An emotional Premier Danielle Smith held back tears Saturday as she recounted a long list of historic indignities Albertans have suffered at the hands of the federal government.
Smith was the opening speaker at a virtual assembly discussing Alberta’s future in Canada, an event co-hosted by former Opposition leader and conservative elder statesman Preston Manning and former B.C. premier Gordon Campbell.
The Alberta premier has called a referendum for Oct. 19 that includes a question on whether Alberta should remain in Canada or whether it’s time to hold a second, binding referendum on starting the legal process to separate.
She was speaking on the reasons for a sovereign Alberta to stay within a united Canada in the future.
“A lot of Albertans are angry and some are more than angry. They’re hurt. I hear it at town halls, in coffee shops, at hockey rinks and in my email inbox,” Smith said before choking up and taking deep breaths before haltingly speaking about the impacts on Albertans.
“From the farmer that felt pressured … sorry all,” she sighed. “By people who never made a living off the land. For the young family who did everything right and still can’t see how they can afford a home.”
Smith also spoke of parents watching an increasing grocery bill and opening a utility bill in January with “a knot in their stomach.”
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Manning noted Smith’s emotional response to the issue.
“You should not feel embarrassed about showing your emotions at the front end. I’m reminded that Abraham Lincoln did not use the term public opinion. He said he was interested in public sentiment.”
Smith called the referendum earlier this year. She has said enough Albertans now view separation as a legitimate response to federal interference in provincial affairs, and that it’s time to put the issue to rest once and for all in a vote.
Critics, including the Opposition NDP, say Smith is inflating and legitimizing the grievances of a small sliver of discontented Albertans in order to mollify hardline separatists in her United Conservative party.
Smith said Saturday that western frustration with Ottawa is nothing new and for the past 10 years in particular, it felt like Ottawa was trying to shut down the province’s economy.
“When a proud, hardworking people feel their contribution is taken for granted and their livelihood is treated as something to be phased out, some begin to ask a painful question. Does this country actually want us?”
Smith said even with polls suggesting the remain in Canada vote will win, the number of those voting for separation is “too high for comfort”
But she said there is reason to be optimistic about Alberta’s future relationship with Ottawa, including battles over Bill C69, also known as the no new pipelines act, caps on oil-and-gas production, and on clean-energy electricity regulations.
“I support Alberta remaining in Canada … I also believe Albertans deserve a say. The fight to make Canada work for Alberta is working. When Alberta stood up and refused to back down, the country started listening,” she said.
“It happened because Albertans got loud and stayed loud. Your anger was not wasted,” she said.
Smith said new Prime Minister Mark Carney has acted constructively with Alberta in coming up with an Alberta-Ottawa energy agreement and working toward a new West Coast pipeline.
“Not long ago the oilsands were treated as a national target. Today they’re increasingly seen as a national treasure,” Smith said.
“Why walk away from the table when we’re finally winning at it? And to those who have always wanted to stay — staying should not mean settling. A future federal government could undo all this progress that we’ve made with a stroke of a pen.”
Just remember Albertans”The only good thing that comes up from the East is the Sun”.
Time for the liberal funded news to turn up the elbows up bots . Time is ticking closer to vote time
Danielle Smith can’t blame Ottawa for the failures of the UCP, and before that decades of Alberta PC malfeasance, beginning with the exit of Peter Lougheed.
It’s an amazing display of acting by Danielle Smith. Where was her emotions and sympathy for those on AISH whom she and the UCP caused hardship to?
this sounds like smith is inching closer to a nervous breakdown, as it appears to be getting all too much for her.
she is finally beginning to realize she bit off a lot more than she can chew.
she has so far been unable to shake off the ghosts of justin trudeau, steven guilbeault and jagmeet singh
smith its like that women crying that just got beat up again by her abusive drunk husband .
Hopefully soon she is forced to walk away…
All the Lib, NDP voters will be grabbed by arms and legs and thrown across border to BC
There is no reason to stay in a dumpster fire
No Smith just realized the province can’t come up with what they would need and no province can leave Canada.She has just been blowing smoke the whole time hoping people were too stuiped to realize what she was up to
cunada is a toilet full of turd,! ALBERTA FIRST!
Please all the Separatists just leave Canada and take the ones from Quebec as well so the real Canadians can actually work together to make this country whole again. This political posturing and crying foul is making our country suffer and look weak.
We as a country need all Canadians to wake up and work together to get our country back on track.
The governments we have now in federal and provincial are not doing that at all and only the Canadians that are proud to be Canadian need to get together to fix this by voting in people that have that vision not this left or right only mentality that their political parties stand on.
