LLOYDMINSTER, Alta. - As Albertans line up to vote on the referendum in advance polls this week, an interesting debate is unfolding in the border city of Lloydminster.
The Alberta-Saskatchewan border divides the city of roughly 32,000 people.
For more than a century, residents have lived in one city within two provinces. But what would happen to the city if Alberta separated from the rest of Canada?
Albertans are voting on 10 referendum questions, including the question of whether the province should remain in Canada or hold a binding, second referendum on leaving the country.
Like thousands of Lloydminster residents, Steve Boyce does business on both sides of the border. He believes it would be “a headache” if Albertans voted to separate.
“It wouldn’t turn out the way people think,” he said. “It is a messy thing. I cannot imagine it being straightforward.”
Life in Lloydminster is unique. Albertans live in harmony with Saskatchewanians and both rely on services on either side of the border.
The RCMP detachment sits in Alberta, while the city’s only hospital operates in Saskatchewan.
The schools teach Saskatchewan’s curriculum and the municipal government operates under a charter approved by both provinces. “That charter is signed on by two provinces, not a province and a separate country,” said former Lloydminster mayor Jeff Mulligan. “This is not an international agreement.”
The charter provides the framework for administration and governance, giving Lloydminster city council the same authority other municipalities have in Alberta and Saskatchewan.
The document allows provincial legislation from one province to be applied to the entire city to create seamless operations when possible.
If Alberta were to separate, Mulligan believes the charter would cease to exist. “Things as simple and as basic and foundational to Lloydminster’s existence would be thrown out and have to be restructured,” he said.
If that happens, Mulligan questions how Lloydminster would operate in the interim. He suspects the municipality may be thrown to the wayside.
“Who would address this very small sector of the population in Alberta, when the bigger sector of the population has big concerns?” he said.
“There would be very little focus on Lloydminster by either side and it would be left to its own devices.”
Aside from the city’s possible existential crisis, Mulligan says separating would be an immense blow to business. “Economically, it would be a tragedy,” he said.
Mulligan, a senior advisor at Astec Safety Inc., has been running businesses in the border city for 30 years.
He says even talk about separating from Canada can create instability and an unattractive market for new investment. He worries how the rest of the world will view Alberta once the dust settles on the referendum.
“The results of this discussion on the referendum would be devastating to our economy and devastating to our city in the near and midterm,” he said.
Varying support for separatism
Many waited in line at Lloydminster’s only polling station to cast their ballot early on the first day of advance voting.
“I thought it was important,” Larrin Thiessen told CTV News outside the polling station.
Thiessen is in his early 20s. He grew up in Lloydminster. The topic of separation has dominated conversations with his friend group.
“It is the first time that I have noticed that people my age have all been talking about going to vote,” Thiessen said.
While Thiessen did not want to reveal how he voted in the advance polls, he did say, “there needs to be some sort of change.”
“I am a young, working Canadian and I think that it is important to have your voice heard, especially because this could affect my future and my future kids’ future,” he said.
Others like Brad McLeod were very open about the way they voted. “I hope that Western Canada becomes a republic of their own, so they do not have to answer to Ottawa any longer,” he told CTV News after voting in the advance polls.
McLeod has lived in Lloydminster for more than 40 years. He says he is frustrated with the way the federal government has treated Albertans over the last several decades.
“The challenge we have is Ottawa draining our finances constantly and treating us like we don’t exist.”
Several voters told CTV News they are not happy with the federal government, but many believe separating from Canada would only make things worse.
“I think it would be terrible. It would cost us so much,” said voter Shirley Davidson.
Advance polls for Alberta’s referendum are open Oct. 13 to 17. The final day to vote in the referendum is Oct. 19.
