Albertans will go to the polls this fall to answer a series of referendum questions, including whether or not to vote — at a future date — to leave Canada.
Premier Danielle Smith, in a paid televised speech Thursday night, said the province will be adding a question to the Oct. 19 referendum she announced the last time she took to the airwaves back in February.
The additional question will be: “Should Alberta remain a province of Canada or should the government of Alberta commence the legal process required under the Canadian constitution to hold a binding provincial referendum on whether or not Alberta should separate from Canada?”
But why hold a vote on a future vote?
The added question addition comes after Smith said she disagreed with the ruling of a Court of King’s Bench judge who quashed a separatist petition last week, saying the provincial government had a duty to consult with First Nations before Stay Free Alberta was allowed to gather signatures.
“Because this proposed referendum question does not directly trigger separation, but if successful would ask Alberta’s government to commence the legal process necessary to hold a binding referendum on the matter, the recent court ruling would not be applicable and the referendum question I outlined could proceed,” Smith said.
Smith rejected the judge’s decision as incorrect in law and anti-democratic, pledging the province would appeal it — something she said during her televised speech could take months or years if it goes all the way up to the Supreme Court of Canada.
Until then, the ruling is binding law.
So, the new question is a workaround — but only the beginning of the process.
Smith said it ensures the 700,000 people who signed either the Forever Canada petition to stay in the country or the Stay Free Alberta petition to leave are respected.
“Kicking the can down the road only prolongs a very emotional and important debate and muzzling the voices of hundreds of thousands of Albertans wanting to be heard is unjustifiable in a free and democratic society.
“It’s time to have a vote, understand the will of Albertans on this subject, and move on.”
Smith stressed she wants Alberta to remain in Canada and would vote that way, adding that is also the position of her United Conservative Party.
“I have repeatedly stated that the position of the UCP caucus and UCP government is to build a strong and sovereign Alberta within a united Canada.
“I have never deviated from that position and I will not do so now.”
Separatists urged to be patient, believe in Canada
Smith also used her 15-minute televised address to reiterate her party’s longstanding grievances with the federal government and what she said is Ottawa’s interference in areas of provincial jurisdiction.
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She called on other provincial leaders and MPs to help “undo the extensive damage that centralization of power in Ottawa has done to our country economically and with respect to national unity.”
“I am fiercely loyal to both Alberta and Canada,” Smith said.
“But I truly believe our country is so much stronger and more prosperous when we respect the rights of provinces and empower them to govern themselves with minimal federal interference.”
Smith acknowledged the relationship has improved since Mark Carney was elected prime minister last year.
She then spoke directly to separatists, pleading for patience and their vote to stay in Canada.
“In my view, now is not the time to give up hope in our country. Not when we have fought so hard for so long and come so far. I believe Canada can still work. I believe it’s working better every day. And it can work even better in the future if we keep fighting together for it,” she said.
“Now is the time to double down and fight even harder for the prosperity and change we want to see in our country. Because Albertans are at our best when we are hard at work getting things done for each other and our families.”
Smith also asked the pro-Canadian crowd to help heal the division between the two sides.
“The vast majority of those advocating for separation love our province profoundly. Many are also proud Canadians, but have simply lost hope that their families can flourish within Canada.
“So instead of attacking these loyal Albertans, let’s work together to restore hope in their country again.”
Legislature drama precedes Smith’s announcement
Smith’s speech came one day after a legislature committee meeting imploded when UCP prematurely sent out a news release.
The committee was reviewing a motion on whether Thomas Lukaszuk’s Forever Canadian petition should be included in the fall referendum. It had yet to vote on the matter when the statement was released saying the motion had passed.
That was the expected outcome anyway, given the UCP members on the committee outnumber the Opposition NDP members, but the pre-determined nature of the statement led to allegations by the Opposition NDP and Lukaszuk that the entire process was a farce with a foregone conclusion.
On Thursday, the Select Special Citizen Initiative Proposal Review Committee met once again and as expected, the motion passed.
How did we get here?
The proposed referendum question Smith unveiled Thursday night is the latest development in what has become a long and arduous journey in a tale of two petitions.
On one side is a former MLA, Thomas Lukaszuk, who began gathering signatures a year ago under the Forever Canadian banner. His question reads: “Do you agree that Alberta should remain in Canada?”
Under provincial citizen-initiative rules, he needed just under 300,000 names to force Smith’s government to consider the issue.
He received well over 400,000, and by the end of the year, Elections Alberta had certified the petition as valid.
However, up until Wednesday, the UCP government had done little to act on Lukaszuk’s petition.
They sent it to the committee for recommendations on how to proceed and to clear up outstanding issues. Smith has said one critical issue is what Lukaszuk wants done with the petition.
