Former premier Jason Kenney is taking up the Canadian cause as he’s set to participate in two debates about Alberta separatism, against a lawyer pushing for the province to go its own way.
The first debate is to take place in Edmonton on May 1 at a member’s only conference put on by Civitas Canada, a conservative non-profit organization.
An agenda for the conference says both sides of the separatism debate want economic fairness for Alberta, and it’ll be up to Kenney and lawyer Keith Wilson to argue which path helps that goal.
“What is the best way for Albertans to fulfil their destiny? Remain a Canadian province or become an independent state?” the agenda reads.
Postmedia columnist Lorne Gunter is listed as being the moderator.
Kenney said in a text message Wednesday that the second debate will take place in Calgary and is being put on by the Aristotle Foundation for Public Policy.
The think tank’s president, Mark Milke, said in an email that the organization hasn’t had the chance to finalize details but acknowledged that both Kenney and Wilson had committed to it.
Kenney didn’t say why he decided to participate, but the former United Conservative premier has been an outspoken critic of Alberta’s separatist movement, which has significantly bubbled up over the past year.
A petition looking to force a vote on Alberta separation was launched in January. It has until May 2 to gather nearly 178,000 signatures to push the issue forward.
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Premier Danielle Smith, Kenney’s successor, has said that should the campaign be successful, the question will be put to Albertans this fall.
Smith has faced criticism for saying she supports Alberta staying within Confederation despite her government tabling two pieces of legislation to make it easier for separatists to get their question on the ballot.
Kenney hasn’t criticized Smith directly, but last fall he called it “bananas” to let an “angry minority” force Albertans into a debate about separatism.
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“(It would be) a referendum that would divide families, divide communities, divide friends for no useful purpose,” Kenney told The Canadian Press in September.
Smith has also refused to denounce the separatist movement, saying she wouldn’t demonize those who feel Alberta has been slighted by Ottawa. She has said it’s her job to prove that Alberta can succeed with Canada.
Wilson, Kenney’s debate opponent, doesn’t have a formal role in the petition campaign but is a supporter of the movement. Wilson is a longtime lawyer who has been involve in high-profile cases, such as when he represented a few organizers in the 2022 Freedom Convoy.
He implied in an email Wednesday that he fully expects Alberta separation to be up for a vote in the fall, calling it a potentially “historic moment” for the province.
“Albertans will have the opportunity to consider a clear and lawful path for independence,” he said.
“Given the magnitude of that decision, it is critically important that voters hear a full and balanced discussion of the issues from both sides.”
— with files from Bill Graveland, The Canadian Press
Smith is good at nothing. What can go wrong? Her own courts?
This is the best thing to happen to the Alberta Independence movement.
Maybe Kenney can give one… just one logical reason for Alberta to stay in Canada? I doubt it. All the anti-seperatists can do is call separatists names, they never come up with a good reason for Alberta to stay in this abusive relationship.
smith has all the credibility of a 3 dollar bill with her two faced stance on separation. She is a ‘point the way so I can lead’ populist of the worse kind. Ask her what will be the driver of Alberta’s economy in 20 years and see what she has to say…
James Bilodeau is at again everyone.
Some yahoo knocked on my door, asking me to sign a petition for an ‘independent Alberta’. They did not even have the guts to call it separation. Call it like it is. Use the appropriate words.
We already know Smith wants to be Queen of Alberta. But what exactly will that get us? Access to pipelines to the coast? Access to a trans ‘part of Canada’ pipeline? We would need our own currency, our own passports and military. Smith would get her independent Provincial police force, made up of Sheriff thugs. We would lose our CPP and OAS.
We would gain relief from the equalization payments, but our taxes would go up to pay for all the craziness that UCP is pushing on us.
Only about 13-18% would vote for separation if it was explained to them. – according to polls.