Firewalls

Word on the street is that the (Alberta) provincial "Firewall Report" will be released to MLAs and possibly the public today. The report is the output of the committee on Strengthening Alberta's Role in Confederation, which toured the province earlier this year, trying to stave off threats to the provincial Tories from the independent-Alberta crowd. I'm told that the report stays far away from recommending following any of Mr. Harper's suggestions in his (in)famous firewall letter. Pity. We'll see, when it comes online....

Update: One hour later, Andy Grabia points me to the press release for the committee report release. Brief summary:

• Continue trying to gut the Wheat Board monopoly
• End federal transfers (CHST et al.) in favour of tax point transfers
• Continue fighting the gun registry
• Continue working with other provinces to repel evil federal intrusions on provincial authority
• Think about maybe not renewing the RCMP contract in '07
• Continue doing Senate stuff, provincial nominees, yawn

In other words, "more of the same". Meh. Not even a recommendation to study having our own pension plan. I am not impressed: this is utter rubbish.

Updatedest: The report's now online and will be thoroughly deconstructed here sometime in the near future. That is all, carry on.