The ABNDP can own the space against separatism; and they should

Danielle Smith and the UCP are playing games; the NDP can show they're serious.

The NDP has begun a new campaign; signing a pledge to their constituents to stand up for Alberta’s place in Canada and reject separatism. It was actually brought to my attention when I first saw a criticism of Naheed Nenshi’s video that he’d made it “partisan” (yes, it was Jason Kenney; until other current/former conservative MP’s/Premiers start speaking up, he’s all I’ve got). I made the classic blunder of not watching the video before making my own critique of Jason Kenney’s. And then I sent myself to a time out to read more about what happened during the Quebec referendum in 1995. There are similarities, but also some major differences.

First, the leadership of the Parti Quebecois didn’t try to hide the fact that they were separatists. They campaigned for— and won— election with a promise to hold a separation referendum; as one would expect a political party to do, if they intend to pander to separatists as government. They were honest with the people of Quebec.

Danielle Smith, leader of the United Conservative Party, has dodged accountability and refused any responsibility thus far. She’s stated her personal opinion. She’s pointed to the founding principles agreed to in 2017 by Jason Kenney and Brian Jean, leaders of their respective PC and Wildrose parties— namely “loyalty to a united Canada” (page 3)— and used it as a shield for the fact that she’s done everything possible to adjust and amend legislation to assist the separatists in getting their petition in front of Albertans. True to form, however, her party has no official position on separation.

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It’s an important distinction for the current situation in Alberta because many Albertans did not know they were voting for a party that was led by a person who would bend the knee to an unelected separatist movement so she could remain premier.

Most Albertans have no idea how much power an unelected and entirely unaccountable group of people have over the party they vote for. So, despite the fact that Danielle Smith as Premier will do whatever the separatist party membership tells Danielle Smith the UCP leader to do, including changing the law multiple times so they can get a referendum, she is not admitting she leads a separatist party.

Further, the governing party has thus far dodged stating a formal position. I’ve argued in the past that Danielle Smith’s “lake of fire” moment had nothing to do with what one of her caucus members said, it was that as the party leader, she failed to actually lead. In Danielle Smith’s world, she will not impose her will, or police the thoughts and opinions of others; unless she disagrees with them (see UCP removing rights and responsibilities from: municipalities, academia, trans kids and their parents, Crown corporations, judges, public servants, teachers, healthcare professionals, just off the top of my head).

Something to keep in mind when she inevitably says that she wouldn’t ask her caucus to agree on Alberta’s place in Canada.

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The fact that neither the United Conservative Party, nor its caucus and leadership, will admit that they act at the behest of separatists complicates things because opposition to the UCP generally is multi-faceted and it can be easy (apparently) to confuse the messaging on the single issue of separatism.

It’s the first reason why separatism should be kept separate from the rest of the Official Opposition’s business as Official Opposition, and in that way I agree with Kenney’s criticism, but it’s a bare agreement.

Jason Kenney’s bias extends further. He is a federalist, and it wouldn’t surprise me to find that the inclusion of “loyalty to a united Canada” in the founding principles of the party he built was at his behest; however, the United Conservative Party is his baby. Jason Kenney is not critiquing the ABNDP entirely on their strategy and it’s partly because he doesn’t want to think his baby is now a monster hell-bent on destroying everything he loves.

One of these things is not like the other

Because Danielle Smith and the UCP didn’t campaign on forcing a separation referendum on Albertans, they’re mostly ignoring that there’s any organization going on at all. As a governing party, they washed their hands of the subject after they changed the laws to make it easier for the organizers— who are not just $ 10 UCP members; they’re on constituency boards, the provincial board, and some of the ones who want a “Free Alberta” most, are even paid advisors to the Premier— to get the signatures they need.

In 1995, Quebec Liberal leader Daniel Johnson Jr. chaired the “no” side against Premier Jacques Parizeau, leader of the Parti Quebecois, who represented the “yes” side. No doubt, you see the problem immediately.

This alone makes it very different than what was going in Quebec.

Separatism was a stated goal of the governing party not just a pet project they worked on behind the scenes. It made sense, therefore, for the opposition to tie it in with other policies and decisions made by the governing party. That’s not what we have here.