Lukaszuk has said he collected the names not to force a referendum, but to compel politicians in the legislature to stand and affirm they believe in a united country.
However, he has also at times expressed support for a referendum — something the UCP latched onto recently as an argument in support of adding to the October referendum questions.
The competing separatist petition by Stay Free Alberta has had, by turns, an easier and a harder path. Their question: “Do you agree that the Province of Alberta should cease to be a part of Canada to become an independent state?”
Unlike Forever Canadian, Stay Free organizers only needed to gather about 178,000 names to trigger a government response after the UCP government rewrote legislation last year.
But then they faced having their petition tossed out as unconstitutional by a judge last year, after Elections Alberta asked the courts to affirm the question was not offside with the Constitution.
But before the judge could decide, Smith’s government changed the law again — this time voiding Elections Alberta’s right to put such questions to the courts.
The judge involved issued his ruling anyway, saying such a question would, indeed, have violated the Constitution.
Despite the ruling, Stay Free Alberta’s second attempt at a petition was issued in January and canvassers got to work collecting signatures. Three weeks ago, the group submitted for verification what they said were more than 300,000 signatures, far more than what was required.
That petition was then put into legal limbo by last week’s court ruling, leading to the workaround Smith announced Thursday night.
The 6:45 p.m. address aired as part of paid commercial time on Global News Hour at Six. Smith is scheduled to hold a media availability on Friday afternoon in Calgary.
This story will be updated with reaction to the premier’s speech. More to come…
—with files from The Canadian Press
@pierre pouting…trudeau gave you a free pipeline he shouldn’t have!!! Are you mental? All you people need psychiatric help. No other province can boast of a good for nothing free anything except Alberta.
It seems to me that Smith’s referendum statement is intentionally worded to get the federal gov’t to invoke the Clarity Act and strike it down. This would let her (and the separatists) continue to play victims to Ottawa for interfering.
I would like to see a deep dive on the impact of the UCP on business in Alberta to date alongside economic projections for separation and analysis from industry professionals. So far what I am seeing is so optimistic it is laughable. Ending government transfers is going to make us rich overnight, appetite for oil will keep up while the rest of the world transitions from fossil fuels, despite being land locked we will get the best deals for exportation, businesses and professionals will be drawn to the stability of our newly sovereign nation…. Give me a break.
Quebec 2.0
Not surprising that our tax dollar funded media doesn’t report how unhinged and violent the pro-Canada side has acted.
The vote should include the name and address of the voter. Alberta is on treaty lands. If the First Nations don’t agree to re-negotiate the treaties, where would these traitors get land to become independent.
There are lots of empty lands sitting in the North. Some of that lands can be given to them and given them independence.
The people who don’t want to be Canadian shouldn’t be in Canada, because they will keep on creating problems.
Smith’s referendum statement is worded so that both separatists and federalists will agree with it and vote yes. It needs to be presented as remain/commence instead of yes/no for clarity. Intentional and duplicitous.
Trudeau caused this crisis by kicking Alberta in the teeth for a decade.
I was once a proud Canadian but 60 years of insult and abuse by the rest of Canada has finished me. When I was in the military if I said I was form Manitoba, everything was fine. But the second others found out I was form Alberta the kicks, punches and insults began.
Quebec is a province of whiners, Ontario a province of those who think they are better that everyone else, BC is full of tree hugging people that are hypocrites, and Atlantic Canada, although nice people, know if they keep voting liberal that cash will keep flowing in from Ottawa (note: this even kept going under Harper).
What would other provinces do if the rest of Canada block their resource development, blocked them from exporting their production?
The only people breaking Canada are the arrogant eastern elitists who think they know better that anyone else. They are fools.
On her radio propaganda show you can’t see her red clown’s nose.
Nitwits here think this is about anything other than Smith’s bank account and career. lol
Since Smith is playing one side against the other, I’ll split my vote.
Alberta stays, but Smith goes.
The only remainng opions on remaining are the exact script of an abusive spouse.
You cant leave! its not allowed! The first nations werent consulted!
You cant afford to live without me! We have kids together! Nobody will love you!
These lefties know full well the welfare recipient east will collapse. So now all they have left is threats.
i was upset at first, but on reflection this is the best outcome. heres why, its easier to sell should a referendum be binding then should we leave to uncertainty. in the future the people will probably like the feds less. therefore our chances increase, in the fall we probably would lose(just reality) and not be able to try again for some time. by getting everyone to agree that referendums should be binding then we get our freedom referendum later when our chances of success are increased. this is a good thing. gooo carney
There is no business case for Alberta to stay in Canada.
Smith needs to learn what Sovereign means. It means making ones own laws, and standing apart. How can one do that and remain Canadian?
