The Alberta NDP will not formally participate in the Forever Canadian petition drive.
On Monday, I asked the Opposition Party how it expected to interact with former Progressive Conservative Deputy Premier Thomas Lukaszuk’s effort to ensure the question on a referendum on Alberta’s future in Canada reads, “Do you agree that Alberta should remain in Canada?”
Yesterday, NDP Caucus Press Secretary Kirk Heuser responded: “We have no connection and are not collaborating.”
There was no statement from party Leader Naheed Nenshi on the topic, and Mr. Heuser had no further comment on the matter.
Last night, Mr. Lukaszuk provided a statement in response.
“‘Forever Canadian’ is a non-partisan citizen-led group, made up of Canadians of variety of political affiliations and those who don’t engage in politics at all,” he said. “We all have one goal in common – opposing any form of separatism and ensuring that Alberta remains a strong part of Canada.
“We have invited Members of Legislature, Members of Parliament and municipal officials to engage and show leadership by participating in collecting signatures for our petition,” Mr. Lukaszuk’s statement continued. “We are thrilled that many current and former politicians already embraced our initiative.
“After all, it only makes sense. The vast majority of Albertans are proud Canadians and it is expected that our elected officials show leadership by protecting Alberta’s place in Canada. Now is that existential moment when talking and listening isn’t good enough. It is time to roll up our collective sleeves and collect the required 300,000 signatures and send a strong message to the rest of Canada and to the world that Canada cannot be divided by a group of separatists.”
One expects the NDP’s decision will be controversial.
While Mr. Heuser provided no further explanation, it’s not hard to imagine some of the reasons NDP activists and some members of the Opposition caucus might not be enthusiastic about the idea despite having clearly positioned the party as the pro-Canadian alternative to Premier Danielle Smith’s United Conservative Party, which has been encouraging an Alberta separation referendum.
For one thing, there may be concern about breaking Legislature rules about supporting outside citizen groups while campaigning for re-election – not that the UCP seems likely to be troubled by such considerations.
For another, like any party, NDP insiders are partisan and may see risks in supporting a campaign by a politician associated with another party. And gathering 293,976 signatures by Oct. 28. is a very steep hill to climb, made more difficult by a plethora of rules designed to make it hard for “citizens initiatives” to succeed, including only six signatures permitted on each petition page with each sheet having to be notarized as properly collected.
Given its timing, thanks to a policy change pushed through by Ms. Smith’s government, an anti-Canadian question proposed by the so-called Alberta Prosperity Project will require only 177,000 signatures to get on the ballot next year.
Historically, in the United States, such campaigns have been easy to manipulate and have led to bad policy with lasting effects – which is exactly why Ms. Smith wants a vote on the question proposed by a separatist group with ties to the U.S. MAGA movement. So NDP strategists may well fear the risks of the petition outweigh any potential benefits.
On the other hand, the risk of lending at least quiet support to Mr. Lukaszuk’s group seems relatively low for the Opposition, and there are certainly NDP MLAs who have pushed for that. A big turnout, even if it falls short of the required total, will be seen as a blow for the UCP and the separatists it has been courting.
I expect that we will soon hear from some NDP figures who call for a stronger role in the Forever Canada campaign. Whether Mr. Nenshi will be prepared to speak publicly on the topic remains to be seen.
In the meantime, Mr. Lukaszuk says the group has signed up more than 8,000 volunteers from all parties as well as individuals with no party affiliation to collect signatures and collected about 27,000 signatures in their first two days. More information about the campaign is found on the Forever Canadian registration page.
This seems a bit surprising, but there are a few reasons for it.
First of all, this petition is under the previous rigorous rules and the high threshold makes it less likely to succeed. Second it is meant to be non partisan so there are risks for a party becoming too closely involved with it. No doubt Smith and the UCP will do everything she can to make it difficult for this petition and if that does not work, they will try to discredit it as a partisan effort.
Of course the petition aligns with the unambiguously pro Canada position of the NDP. So even if it is not formally or closely involved with it, there could still be a lot of support for it, as well as by other pro Canadian groups and parties.
Why isn’t Danielle Smith signing Forever Canada petition I wonder?
This ^
But we know the reason Queen Mar-a-lago won’t sign…
Because it would piss the majority of us off. It would be stupid politics and subversive for democracy. We could only wish Mar-a-lago was in charge here. The only reason 51st state is not an option, is because Trump is at the end of his last run. If we became 51, we would be stuck there in 20 or 30 years from now when a kamala or obama or biden eventually gets back in.
Majority my ass.
signing a petition does not move the needle one way or the other. And you will not know who signed because of NDA of signature collectors.