Get rid of all Provincial trade barriers and allow products to flow freely with in Canada and get away from all the protectionism that we have now.
Too little Too Late – not my vote
If Nenshi thinks we are but a small group then he needs to think again…better yet…he can sell up and get out of our beautiful province. He’s not wanted or needed here.
look at Calgary, voted NSP and they are already literally suffering a garbage fire.
Why legalize divorce or allow abortions? Its walking away, right?
Why wasn’t the earlier referendum respected for DST?
ITS LIKE TELLING AN ABUSED WIFE TO GO BACK TO HER HUSBAND AFTER RIGHT AFTER HE KNOCKED HER FRONT TEETH OUTAND TWO BLACK EYES
The lady is such a d0nk3y. Hope she soon resigns the same way as she did from her radio ranting job.
Why walk away?
No, soon we are going to vote you away for all the mess you have created in every turn for Alberta.
Where is mh care investigation at?
This govt changed rules on the fly to keep that scam under wraps.
WHERE IS THE INVESTIGATION AT?
I remember during blizzards of the past, people stuck on the highways, traveling, being welcomed into homes, fed, the whole family and offered a bed to sleep in. People calling into the radio stations offering a room, or a living room and meal, to those stuck. I don’t recall anyone asking about nationality or the color of their skin. Those were Alberta’s finest moments.
And now we are fighting about immigration. When did this happen? Is it the American influence. What is it, are we concerned about our jobs. These folks don’t take jobs, they make jobs. It is what Canada was made on. We are famous for our hospitality.
Remember. Please
I hadn’t seen her behave this way before. I understand reverse psychology. I don’t understand the tears,
since they were an obvious put on. The Next Panel issued its report last December. Although it contained several worthy recommendations, the CPP secession one was so poorly argued, that town hall and other survey participants rejected it as a “stop trying to snow us” non starter. That same snow making was evident on Saturday, especially the “at stroke of a pen” flakes.
The Alberta pension question, by the way, will NOT be among the 10.
A two faced opportunist who brought all of this on us. Everything she says is a lie. Then she says she misspoke. A person with no conscious or integrity.
Daniel Smith is a traitor to Alberta and Canada. A chameleon is a emontional changing lier known for its watering eyes, fork tongue, and ability to blend into its current surroundings. Sound familiar Daniel Smith.
Believe your eyes and ears and her past to her deeds. She lies and cries like she is doing here. She is a separatist by her actions alone. She is not obligated to tell the truth!
Quit blaming your failures to govern on the federal government.
Yankee doodler Dani holding back fake tears about all the injustice done to Alberta . Alberta is so hard done by . Everyone there are on welfare and in poverty . Get a life governor smith , your doing pretty dam good for yourself of the sweat of tax payers backs .
Alberta MAGA
M- more ons
A – are
G- Governoring
A- Alberta
Yankee doodler Dani has done everything possible to support trumps 51 state and her seperatists followers. Actions speak louder than words . The Doodler has two tongue’s , don’t be fooled about her seperatists agenda with a few fake tears .
@ BC resident, stick to scking eby, it’s all you know
ALBERTA belongs to ALBERTANS, fn are dirt under their boots.
Sorry everyone, my mom, dad, grandma, grandpa just turned my butt bright red.Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!
It’ll cost zero dollars for Alberta to separate, just a bootprint to the PM’s face
Anonymous is a village idiot
Phony beetch
Danielle:
No one wants to walk away; we just want to be heard by Ottowa.
You’ve accomplished that; good on ya.
-Alberta.
Treaty lands were signed by the indigenous peoples and the Crown. Alberta did not exist when those treaties were signed. This is a distraction as the Albertan government doesn’t have the authority is seperate. Those who can’t get over ths – just leave the country then.
There’s something seriously wrong with those people!
@ eric…good one!!! They’d separate and still blame Justin! This is lack of mentality/ responsibility/ accountability you’re dealing with!!!
Nauseating…. Phony? Acting? A con/ grift? Daddy issues? Either way it’s not going to work in the end.
Looks like Crocodile tears!
Really trying hard to get the support back that she has lost due to this ridiculous referendum that only the Wildrose and old Reformers want. Pathetic that the Premier has to resort to bringing out the tears. Wonder how much time their war room came up with this to try and keep the votes they are obviously losing with the results in the past election last week.
For some one that crossed the floor to stay in politics to only do so much damage that the NDP took over and destroyed Alberta in the 4 years they were the provincial government we need better leadership than showing some tears.
