Western Separatism: Ignorant or Well-founded?

In the last few days of the relatively unsuccessful Copenhagen Summit the mayor of Toronto and the Premiers of both Ontario and Quebec had some less than complementary thing to say about Alberta. Despite varying degrees of negativity they all agreed upon that fact that they would not financially shoulder the burden if a Cap and Trade system was established in our country. The basis for this was a lack of "fairness". Claiming they don't directly profit from the oil is, for them, justification enough not to pay for it. Yet, as of recent, they have been more than pleased to directly benefit from our transfer payments, which are an extension of our oil wealth. As recently as 1976 the average wage differed between the two provinces by thousands of dollars, in favor of Ontario and Quebec. It is just just with the recent explosion of the Oilsands extraction that Alberta has fallen upon good times. And we certainly pay the dues that come with economic growth over $5000 is sent to Ottawa in the form of transfer payments for every person in Alberta. Ontario and Quebec combined receive just over $9 Billion a year in equalization payments. And yet, still they stand on their soapboxes and decry Alberta, Saskatchewan and the rest of the Western provinces, making us look like environmental cavemen, albeit rich ones. Ones they willingly take advantage of. This is just a current manifestation of a long simmering problem. From its inception Canada's confederacy has been a tumultuous endeavor; Newfoundland, Quebec, and now perhaps Western Canada as a whole. This is no ones fault but our leaders. The vast majority of them are simply not strong enough to bind the country together and work for a common goal, they mostly just push their own personal interests while in power. In Harper I see hope. Or at least fleeting glimpses of it. I love this country as much as the next but I fear if this political squandering continues the national unity the majority strives for will erode. And radicals in Quebec and reactionaries in the West will be the downfall of Confederation. And then God save us all.