Energy Program, and that’s why many people in Alberta hated him, because they felt that their province was short-changed by Ottawa. They talked about separating from Canada, and Preston Manning’s Reform Party tried to take advantage of their frustration. Now, more than three decades later, some Albertans are talking again about separation, but there is a new citizen initiative called “Forever Canadian” which wants to prove with a petition that the majority of Albertans wants to remain in Canada. This is a good cause, because we are living in a time where unity is more import than ever before. Unity and diversity are our strengths, and we must not allow to be divided.
‍
Canada forever!

‍Arnim Joop 
Publisher & Editor
mwmosaic@telus.net