Blame Ottawa all you want but please tell what the UCP have done to lower the Cost of Living in Alberta. Have they lowered property taxes? Have they lowered personal taxes? Have they lowered utility rates?
They have done some work on lowering the debt the NDP made but that is a bit of luck by having a war started in the Middle East to help that.
Do I blame Ottawa and the Liberals for raising costs as well. Yes!
Alberta is still the best province to live in Canada yes but we can do so much better by being leaders and not falling into the separatist game that is only hurting us only to blame the Liberals and Ottawa!
Lying traitor.
Wish we had a Premier like her in Ontario!
alberta(ns) want to be taken seriously….
here are 4 grievances i was told by a separatist,
1. the maple leaf flag,
2, the metric system,
3, the gst,
4. tampon dispensers in men’s washrooms.
Nenshi is dog shat
Danielle turds are smarter than any liberal politicians
Just look at her smile after she snuck off to hang out with Trump, that is everything you need to know about what she wants.
Good show! Just be honest and tell who would benefit the most if the separation comes true? No doubt, that is you and your gang!
North Alberta would like to stay in Canada. So now we can have an issue can North Alberta separate from South Albrrta and it wants to stay in Canada
Get her out of power. Do not trust her. Feels like a Trump type
I think we know why things are so UNAFFORDABLE — PENSIONS TAKEN, changes made HERE IN ALBERTA WITHOUT CONSULTING PEOPLE & LETTING THEM VOTE!!
DO NOT BLAME FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, you have not put people first but your OWN ASPIRATIONS FIRST! THAT IS WHY WE ARE IN THIS MESS!!!!
Anonymous the village idiot….so what do you think? A new nickname ?
Anonymous the village idiot…..mmmm….commenting on every article….maybe I should call you THE LONELY IDIOT ?
Alberta has nothing to complain about. The nation isn’t listening we are waiting for an explanation regarding their horrible behaviour.
If Alberta separated, who would they blame everything on?
Ya, and it’s not hard for people to buy food and housing in BC? You don’t see us trying to seperate from Canada!
Within Canada, AB has access to resource corridors, labour mobility, federal disaster and economic relief support, defense coverage, already established passport and border systems for starters. Alberta is landlocked and would remain landlocked and be required to negotiate for corridor and port access with Canada because current trade access is lost and transition costs to establish existing federal agencies required to run a country would be incredibly expensive. Also AB would still be responsible for a proportional share of of the current national debt, costing billions. As well AB would lose the benefits it currently has from G7 status and current free trade protections. Capital flight will also be an issue that AB would need to confront.
Always BooHoo from conservative types.Conservatives always ruin economies! Tax breaks for the rich and peanuts for the rest of us.Danielle and Carney forget they have treaties with the natives to deal with, it’ s still their land to have a say!
To the ABC crowd. You’re still failing to answer the question: why is AB better off in Confederation than not? All the rest of your excuses are complete irrelevant.
The other provinces and territories of Canada, who are labouring daily to make our country work, and who have their own list of historic grievances, must surely be throwing up in their respective bathrooms at this pathetic show from our preenier!
Every conservative says exactly the same thing. Poor us . Everyone hates us. They hate our resources. But no one ever says alberta has significantly increased oil production in the last 10 years
And is making record amounts of money. Thanks to the ndp and Trudeau. Smith just lies
Ceding sovereignty to 401 Corridor and Quebec MP’s, has never been the answer either, rather the root cause.
The critics haven’t answered the fundamental question of why is AB better off in Confederation. It’s embarrassing they won’t even try. They produce lots of unprovable fear, uncertainty a doubt. Now that Carney’s opened Pandoras box about sovereignty association there’s gonna be another path. Quebec’s already claiming it too…
CRY ME A F/ G RIVER U FAKE A S S B I T CH
Danielle Smith asks “does this country actually want us” – and it’s the strangest question I’ve ever seen. We are “this country”.
We are Canadians. Not some personal tribe of the Wild Rose Party. Smith’s discontent with Ottawa often crosses the line, as does her enamour with the country to our south. But she is not “us”. We are “us”. And we are “this country”.
Dani has done everything she can to make healthcare worse, ruin the environment, entrench fossil fuels and make renewables more difficult, and drive up prices on energy by bringing in data centers. Telling us to plan on higher bills and basically just deal with it.
She has use the not withstanding clause to push through unpopular changes that no one asked for to cater to the canadian maga who only reward posturing and hate.
Gross. What a pathetic person. How does she live with herself?
Crocodile.
She stirred up this hornet’s nest, and now she is beginning to panic!