There’s not going to be any pause in Alberta’s separation debate whether Canada is under economic attack by the United States or not.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith was asked Saturday by a caller to her radio program Your Province Your Premier if the revival of the trade war might mean it’s time to change the separation vote timeline.
“I’m wondering if this should be a time of unity for Canada, including Albertans, and potentially a time to put separation aside until this is fixed?” asked the caller.
On Saturday, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, at a press conference following the collapse of trade talks late Friday night with the U.S., said, “You’re at war when you’re under attack. We’ve been attacked.”
The question came after a social media statement made on Aug. 18 by Parti Quebecois (PQ) Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, who pledged that his party wouldn’t hold a referendum on Quebec sovereignty ”while Donald Trump is president."
“I have chosen to completely defuse the argument that this would be the worst possible time to reflect on our future because of Trump, by ruling out the possibility of holding a referendum before the end of his second term,” said St-Pierre Plamondon. “That means we will be able to run a campaign based on our proposals to help Quebecers and revitalize our future, rather than on repetitive and fruitless fear-mongering.”
On Saturday, Smith said that’s not happening in Alberta.
“We have a citizen initiative process,” she said.“700,000 citizens signed one of two petitions saying they wanted to have this question now, and that’s what the vote is going to be on October the 19th.
“If you want to vote to remain (in Canada), vote option one. That’s the one I’m voting for, and if you want to vote to start the process to leave, that’s the other option on the ballot.
“We need to make sure that we are clear about what Albertans want us to do,” she added. “That’s part of the reason why we’re having the vote--and I’m going to do my darndest to to make the argument that we’re scoring some huge wins right now as a province (with Ottawa).
“We have Canadians on our side,” she said. “We’ve reversed massive terrible policies at the federal level. We’re working collaboratively to get a new pipeline built.
“Not everything’s perfect,” she said. “Not everything is resolved--but we’re absolutely moving in the right direction. So I hope that’s persuasive (for Albertans to vote to remain).”
Saturday, Smith said she was deeply disappointed by the collapse of trade talks and joined with other provincial leaders in support of the prime minister.
‘Two petitions’
The two petitions Smith referred to include one launched by former Alberta Deputy Premier Thomas Lukaszuk, Forever Canadian, that gathered 404,000 signatures.
In June, Lukaszuk, in an interview with CTV News, said including his organization’s signatures in the count as a way of justifying the referendum was misleading.
“Our question is not on the referendum,” Lukaszuk said. “It is the premier’s question. It’s not our question.
“It’s misleading and our campaign is taking no position on it because it’s not our question.”
When CTV News sought clarification from the Premier’s office following Lukaszuk’s comments, spokesperson Sam Blackett said, “The question the Oct. 19th referendum ballot has virtually the exact same wording as the Forever Canada question, but it also defines what a no vote means - do you want to start the process to leave, which is what Stay Free Alberta wanted: a question on leaving.
“To be clear, the government added the question on Alberta remaining in Canada because 700,000 Albertans signed petitions asking for a referendum on this issue.”
‘Team Canada must stand together’
Saturday, Alberta NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi joined other Canadian political leaders in calling for unity in the face of a challenging trade war.
“Team Canada must stand together now more than ever,” Nenshi posted. “Now is the time to stand united, protect Canadian workers and businesses, and defend our economic sovereignty. Albertans are proud Canadians.
“We are ready to stand shoulder to shoulder with Canadians across the country to protect our jobs, our workers, and our future.
“We didn’t ask for this fight, but Canada will always stand up for itself.”
With files from CTV News’ Rachel Lau