While I’m sure Naheed Nenshi, as Leader of the Official Opposition, would have no problem standing up for all the reasons he feels Alberta should remain part of Canada— as Daniel Johnson Jr. did at the opening of the debate on separatism in 1995— at this point and time, there’s no guarantee he wouldn’t be debating the unelected nobody who’s trying to negotiate a $500 billion loan from the U.S. to finance the “easy” separation from Canada.

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There’s nothing wrong with the ABNDP staking out a position before the signatures have been even been collected but they need to remain aware of the game the UCP is playing— even if we believe the UCP simply delegated their own interests to unelected Albertans, the fact of the matter is that the separatist movement is being led by people who cannot be held accountable by the Official Opposition or voters.

And while I agree wholeheartedly that there is no plausible deniability for either the Premier or her caucus, I’m not the one who needs convincing.

So long as Danielle Smith keeps saying she “supports Alberta sovereignty within a united Canada” and no other UCP caucus member has come out publicly in support of separation, there is no opposition to the NDP’s campaign in government.

Not a single one.

For now, leave the campaigning to Forever Canadian

I think it’s a good idea for the ABNDP to ask their representatives to make their positions known. Like all MLAs, they are elected to represent their constituents but they also represent the party. The ABNDP’s official position is that they reject separation and I see no issue with ensuring every MLA in their party feels the same. I’ve seen some good NDP statements, like the one from St. Albert MLA Marie Renaud; clean, non-partisan, and to the point.

Even a wordier version, from Calgary-Glenmore MLA Nagwan Al-Guneid on X was just as good.

I am more than happy to sign a pledge, affirming to my constituents in Calgary-Glenmore that I oppose the separation of Alberta from Canada.

Alberta brings incredible value to Canada, and we gain from our participation within confederation - health care transfers under the Canada Health Act, the Canada Pension Plan, the great Canadian passport, the RCMP, and education supports that cannot be taken for granted - not to mention our national pride.

The forces threatening an Alberta separation from Canada are troubling. Could Alberta have a better deal within Confederation? Most likely, and we can make our voice heard and engage in firm negotiations while maintaining a stable investment and jobs environment in our province - not by threatening separation from Canada. Talk of separation is also deeply out-of-step with where the country is headed, as provinces look to drop interprovincial trade barriers and work together to grow Canada’s economy. We need a trade strategy that puts Canadians first - one that protects our values and advances prosperity.

I love Canada. I love Alberta. And that’s what I hear from many Albertans every day. This country is not perfect, and we have challenges as a nation, but it is so worth fighting for. Every single day. #ableg

Be loud, be proud, and raise your flags

These function as both independent person and party statements that are welcome to Albertans who don’t want to separate. We want to know who is on our side in this potential fight and it’s good that they’re getting themselves out first.

Still, Thomas Lukaszuk, with his Forever Canadian campaign, is better positioned at this time to fight the separatist campaign because it’s led by Jeffrey Rath and the Alberta Prosperity Project. Sure, The Hon. Mr. Lukaszuk may be a former elected official, but today he is just a regular Albertan who feels very strongly about this issue; like Mr. Rath. If Mr. Lukaszuk and Mr. Rath find themselves on a debate stage, it is at least on equal footing as representatives of their position and not partisan politics.

Is the topic political? Absolutely. Is it about the governing UCP? You bet it is; but there’s no official position from them, and no one is speaking out. Therefore, there is no opposition in the Alberta government to fight with.

The ABNDP can and should take this campaign to the people of Alberta.

Since Danielle Smith became premier three and a half years ago, the only time anyone has been able to get a word in was when she left the country. As long as Danielle Smith and her caucus are willing to sit on the sidelines, it’s a unique opportunity for the ABNDP to fill the void that is left by the UCP.

My advice then, would be to leave them out of it and own the space.

I’d want to see them make it about the ABNDP. Make it about everything the ABNDP could be, would be, and is doing to address the concerns a provincial government could. I’d like to see them go out of their way to create some alliances with current and former federal MPs.

I think Albertans would appreciate seeing a campaign about who and what the ABNDP would like to be; not what they aren’t.

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