All Things AB Separatism (split fm Liberal Minority Government 2025 - ???)

[Altair]

Marlaina Smith will ensure, 100 percent, that this does not see the light of day.

With a new year almost upon us, everyone paying attention now understands Danielle Smith is a separatist - Alberta Politics

It is a truth universally acknowledged that Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is a separatist. Well, not quite universally acknowledged, as we shall see. And only recently. But still, this recognition was not always so widespread. The compulsion in a long-stable democracy to explain away actions...

albertapolitics.ca

Thomas Lukaszuk, he of the successful Forever Canadian petition that the UCP has sidestepped and ignored by changing its own legislation, has stated: “Danielle Smith joined the separatists and is now clearing all legal obstacles to Alberta separating from Canada.” If you judge the premier by her actions, not her words, there is no other possible conclusion.

Yup. I knew it. I called it.

Danielle Smith wouldn't let a little thing like democracy derail her seperatists project.

 

[MilEME09]

With a new year almost upon us, everyone paying attention now understands Danielle Smith is a separatist - Alberta Politics

It is a truth universally acknowledged that Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is a separatist. Well, not quite universally acknowledged, as we shall see. And only recently. But still, this recognition was not always so widespread. The compulsion in a long-stable democracy to explain away actions...

albertapolitics.ca

Yup. I knew it. I called it.

Danielle Smith wouldn't let a little thing like democracy derail her seperatists project.

It's been that way since day one, the Alberta prosperity project did support her leadership after all, the one element I don't fully understand though is the government used its new power under bill 14 to approve the Separatist backed petition to leave Canada, but a court ruling already said the question was unconstitutional. Would that then make any result of said petition invalid?

 

[Altair]

It's been that way since day one, the Alberta prosperity project did support her leadership after all, the one element I don't fully understand though is the government used its new power under bill 14 to approve the Separatist backed petition to leave Canada, but a court ruling already said the question was unconstitutional. Would that then make any result of said petition invalid?

Alberta bill 14 did the following.

Removing the requirement that a proposed referendum question cannot contravene the Constitution or exceed provincial jurisdiction.

Transferring the power to refer a referendum question to the courts from the chief electoral officer to the justice minister.

Adding a provision to discontinue any ongoing court proceedings related to citizen initiatives.

And they passed the bill a day before the court ruling.

So any citizen referendum can be as unconstitutional as it wants to be. And the chief electoral officer can no longer bring the constitutional nature before the courts, only the justice Minister.

It's clear as day. The UCP is a seperatist party.

 

[Blackadder1916]

It's been that way since day one, the Alberta prosperity project did support her leadership after all, the one element I don't fully understand though is the government used its new power under bill 14 to approve the Separatist backed petition to leave Canada, but a court ruling already said the question was unconstitutional. Would that then make any result of said petition invalid?

I think that the UCP Smith doesn't care whether it is constitutionally valid or not. As long as it is disruptive, it energizes her base. I view most of her political moves coloured by her history as a candidate for and winning a seat on the Calgary School Board (October 1998). She was clear in her campaign that she intended to be different and change how the school board worked. Though not the only one who contributed to the chaos that followed, she seemed to be the catalyst that led to the Education Minister dissolving the board within a year following the election.

 

[Altair]

I think that the UCP Smith doesn't care whether it is constitutionally valid or not. As long as it is disruptive, it energizes her base. I view most of her political moves coloured by her history as a candidate for and winning a seat on the Calgary School Board (October 1998). She was clear in her campaign that she intended to be different and change how the school board worked. Though not the only one who contributed to the chaos that followed, she seemed to be the catalyst that led to the Education Minister dissolving the board within a year following the election.

Weird that this is all Jason Kenney's fault.

So abhorrent was the idea of a NDP provincial government that he invited in the fringe party that takes over the establishment party that then turns out to be a separatist party.

 

[RangerRay]

Weird that this is all Jason Kenney's fault.

So abhorrent was the idea of a NDP provincial government that he invited in the fringe party that takes over the establishment party that then turns out to be a separatist party.

Considering that they merged in 2017, politics then was still half normal. It was before the right in Canada became more influenced by MAGA, before COVID and other conspiracy theories took over right wing media and the PC’s were considered the more dominant partner. Kenney and others at the time came to the same logical conclusion that free-enterprisers in B.C. came to in the 1940’s: the had to unite to defeat the “socialist hordes”. Wild Rose at the time was not seen as something completely beyond the pale at that point. Separatism wasn’t something they talked about.

Does Kenney wish he knew then what he knows now? I’m sure he does. But I think that based on what was known then, I think I he honestly thought it was the logical move.

 

[RangerRay]

I think that the UCP Smith doesn't care whether it is constitutionally valid or not. As long as it is disruptive, it energizes her base. I view most of her political moves coloured by her history as a candidate for and winning a seat on the Calgary School Board (October 1998). She was clear in her campaign that she intended to be different and change how the school board worked. Though not the only one who contributed to the chaos that followed, she seemed to be the catalyst that led to the Education Minister dissolving the board within a year following the election.

I guess we’ll see if Smith and the UCP are separatists if during a referendum, she and the party decide to be too cute by half and declare themselves to be “neutral disinterested observers” during said referendum. True federalists wouldn’t take that position.

The fact they changed the rules to make these referenda easier for separatists makes me question her sincerity and integrity when she declares that she’s a federalist. A federalist’s response to a referendum drive would be “If you can follow the rules and process as currently laid out, we’ll have a vote. We won’t make it harder, but we won’t make it any easier for you either.”

