Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press
Thomas Lukaszuk is a former deputy premier of Alberta.
Over the past few months, talk of Alberta separating from Canada has grown from idle chatter to specific threats to hold a province-wide referendum on separation.
I’m sure Canadians across the country must be asking: Are they serious? Do Albertans really want to separate from the rest of Canada?
I strongly believe – and all the evidence suggests – the answer is a resounding No.
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At different times in Alberta’s history, tensions with the federal government have led to talk of separation. Former premier Peter Lougheed’s battle with then-prime minister Pierre Trudeau over the National Energy Program was fierce, but even then, Mr. Lougheed believed that a stronger Alberta made for a stronger Canada. Throughout Alberta’s history, we’ve had politicians and pundits who talked about firewalls, flirted with separation or even created political parties with separation as their primary motivation. They enjoyed brief moments in the limelight but every time, the stronger will of Albertans and their pride in Canada doused the flames of separation, and we were able to get back to the business of building a strong future for Alberta within Canada.
Now, spurred on by U.S. President Donald Trump’s preposterous idea of Canada becoming a 51st state, we have another small, vocal group of Albertans trying to whip up support for separation. And they are serious. Their claims of how Alberta would be better off as a separate nation are frankly ludicrous but, in the current political climate, unleashing outrage over false claims and stirring up grievances sells better on social media than reasoned debate and proven facts.
That’s not to say there aren’t some legitimate reasons for Albertans to feel they haven’t always received a fair deal from the federal government. Alberta is a prosperous province whose abundance of natural resources has contributed significantly to Canada’s prosperity. We’re home to leading researchers seeking cures to diabetes and other serious illnesses. Others are breaking new ground in artificial intelligence or establishing world-leading businesses. And yet, there’s a feeling that, too often, Alberta isn’t given the respect it deserves when it comes to national issues and federal government priorities.
Those challenges notwithstanding, separation is clearly not the answer. Even the talk of separation damages Alberta’s reputation, creates uncertainty, drives away talent and investment, and divides communities. All of this at a time when Prime Minister Mark Carney is inspiring renewed confidence in a strong and united Canada that charts its own course, builds a more productive economy, and seeks new opportunities with new partners around the world. Alberta needs to be a key partner in all those initiatives.
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That’s why I launched the “Forever Canadian” petition. Rather than sit back and wait for the possibility there may be a referendum on separation from Canada, I launched a positive petition that asks Albertans a simple question: Do you agree that Alberta should remain in Canada?
The response has been astonishing and overwhelmingly positive. Thousands of Albertans across the province have volunteered to canvas for signatures and thousands more are lining up to sign the petition at hundreds of events across the province. In parks, on driveways and street corners, at farmers’ markets, concerts and community celebrations, volunteers are gathering signatures from Albertans eager to say “No” to separation.
As a former politician, I’ve frankly never seen a movement that has taken off with such incredible enthusiasm and excitement, all driven by volunteers with a single motivation: to send a clear message that Albertans want to remain in Canada.
By Oct. 28, we need 300,000 Albertans to sign our petition. When we succeed – and we will – our petition will reaffirm Albertans’ beliefs that Alberta is better in Canada, and Canada is better with Alberta in it.
So my message to Canadians is this: Don’t believe the separatist rhetoric. Don’t believe Conrad Black or the various pundits breeding discontent to feed their egos or drive readers to their columns.
I believe in Albertans. They are proud Canadians who know Alberta’s future lies within Canada.