She wants her cake to eat.
The Provinces and Federal government share governing, so there is no minimal federal interference. They each have their own turf. – she is right that the federal government encroaches on provincial matters – and that has to stop.
One can see the bias, when the staying in Canada required 300k signatures, and leaving only required 170k.
MSGH is right. Smith wants the question to be so ambiguous that she can declare herself the winner.
To all those separatists, do you really think BC will allow a pipeline to benefit a foreign country? How about Lloydminster. If you want to shop in Canada, you will have to cross at a border crossing that the country of Alberta will have to pay for.
If you believe anything about Smith and that she is a patriot, you are dumber than a sack of hammers. Why do you think Trump is not negotiating for oil and resources? Cause little Missy Smith, the fascist p*g has already promised Trump Alberta will be his!
Yeah, go ahead and separate and watch what that f*cker will do! IDIOTS AND ANTI CANADIAN FOOLS!
Are you kidding me?!? Smith creates this absolute political mess, handing separatists everything they need to continue this mockery, then pretends to sooth these morons into being patient, and that she is “fiercely loyal to Canada”. Unreal! I think we should instead vote on whether we want Dannielle Smith to leave Canada, along with all her separatist cronies. What an absolutely bizarre sounding disgrace she is!
Alberta needs to go,
Canada would collapse it Alberta left. Self serving Elbows Up Canadians know this.
Smith playing both sides.
The whole ordeal was just to benefit Smith.
No money for her emergency rooms though. GO to Kamloops and see the Alberta license plates.
The problem I have with this issue is I feel like it’s being delayed too long. It worries me as the elites in Alberta
“Should Alberta remain a province of Canada or should the government of Alberta commence the legal process required under the Canadian constitution to hold a binding provincial referendum on whether or not Alberta should separate from Canada?”
How in the world are we supposed to answer this question? I thought referendum questions were supposed to be clear.
We can’t answer “No”–that would mean we want neither–so what’s the third alternative?
We can’t answer “Yes”–that would mean we want both. But maybe that’s the point. The question is to trap federalists into voting for another ridiculously expensive referendum even though we’ve voted to stay in Canada, probably in the hope that sensible, normal Albertans will be so sick of the issue that they won’t vote again the second time so the Separatist United Conservative Party can sneak in a way to try to separate us from Canada because only the second referendum would be binding.
I am disgusted with these sneaky cheats, and I’m not the only Albertan who feels this way.
@ piss flapps….Losers in bc and Ontario?…you poor bastard…lol. Best of luck to you and your kind… you need it!
liberal a** holes are out in full force tonight lol
Alberta leaves means no more free hand outs and support for you leech sucking boomers in BC you can have your bums
yes!! when Alberta leaves Canada is going to be a great day!!!
maybe Alberta will be no longer ran over by mass immigration, sending all of our money away to foreign countries ,and supporting losers in Ontario and BC
good women you done well !! a vote for democracy ,not leaving it up to a bunch of loser liberals .let the people vote!!
Pie in the sky hopes and dreams. Ottawa may play nice for awhile but it will be short lived.
Can’t wait until we can vote Smith out!! She’s pathetic 😡
Russkie troll farm here today backing Smith again.
These cowards won’t enlist for their Ukraine invasion though.
Hundreds of Russkies killed today in drone strikes.
A little late PP as always.
You should have talked some sense into DaniQ long ago.
Wasted money is so Smith can play both sides.
She’s pathetic.
So that would mean Alberta would have to issue an Alberta passport for Albertans to enter Canada (including BC), so good luck with that.
She’s dumber than Marjorie Greene was in the States.
Playing both sides should get her thrown out.
@Vince: You don’t get a vote in Russia though goof.
Let’s vote!
I just can’t see her without a clown nose on.
But if you are in Jasper after she fired our helicopter firefighters, she’s not funny.
@ jaybo…she should be with the bird people! Two peas In a pod.
Any self respecting Alberta will vote to leave Canada. They are better off joking the USA or becoming an independent republic. I will vote yes to leave Canada and Carney
Go. Get. Goodbye. She’s trying to play both sides. She thinks she’s the smartest one in the room no matter what room. This will backfire. She also thinks she can separate and get a pipeline.! On one hand she told ottawa to stay out of her business…now she wants them to interfere. She wants to pick and choose.
Can’t these people just go back to complaining about masks and ostriches being killed?
This is one of the big problems with social media. A small group of people can make a lot of noise online and give the impression that many, many people are pushing for a certain cause. I think these referendums should become a regular part of life for all Canadians. A little bit of direct democracy to push past all the noise online and find out what people actually want.
