‘Angered people on both sides’: Many Albertans unhappy with separation referendum plan

It seems nobody is happy with how Danielle Smith and her government is handling the Alberta separation ordeal.

Alberta’s premier says there will be a public vote on separation because 700,000 Albertans signed petitions on the issue, but leaders in each movement don’t like Danielle Smith’s approach.

Around 400,000 people signed the petition to stay in Canada, which was filed asking for the provincial government to decide the issue.

“Leadership is about making difficult decisions for the good of the country, even when at times they are not popular with your own political base,” said Thomas Lukaszuk, Forever Canadian petition organizer.

Around 300,000 unverified signatures are on the petition calling for a referendum on Alberta independence.

A Court of King’s Bench judge ruled against it, saying separation violates treaty rights, but separatist petition organizers say Smith’s solution doesn’t help because the soonest Alberta could possibly hold a referendum on independence is in about two years.

“It’s a slap in the face to a supermajority of the members of the United Conservative Party of Alberta, who all favour independence,” said Jeffrey Rath, who has been part of the Stay Free Alberta petition campaign.

“Danielle’s managed to pull off the rarest of all political feats. She’s angered people on both sides of the issue equally.”

UCP president Rob Smith told CTV News a significant number of members support succession but also that the party stands firmly behind the premier.

Treaty Six and Eight First Nations are condemning the UCP government’s plan to move ahead with a separation referendum question this fall.

“I don’t know why she thinks she’s above the law. Danielle Smith and the UCP continue to demonstrate why First Nations and many Albertans have lost confidence and trust in the government,” said Joey Pete, Treaty 6 First Nations grand chief.

Calgary’s mayor is against separation and worries about the economic impacts of the province’s plan, which could fuel uncertainty for years.

“Even having the conversation has been incredibly damaging to the prospects of investing here in Calgary and Alberta. This is a BS version of a question to ask. It is so ridiculous that we’re being asked to vote on whether to have a vote,” said Jeromy Farkas.

The Calgary Chamber of Commerce is very concerned that a separation question will be on the October referendum, saying, regardless of the vote’s outcome, it will trigger significant and lasting economic consequences for Alberta, with businesses likely to reconsider expansion, investments and possibly even relocation to places that appear more stable.

Albertans organizing ahead of the referendum will have to determine how to proceed.

“David Parker, Jeff Rath—they’ve all come out publicly and said that they want to take down the premier, not in an election because that’s not how we apparently remove premiers in this province but within the UCP,” said Duane Bratt, political science professor at Mount Royal University.