Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says separatists who are upset that a binding vote on quitting Canada has been put off should focus on the province’s fall referendum — rather than campaigning to force a review of her job.
Smith announced in a televised address Thursday that a question on the Oct. 19 referendum will ask Albertans if they want to remain in Canada or start the process to hold a binding referendum on separation.
The move has been widely criticized, especially by those in Alberta’s separatist movement. Many had been counting on Smith to directly put separation on a ballot, after a judge last week threw out a petition looking to force such a vote.
Jeff Rath, a lawyer for the petition group Stay Free Alberta, called Smith’s move a betrayal for thousands of United Conservative Party members who have supported her.
He said he expects many will now call for a special meeting to review her leadership.
Smith, speaking to reporters Friday, defended her referendum question, saying the court ruling left her with “no other option.”
She has promised to appeal the ruling but said the process could take years. The fall referendum still gives Albertans a chance to have their say, while giving her government the direction it needs, Smith said.
“I look at 400,000 people who signed a (petition) saying that they wanted to vote to remain in Canada. And I look at 300,000 people who signed a petition saying the opposite. That’s 700,000 Albertans,” Smith said.
“That is 25 per cent of all voting age Albertans in the province. Clearly, they want to have this debate.”
Asked if she’s worried about her job, the premier said those who want a binding separation vote should put their efforts toward winning in October.
“There’s two options: option one is to vote to remain in Canada; option two is to start the legal process to leave Canada. And I would say that those who want to go with option two should focus their efforts on that, and I will be focusing my efforts on ‘remain.’
“I will honour the outcome, and I would hope that they would honour the outcome as well.”
Dave Prisco, a spokesperson for the United Conservative Party, did not answer questions about whether there’s been calls from constituency associations to hold a leadership review.
He said Smith enjoys strong support both outside and inside of the party membership, citing Smith’s 91.5 per cent approval rating in her 2024 leadership review.
“Under her leadership, we are shattering all-time fundraising records, pulling in two and a half times what the NDP raised last quarter, and drawing sell-out crowds at events across the province,” said Prisco.
“You only see results like that when you have a strong leader with overwhelming support.”
A virtual town hall, for UCP members only, was scheduled for Saturday, according to the party’s website.
Fallout out from the referendum announcement continued Friday from all sides, with business groups, Alberta mayors and a fellow premier all saying that even a referendum that contemplates separation as a future probability is a bad idea.
“I’d never do it,” said Ontario Premier Doug Ford. “Premier Smith knows how I feel.
“She wants to, I guess, protect her 30 per cent base. It’s not going to win, as far as I’m concerned.”
Calgary Mayor Jeromy Farkas said calling a referendum about having a future referendum shows “a ridiculous lack of provincial leadership” and will only bolster investor and economic uncertainty.
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Smith said she can’t ignore that hundreds of thousands of Albertans have signed two petitions on the issue.
Stay Free Alberta said its petition calling for a separation referendum had 300,000 signatures, although it hasn’t been verified. A successful pro-Canada petition gathered more than 400,000 signatures last year.
Smith denied she’s to blame for Alberta’s current position.
She pointed instead to past federal governments and politicians in other provinces who have opposed developing the fossil fuels her province’s coffers rely on as the reason why a chunk of Albertans are dead set on going it alone.
“That is the reason we are having this crisis right now,” Smith said.
She said she’s trying to find the solution and heralded Alberta’s recent energy deal Prime Minister Mark Carney that aims to build a new bitumen pipeline to the West Coast.
Carney gave a plea for unity Friday. He didn’t directly mention Smith’s referendum but insisted the country can be improved by working closely with the Alberta on his economic agenda.
He also talked up the landmark energy agreement between Ottawa and Alberta and his efforts with other premiers to build up critical infrastructure.
“Canada is working,” Carney said. “We’re working in the spirit of co-operative federalism to make the country better.”
Corey Hogan, one of two Alberta members of Parliament in Carney’s caucus, was more direct.
He said Smith’s “internal political problems have become our national crisis.”
Alberta Opposition NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi told a crowd in Calgary that despite Smith’s expressed support for federalism, he doesn’t expect she will lift a finger to keep the country together.
Smith’s referendum will be economically destabilizing and socially divisive, Nenshi said. He pledged to spend the summer defending Confederation.
He also said the “never-endum” won’t be over in October. Because it isn’t a definitive question, the issue won’t be put to rest.
“For Danielle Smith to say, ‘Oh, you wanted a referendum’ — not only is it lies, not only is it gaslighting, it treats Albertans like they’re idiots.
“And Albertans are not idiots.”
He said those who spent weeks gathering separatist signatures outside in the cold were “used as pawns” by the province and movement leaders.
“No matter what you did, the fix was in,” Nenshi said, “and I think that should be very frustrating for everyone.”
Here are the latest Friday developments (all times are MT):
1:30 p.m.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says separatists who are upset that she didn’t call a binding referendum on separation should focus on voting in October instead trying to force a United Conservative Party leadership review.