This spits in the face of the everyone that signed and volunteered for the Forever Canadian petition meant to shut down this farce of a sham that had the UCP amping the angry voices of separatists that are underqualified to live and work in the ‘states.
Danielle Smith contradicts herself so much
Let’s get on with it and get past this separatism nonsense!
@DanielleSmith we are going to have a vote on whether you should be a part of Alberta’s future at all. I vote No.
She needs to go….and investigated for treason and about taking bribes from a foreign government …
She’d vote “no” to separation currently, but wants to keep those options open. Not confusing at all. It IS unconstitutional to want to separate from one’s country (unless, perhaps people are living under a tyrant for example?). Another solution: just leave, and all the best to you.
That’s 2 questions designed to be a double negative. If you answer yes to stay in Canada you also say yes to triggering a future referendum on separation. That way there is no final answer this October it drags on and on. Insecurity in the country economy will continue to be high. All because her puppet masters want a vote on separation someday. Dumb bunch of idiots. Just move to your imaginary utopia south of the border.
Waste of tax dollars but Cons here think it’s ok given that her hospitals suck.
Thank-you Premier Smith!
Democracy rules!
Whiners lose!
Then again, I didn’t realize how much product moves via highway and rail through Alberta to get to BC so they could just go and do the same thing to us. I’m pretty stupid, sorry folks…
A Premier that encourages her provice to stay in Canada, yet also lets them have a say of their opinion, to put things at rest.
I’ll take “More Good Stuff That Liberals Hate” for $600, Alex.
For the duration of this ridiculous discussion, my thought was /is…To go where, or join who? Why not address the Dishonesty and lack of Integrity within the operation of the Entire System?
Time for the lot of them to be shipped off out of Canada. Quit whining and just pack your bags – how much more whining are we gonna get when BC slams Alberta with a big bill to transport their oil across our province. lol We better be charging them plenty.
If you’re against a simple referendum question, then you are an anti-democratic, treasonous f *uck who needs to shipped off to a country that doesn\t have democracy (China, Russia, Cuba for example). And Smith already mentioned she’s all for Alberta staying in Canada. You stupid f *ucks!
Ya she’s so treasonous, she openly admits she wants to remain part of Canada. You lefties really need to examine your own leaders at a federal level to have any understanding as to why this is even a question.
It’s time for Smith to just leave
Who the HELL do the NDP think they are!!!?
If the referendum is against, that is Albertans choice! NOT the corrupt NDP or ANY politician! Federal or provincial, or unelected corrupt “Chiefs”!
The NDP are as corrupt as they are useless! Jagmeat and Nemshi, the pair are ONLY interested in building their bank balance, period!
I believe this all speaks more than anything of Ottawa’s failings than those of Smith. Both western and eastern Canada’s economic push towards self-sufficiency have been marginalized by Ottawa over everything from aboriginal land rights to climate change, forcing Canada to source its energy and products from other nations, while the resources to make this country rich were always right here. Due to the unbalanced contributions into the national tax pool that result from equalization payments, Alberta contributes heavily towards Ontario and Quebec’s financial needs, while Alberta doesn’t actually receive any of this money returned for it’s own peruse. Every part of this problem, and all the others that haven’t been mentioned, likely stem from the greed and self-important views of those in control within Ottawa.
You can tell which commenters actually listened to the whole address. Anyone who is calling Smith a traitor is acting in bad faith or simply parroting what they heard elsewhere. It’s clear she wants to remain in Canada. Anyway, go and watch her whole address. It’s only 15 minutes long.
This is treason! Remember Louis Reil?
Where’s her red clown nose?
She made this mess herself and tries to play both sides.
YES or NO. What is this word salad bull manure?
“Should Alberta remain a province of Canada or should the government of Alberta commence the legal process required under the Canadian constitution to hold a binding provincial referendum on whether or not Alberta should separate from Canada?”
Build a hospital, fix the school system, develop new roadways. Quit wasting tax payers money on Trumpisms! You are free to leave at anytime, please please leave but Alberta is Canada. Trump has his hand so far up your a$$ you speak/think and act like him. If you weren’t so dumb you’d realize this can’t even happen. Just leave. 🤡
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
I am so sick and tired of her, the UCP and the separatists. Born here, I’ve never been embarrassed to be an Albertan until now!
I can’t stand her, the UCP and the separatists. I’m so f…g tired of all of them.
This Daniel Smith is a treasonous criminal the only direction she is heading is south. Its American occupation that needs to be stopped.
Alberta is breaking the law pushing for this. We are not lawless and this is no better then what is happening in the US. In fact is being pushed on by the US. Shame on Danielle Smith and all who have bowed down to kiss Trumps ring. Voters list fraud, lies. It’s despicable.