Campaigns for and against separation arise ahead of Alberta referendum

Several campaigns for and against separation have been launched to try and persuade Albertans. CTV News Edmonton's Nahreman Issa reports.

Following Premier Danielle Smith’s televised address last week announcing a referendum on separation, people have been mobilizing in groups for and against leaving confederation.

Former MP Monte Solberg has kickstarted Vote to Stay, an organization he says is prepared to speak on behalf of the millions of Albertans who want the province to remain part of Canada.

The group is raising money and soliciting support to run an advertising campaign leading up to the Oct. 19 referendum.

“I think there’s some confusion about the referendum question,” Solberg told CTV News Edmonton in an interview Tuesday. “We want people to understand that, but we want them to really realize the benefits of being in Alberta.”

Smith’s referendum question asks: “Should Alberta remain a province of Canada, or should the Government of Alberta commence the legal process required under the Canadian Constitution to hold a binding provincial referendum on whether or not Alberta should separate from Canada?”

Vote to Stay is composed of about 14 campaign veterans and former politicians including Smith’s predecessor Jason Kenney and former finance minister Travis Toews.

Despite Solberg and his group campaigning to keep Alberta in Canada, he says he understands separatists.

“Separatists have a voice in this. I respect them. I respect their point of view,” said Solberg. “Alberta has been mistreated in Canada.

“People have a right to have their say, but we’re going to have our say too, and we’re going to remind people of the value of Alberta in Canada.”

A group on the other side of the separatism movement is spearheaded by constitutional lawyer Keith Wilson.

“The Alberta Transition Council has come together because clearly there is a need for Albertans to have a clear understanding of the transitional steps that would occur if we have a successful referendum vote and Alberta is transitioning from a province to a country,” explained Wilson.

While many services that impact Albertans on a daily basis are provided by municipal and provincial arms of government, there are a number of areas that the federal government administers such as military, international trade, passports and so on.

Wilson said the council has brought a number of experts in such fields together to prepare a white paper that would detail the steps needed should Alberta separate from Confederation.

“I believe that we are at an ideal opportunity for Alberta to become independent, and I do genuinely believe, based on everything that I’ve analyzed for the last several years, that Albertans would be better off in an independent country,” said Wilson.

“We know that the majority of Albertans aren’t there … so one of the goals of the white paper is to lay it out objectively.”

Although Wilson doesn’t expect many everyday Albertans to read the white paper, he says it will help executives understand how their sector will be impacted.

Once the white paper has been completed sometime this summer, Wilson says the council will work toward developing a fact sheet and more user-friendly communication methods to inform the average Alberta.

Additional groups

Prior to Smith’s address, other groups have launched in response to separatism, including the New Democrat’s “For Alberta, For Canada” campaign.

Through the campaign, the NDP hopes to mobilize Albertans at rallies and events that support remaining in Canada.

A group of academics, policy experts, political activists and journalists have come together to create “Lead Not Leave,” an initiative aimed at hosting conversations, testing ideas with stakeholders and contributing actionable ways of improving the province’s position in Confederation.

“Where separatists are offering attractive ideas, we’ll test them out,” said the Lead Not Leave website. “When their claims are rooted in wishful thinking or a retreat from grounded in reality, we will call them out.”

The Alberta Prosperity Project, led by Mitch Sylvestre who also spearheaded the Stay Free Alberta petition, aims to educate Albertans on the rationale and benefits of Alberta sovereignty.

Stay Free Alberta has filed an appeal after court struck down its petition because the group failed to consult First Nations.

The Forever Canadian group, led by former deputy premier Thomas Lukaszuk, recently opened a campaign office in Edmonton as they continue their efforts to prepare Albertans for the referendum.

The Alberta Federation of Labour is also holding a province-wide day of protest on Friday.

Ten questions, including one on separation, will be on a referendum held Oct. 19.

With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Nahreman Issa