She didn’t answer when asked if she’s worried about losing her job.
She says she’ll be focusing her efforts on convincing Albertans to stick with Canada.
She says she’ll honour the outcome of the referendum and hopes everyone else does as well.
1:15 p.m.
Smith says the question of whether the province should remain in Canada needs to be resolved in order to end uncertainty.
She tells a news conference in Calgary that she believes a majority of Albertans want a referendum.
She also says she’ll accept whatever the results are.
1 p.m.
B.C. Premier David Eby’s office says his comments from before Alberta’s referendum announcement stand — that Canada needs to pull together.
Eby said Thursday that Canadians need to fight for their country every day.
He said if we just let things ride, there’s “no shortage of people who want to take it away from us.”
Eby has also said Canada can’t work if “separatist premiers” get all the attention from the federal government.
- Opposition accuses Premier Danielle Smith of gaslighting: ‘Albertans are not idiots’
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- Alberta’s referendum question could ‘chill’ private investment, expert says
- Ontario government lifts freeze on freedom of information requests
12:45 p.m.
The Chiefs of Treaty 8 First Nations say they’ll be writing to the prime minister to ask that Alberta’s referendum question on separation be reviewed to see if it complies with federal legislation.
They say it’s not just a question for Albertans but for all Canadians.
Grand Chief Trevor Mercredi says Treaty 8 was entered into with the Crown long before Alberta became a province and that such sacred agreements can’t be ignored or politically worked around.
12:30 p.m.
Former Alberta premier Jason Kenney and former federal cabinet minister Monte Solberg have joined forces to keep Alberta in Canada.
The former conservative politicians are part of a group called Vote to Stay and are calling on people to show up for the Oct. 19 referendum.
They say events will be held over the coming months to inspire Albertans to stick with Canada.
11:50 a.m.
Canadian Olympic speedskater Catriona le May Doan joined Alberta Opposition Leader Naheed Nenshi to support federalism at a Calgary news conference.
Le May Doan says she’s seen Canadians across different communities unite under the emblem of the maple leaf.
She says every Canadian has a role to play in standing up for the country, regardless of their celebrity status.
11:45 a.m.
The head of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce says uncertainty around Alberta’s future role in the country brings risks for investor confidence, economic growth and Canada’s global competitiveness at “exactly the wrong time.”
Candace Laing says in a statement that Canada has already been contending with economic costs beyond its control while also recognizing the need to remove self-imposed barriers.
She says legitimate concerns are being raised in Alberta, but Canada’s democratic system is strong enough to address them constructively.
11:40 a.m.
Allan Adam, chief of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation, says Premier Danielle Smith’s new referendum question is confusing, but he’s ultimately considering it a win.
Adam says putting off a binding vote on separation is the direct result of last week’s court ruling that he and other First Nations spurred, which saw a judge throw out a separatist referendum petition.
He says Smith’s move means separatists have to go back to the drawing board to get their question on a ballot, but ultimately he thinks they’re wasting their time and money.
11:30 a.m.
Alberta Opposition NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi has told a crowd in Calgary that Premier Danielle Smith says she supports federalism, but won’t lift a finger to keep the country together.
Nenshi says Smith has expressed empathy and sympathy for separatists but not for the rest of Albertans.
He says Smith’s referendum in October will be economically destabilizing and socially divisive, and he pledges to spend the summer defending Confederation.
11 a.m.
Federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre says Albertans need to be given the same powers as those in Quebec, so they can feel that they’re in charge of their own destiny in Canada.
Speaking at a news conference in Surrey, B.C., Poilievre says he’ll continue to fight for a united Canada.
He says his party will be reaching out to Albertans in every corner of the province so they understand that they can have a better future in the country.
10:45 a.m.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford says putting the question of separation to a vote is something he’d never do but that he’s not in Smith’s shoes.
Ford says he thinks Smith is trying to maintain support for her leadership of the United Conservative Party.
He says any vote on separation in Alberta would never win and, if it does, it would lead to disaster.
10:30 a.m.
Rob Anderson, the chief of staff for Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, says many wanted to see her directly put a binding separation question on the ballot this fall.
But he says it just isn’t possible.
Anderson says in a social media post that he thinks a binding question would have been struck down by the courts within weeks, because of the ongoing legal challenge involving a separatist petition and First Nations
He says holding a referendum on maybe having a future referendum still gives Albertans a chance to have their say and decide whether it’s a path they want to go down.
9 a.m.
Calgary Mayor Jeromy Farkas says Alberta calling a vote on whether to have a vote on separation shows a ridiculous lack of provincial leadership.
He says separation uncertainty is costing the city jobs.
He says Alberta should be focused on the real work of building homes, improving public safety, fixing infrastructure, growing the economy and making life better.
7:30 a.m.
Prime Minister Mark Carney briefly addressed the thorny issue of Alberta’s separatist movement in the form of a metaphor this morning — likening Canada to the Parliament buildings: currently under renovation.
