CALGARY — Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says if members of her United Conservative Party can’t get behind a pro-Canada position they should hand in their memberships. In a social media video Wednesday, Smith said her party can’t afford to be split over the issue and risk losing next year’s provincial election to the Opposition NDP. Her comment comes after Albertans voted in Monday’s referendum not to have a second, binding referendum on separation. The premier said she knows many UCP members voted against Confederation, and she doesn’t hold any ill will towards them. But she said separatists need to understand that Albertans have given her government a clear mandate that quitting Canada isn’t an option. “For those few who cannot reconcile this fact and remain intent on dividing and turning our party into a vehicle for the independence movement, I would respectfully invite them to join a different party,” she said. “I’m simply not prepared to watch a few individuals tear apart the incredible conservative movement we’ve built together only to see the disastrous NDP become the government in our province.” Smith said this applies to future candidates, as well as party officials and constituency association boards. The premier, at times, delved into campaign attack tactics and raised the spectre of what an NDP government would mean for Alberta. “They have made their vision for Alberta perfectly clear, and it is a recipe for disaster,” Smith said. She said everyone in the UCP needs to be focused on winning the next general election slated for Oct. 18, 2027. “Nothing else matters if we fail on that mission.” UCP legislature member Jason Stephan, who had pleaded with Albertans to vote for a binding referendum, announced Monday that he won’t seek re-election. More coming. Dayne Patterson, The Canadian Press