 

[Blackadder1916]

Personal opportunity or desperation?

Alberta Environment Minister Rebecca Schulz resigning from cabinet

Alberta's environment minister is resigning from cabinet, and quitting the legislature entirely before the end of the year.

edmonton.citynews.ca

. . . Rebecca Schulz says she is resigning as Alberta’s minister of environment and protected areas effective Friday. She says she will remain as MLA for Calgary-Shaw and a member of the UCP caucus until May.

She says it’s time to “seek new opportunities” in her career and that “timing is everything”, without outlining what her next step will be.

And the last cabinet minister to resign from the UCP government opines:

. . . Guthrie, now the leader of the Progressive Tory Party of Alberta, said it could be that Schulz’s resignation represents a unique circumstance, and she’s just capitalizing on a new opportunity or making a decision for family.

“(But) if a pattern emerges here, I think then you can start to say, ‘OK, we have a cabinet and a caucus that is divided.'”

Schultz is one of the UCP MLAs who are the subject of a recall petition (but with 24 of the 47 it doesn't make her stand out in her caucus). The signature collection deadline for her is March 10.

 

[MilEME09]

Wait to see how this plays out next week

 

[brihard]

Wait to see how this plays out next week

View attachment 97522

The treaty predates Alberta’s existence as a province by several years.

 

[MilEME09]

No surprise here that the rebel would start a pro sep webpage

https://twitter.com/x/status/2007993018159362372

 

[brihard]

No surprise here that the rebel would start a pro sep webpage

https://twitter.com/x/status/2007993018159362372

Weird of them to lie that the old citizen initiative signature requirement and deadline was “impossible” when the Forever Canadian petition literally just did it, but whatever.

Just hold the stupid referendum already so they can lose decisively and everyone at the grown ups table can carry on.

 

[MilEME09]

Weird of them to lie that the old citizen initiative signature requirement and deadline was “impossible” when the Forever Canadian petition literally just did it, but whatever.

Just hold the stupid referendum already so they can lose decisively and everyone at the grown ups table can carry on.

Thats even assuming that they get enough valid signatures

 

[brihard]

Thats even assuming that they get enough valid signatures

I don't even care if they can get the signatures. Economic stability and predictability demands putting this nonsense to bed. The petition period is three months. Under Alberta's Elections Act, if a writ of election were dropped tomorrow the election would be held for the entire legislature in 28 days. If they can do that for an entire legislative election they can do it for a referendum. They could have this referendum done and dusted and out of the way by mid February and then everyone could carry on, the separatists could slink away and cry or move to Montana or make shitty YouTube videos or whatever, but everyone else would be perfectly at ease to ignore and forget about them. The democratic will would have bene expressed.

Don't waste time with the stupid games and BS. Just rip the band aid and carry on.

 

[MilEME09]

I don't even care if they can get the signatures. Economic stability and predictability demands putting this nonsense to bed. The petition period is three months. Under Alberta's Elections Act, if a writ of election were dropped tomorrow the election would be held for the entire legislature in 28 days. If they can do that for an entire legislative election they can do it for a referendum. They could have this referendum done and dusted and out of the way by mid February and then everyone could carry on, the separatists could slink away and cry or move to Montana or make shitty YouTube videos or whatever, but everyone else would be perfectly at ease to ignore and forget about them. The democratic will would have bene expressed.

Don't waste time with the stupid games and BS. Just rip the band aid and carry on.

Agreed, interestingly the separatists are asking canvassers to sign a NDA for some reason

 

[McG]

Just hold the stupid referendum already so they can lose decisively and everyone at the grown ups table can carry on.

Who is the “grown up table” in the UCP, and do you really expect they will stop setting conditions for separation while denying they are separatists if there is a referendum result that supports staying in Canada?

 

[brihard]

Who is the “grown up table” in the UCP, and do you really expect they will stop setting conditions for separation while denying they are separatists if there is a referendum result that supports staying in Canada?

The seating arrangement is up to the voters, ultimately. I just want cards to be shown and played already.

 

[MilEME09]

The seating arrangement is up to the voters, ultimately. I just want cards to be shown and played already.

The problem with that is the massive disinformation campaign getting underway, outright lying about issues to make separation seem like the best choice.

 

[brihard]

The problem with that is the massive disinformation campaign getting underway, outright lying about issues to make separation seem like the best choice.

Yep and even with that they don’t have remotely close to enough support.

Just call it. Snap referendum. I everyone comes tot he table with what they have, less time for adversaries to prepare and meddle. It’ll be heavily interfered with no matter when it happens, so take away the ability to for anyone to do any further prep and let Albertans approach it with their own honest sentiment and a month’s worth of whatever campaigning both sides can mount.

 

[MilEME09]

Yep and even with that they don’t have remotely close to enough support.

Just call it. Snap referendum. I everyone comes tot he table with what they have, less time for adversaries to prepare and meddle. It’ll be heavily interfered with no matter when it happens, so take away the ability to for anyone to do any further prep and let Albertans approach it with their own honest sentiment and a month’s worth of whatever campaigning both sides can mount.

agreed, but also remember the government could end this right now too, the options for petitions is A cabinet makes it gov policy or B referendum. They could essentially put this all to bed by adopting forever Canada as official gov position. However Smith will not do that.