Carney, while on a construction site tour of the Library of Parliament, didn’t directly mention Alberta’s plan to hold a vote on whether to have a binding referendum on separation.
He listed contributions made by Albertans to the country and said Canada is currently working the “spirit of co-operative federalism,” with Alberta at the centre of that work.
With files from Karen Bartko, Global News and Lisa Johnson, Dayne Patterson, and Kyle Duggan, The Canadian Press
The idea of a rederendum as the result of a citizen position was far less dangerous, before some thoughtless judge decided to throw gasoline on a fire…
Danielle needs to pack up her wagon and take her friends and leave the country and head for Mara Lago.
Inbreeding is the cause of Alberta wanting to separate…not the government.
There is no business case for Alberta to stay in Canada. Do the analysis and Alberta would be much more prosperous. Canada would suffer which is the problem, but that is not Albertans problem
Many of the comments here are not political arguments, they are childish behavior. That is not constructive conversation
Many of the comments here are not proper arguments, they are degrading imature behavour. That is not Adult behavior it is childish behaviour
Most Albertans want to separate. We don’t care what the rest of Canada and Kebec want.
Alberta is better off exiting Canada and joining the USA or Independent Republic.
Canada will be worse off if Alberta leaves. Hence the spin as Elbows Up Canadians need Alberta for their meal ticket.
Daniela Smith can suck a d
It is time to go, Danielle Smith and the UCP. You are the ones that have milked the separatists point of view forward — legitimizing the steps they’ve taken and giving into what they want by reducing the number of signatures needed on a petition . Appalling that the government released a press release before decisions were made on Alberta’s future. We need a less separatist leaning premier — whether it is a more conservation conservative party or NDP. Done with this government!
the comments below are done by one liberal idiot. you are pathetic. just because you love immigrants taking over high inflation , and all tax payers money being handed over to every other country but Canada you cant have your way f off
Oh phuk off already separatist cow…Mooooo!
DANIEL SMITH MUST BE REMOVED FROM OFFICE AT THE EARLIEST, BEFORE THE NATION ERUPTS INTO – I DON’T WANT TO THINK ABOUT IT.
Elbows Up Canadian scared of Alberta leaves Canada as their welfare check will be reduced substantially.
Justin Trudeau and Carney are to blame for the strong pro separation / anti Canada sentiment in Alberta. The province got kicked in the teeth by the Liberals.
Quebec politicians should be ashamed of themselves, buying Oil from Dictators. Why isn’t this fact published more often. Danielle is pro Trump and doesn’t realize the implications of the 51st State.
@Christine Jorritisma. Yes Trump wants Alberta’s oil because unfortunately the east doesn’t. If only Quebec would allow an oil pipeline to the east. The east gets their oil from a dictatorship! Are you OK with that?
Daniella Smith can suck a d and so can all the albertians that want to leave
Oh how I love to see just how pathetic the global community truly is! Canada has been fracturing for many years under this pathetic Liberal government and many in the west have given up on Ottawa and realize the only way change will happen will come from the people!
The longer this goes on the more support this will get. Not only in Alberta, but in Sask as well! It goes fare deeper than pipelines and transfer payments. This is what many can not get through their brainwashed skulls
ALL TRUTHFUL COMMENTS BEING SCREENED, AND DELETED
What a sad time in our hustory that the premier is considered controversial for defending Albertans basic rights to democracy. THIS IS WHAT WE VOTED FOR🤗
Bye…if you don’t want to be part of Canada then go away, we dont want you here more then you don’t want you to be here.
But I guarantee you won’t be taking Alberta with you.
The NDP is Pissed off yet again. Our premier is allowing Albertans to officially decide if we should have a referendum vote. And the anti-democracy crowd cannot stand it. Keep exposing those traitors Premier! Albertans deserve democracy even if fringe groups disagree.
Alberta needs to pay back the Canadian taxpayers who paid for the pipeline Alberta has before they do anything . Alberta can pay Albertans a share of the money from the oil but can’t pay back the money for the pipeline . Pay up C… before you do anything . After you pay up you can get on your knees and b..w Trump
What a joke you are, Danielle Smith. Should be focusing on the people of Alberta and not Trump’s sloppy seconds to become Americant.
She wants separation to give Trump the 51 state to him. They are buddies what is the matter with Alberta. Can’t they see that. He wants the oil.
@ leslie dickie….those TYPES of people DID have a place of their own….it’s called ALBERTA !! Then there was a break on the fence and they all moved to BC. Fix the fence and put them back!
Man alive “we need to address what’s gone so wrong that 700k people want to separate” maybe the 700k should leave Alberta and live somewhere else? What a was of money and time talking about staying or going ….those people need to just go!
Tired of staring at a corner .. Have a great day … guess we are on Alberta start time ……
this is getting old fast … where is Premier ?
why are we put in a corner where are the politicians ?
Why do you want to separate from Canada ?