Smith and Nenshi at odds over Alberta separation talk

Nenshi is accusing Alberta Premier Danielle Smith of using separatist rhetoric as Smith says she wants to see a 'soverign Alberta in united Canada.'

Naheed Nenshi and Premier Danielle Smith remain sharply at odds over Alberta’s future in Canada, with the opposition leader accusing the premier of fuelling separatism while Smith insists she is working to keep the country together.

“She is playing games for her own political survival with the future of this country,” Nenshi said. “For her, it’s just a game. For us, this is serious work about the future of the greatest nation on Earth.”

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Nenshi made the comments at a press conference launching a new pro-Canada campaign, called For Alberta, For Canada, aimed at mobilizing residents ahead of a potential separation referendum expected this fall.

Less than an hour after Nenshi’s remarks, Smith addressed the Rotary Club of Calgary where, in an arranged question and answer session, she was asked directly about a possible separation referendum and support for independence.

“My government policy is we support a sovereign Alberta within united Canada,” she said. “Everything I’ve done has been to try to address the pressure points about why people have given up on Canada.”

Nenshi said that language mirrors arguments made during Quebec’s sovereignty debates and dismissed it as contradictory.

“She says she is for a sovereign Alberta within a united Canada. Those are meaningless words,” Nenshi said.

“And by the way, it’s word salad that she stole from the Parti Quebecois. That’s where it comes from. And certainly no one would say they were pro- Canada.”

‘Canada can work’: Smith

Smith said her government’s approach is to identify and address the concerns driving that frustration, rather than support separation itself.

“I saw what happened after the most recent federal election, the support for independence surged higher than I’ve ever seen it,” Smith said.

“It went up to 42 per cent and so we launched a province-wide consultation called Alberta Next to find out: what are the pressure points? Why are people giving up on Canada? What can we do to fix the relationship?”

She said her goal is to demonstrate that the federation can still work for Alberta, even as separatist sentiment grows.

“I’m going to keep on doing that to convince people that Canada can work. Canada will work,” Smith said.

“And I think that the prime minister is committed to doing the same.”

Smith pandering to separatists: Nenshi

Nenshi rejected that broader framing, saying the premier’s actions have encouraged separatist voices rather than contained them.

Asked whether he believes Smith is genuinely committed to keeping Alberta in Canada, Nenshi said her record suggests otherwise.

“I absolutely do not,” he said. “I judge her on her record, and her record is she’s pandered to the separatists.”

He warned that even the discussion of a referendum is already having consequences for the province’s economy and social cohesion.

“Even the talk of referendum has frozen investment. It’s slowed down our economy,” Nenshi said. “Most important, it has pitted neighbor against neighbor, and it’s created division.”

Smith, however, framed the referendum process as a way to ease tensions by allowing voters to express their views on key issues.

“My view is that I believe in citizen-initiated referenda,” she said. “It’s just a way for citizens to express their view on a policy that’s different from government.”

She said she hopes a potential referendum debate would ultimately strengthen support for Canada.

“I hope that if we do end up having this question debated in October, that I’ll be able to do some more convincing,” Smith said. “Because I think Canada is worth fighting for.”

Mount Royal University political scientist Lori Williams said the clash reflects growing pressure on Smith to clearly define her position as separatist sentiment rises within parts of her party.

“There’s no question that Danielle Smith is under increasing pressure to take a stand on Alberta’s position in Canada,” Williams said. “And so there’s an opening there for, whether it be Naheed Nenshi or other leaders within the province, to try to fill that gap and provide a voice about what the benefits of remaining in Canada are.”

Williams said that creates an opportunity for Nenshi to position himself and his party as a clear pro-Canada alternative, particularly for voters uneasy with the United Conservatives.

“I think there is an opportunity here for the NDP to position itself as the centrist, Canadian, or Alberta within Canada, alternative,” she said. “There are moderate conservatives who feel like they’re orphans.”

At the same time, she said the NDP must still convince voters it can govern on core issues like health care and the economy.

“The challenge is to be seen as a credible alternative to the United Conservative Party and Danielle Smith,” Williams said. “And it’s been difficult for the NDP to get much in the way of attention and coverage.”

Alberta performs well, poll says

Polling data described by the Angus Reid Institute suggests that while separatism is dominating political discussion, it is not the top issue for most Albertans.

“Health-care is the top issue by far. Sixty-two per cent of Albertans say that’s the top issue,” said the Angus Reid Institute’s Jon Roe.

“Among Albertans, only 29 per cent believe that Danielle Smith and the UCP government is doing a good job on health care.”

Roe said dissatisfaction with the government’s handling of health care remains high, even as Alberta performs relatively well compared to other provinces.

“So there is a lot of of criticism of how the UCP have handled that file,” he said. “But I think what is interesting is that compared to the Canadian average, Alberta does a little bit better.”

Despite that criticism, Roe said Smith’s approval ratings have remained steady, even as debate over separation intensifies.

“Her numbers have been very consistent over time, basically in that 44 to 46 per cent range,” Roe said. “So it is interesting that despite a lot of criticism, her approval numbers have been very steady.”

He said frustration appears to be building more broadly as long-standing issues remain unresolved.

“I think that people are maybe getting a little bit frustrated because they feel like there hasn’t been a lot of progress on those files,” Roe said.

“Health care and cost of living have been the top two issues across the country.”