because she respects the democratic will of Albertans. it is not her job to tell us or convince us what to think, it is her job to ‘represent’ what we tell her. It would be political suicide for her to take a position in either direction, but canada forever would be immediate suicide, since 70% of her voters are in favor of independence. note: that is not 70% of Alberta. Danielle has a popular majority of about 65% of the popular vote. which translates to 45% of total conservative Alberta voters who have had enough. Her simply respecting the democratic will of Alberta, is her job, and the best play. If you have 45% total voters in favor of independence (more accurate numbers put it at about 47%), out of the remaining left wing vote and non-political or party associated vote, you would find the left is about 90% Canada forever and 10% of them who own farms and work oil etc also want independence. Those in the middle, non-affiliated, you would expect to break more evenly. so say you have 70:30 conservative voters in independence/federalists. And of the remaining voters not UCP (35% of the total vote) 25% would be left wing extremists, 10% non partisan. with the left being (pessimistically) only 10:90 of 2.5% in favor of independence, you add 2.5% to the 45 (or 47%) to 47.5 in favor of independence (or 49.5 if you look at the numbers more closely). Then out of the remaining 10% non party or independent voters composing 10% total voters (these are estimates, but I am leaning against independence conservatively) they are more likely to be 50:50. But being pessimistic, lets give them 10:90 split equal to the far left, you add another 1%, bringing the total to only 48.5% independence. That is the most Canada Forever biased assessment one can reasonably make. Sitting at 48.5% in favor of leaving Canada, while support for this continues to grow daily.. does not make it a comfortable margin for federalists, and delaying the referendum is working against federation as Ottawa’s stink gets worse and worse. Slightly more realistic, is the 47% on record, + 2.5 + 1 from the rest, results in 50.5% in favor of independence. You could argue that ‘well that is only half a percentage, thats not a clear majority”, or you could argue using covid counting and point out that that is 350,000k more citizens in favor. If I were to calculate optimistically in favor of independence, i’d reduce the number of extreme left voters to about 17.5 and non-aligned to 17.5, and would take still only 10% from the far left 2%, and 40 to 50 %of the middle sliver, but lets keep it still lower, and go with 30%, and that would add 5.25%. so then it becomes 45% already packed and ready to go,+2+5.25 =52.25% independence. For Danielle to come out against independence would piss off her main base plus. It would be suicide. And for her to interfere or undermine our democratic will, would end her. We tossed Jason Kenny for that, and we would do so again in a split second. This is the same reason Ottawa is being quiet publicly and not being more vocal. Because that would be blatantly campaigning to undermine our democratic will. The ONLY safe course for either side, is to put forward their arguments, and convince people on the practical merits of their position. So far however, there are no practical benefits for Alberta remaining tethered to federation, and a list as long as your arm on the benefits of independence. What the rest of Canada thinks or feels is as irrelevant to us that this concerns, as we were to those who voted Carney in last election. If Carney or the federalists keep screwing up like they have been, and they seek to undermine our democratic will and expression, it is just going to piss even more people off. Every day this delays, support for independence keeps climbing. And this has those outside of Alberta nervous. Put it like this, Quebec had their referenda flying by the seat of their pants, and they just barely lost. Federation just barely squeaked out a victory. Alberta has been planning this for half a decade. costing everything out, lawyers pouring over the constitution, and looking at things pessimistically and contemplating all the obstacles etc. This is why they are delaying. The Canada forever petition needs 300k signatures in 90 days. This is a tall order, and they are not organized at all. They accidentally checked the wrong box on their application, and did not anticipate what happens if they get to referendum, if Albertans check “NO”. No one in favor of independence will sign their petition, but if they make it by some chance, we will all vote on it. And he could just trigger what he sought to head off. In contrast, the APP started collecting signature pledges well ahead of time. Soon as our petition is given the go ahead, we have over 40,000 volunteer canvassers already, who will simply be asked where they are from, handed a map and a list of pledged signatures in their areas, and then go collect. We already have an excess of signatures required. We only require 177k, but were shooting for 600k anyways, just in case. Currently there are quarter of a million roughly already pledged. So it will take very little time to gather the required signatures for our referendum. And we are not making emotional mistakes in haste like the other side is. Like complaining to Safeway about our provincial flag flying at the store. They took it down for a day, and then were flooded by thousands of Albertans pissed off, and the flag was back up in less than 24 hours. The support is there for independence, and it is only growing with these scammers. Our heritage, our culture and liberties are not safe under current federation, and there is no possible way to fix it from inside. This was not just a spur of the moment thing. This is decades coming. So why WOULD Danielle sign the anti-petition and piss off the majority?
Jess: Shorter responses, please, to the comments you are likely to receice. Let’s keep it civil, everyone. DJC
Two points:
1) “Ottawa’s stink”. OK, the concerns that these people have about the federal government have been so torqued, and so severely subjected to disinformation, it makes my teeth hurt. I’m or going to try to counter all the arguments with facts, because people with this belief system don’t accept facts that conflict with your worldview, and because both our host and many other regular commenters here can do so better than I. But let me be clear: I’ve lived in Alberta for 40 years, but it’s those kinds of attitudes that cause me to refuse to describe myself as an “Albertan”.
2) This kind of run-on paragraph makes it hard to read your post. A few paragraphs would have helped. I wouldn’t make me agree with you, it it would at least present your arguments more intelligibly.
I don’t understand the NDP’s decision on this. I would have thought, they would be screaming at the top of their lungs to help promote this. Also, with everything this UPC government is doing, the NDP seem to be sitting on the sidelines. I don’t hear, or see a lot of push back and I find it a bit disappointing. What are they waiting for?
“‘Forever Canadian’ is a non-partisan citizen-led group”
To garner sufficient votes, the campaign needs to appeal to patriotic Albertans across the spectrum, including UCP voters. Partisanship would be poison.
Associating the campaign with a particular party would limit the turnout. Especially if that party is as unpopular in rural Alberta as the NDP.
It is only sensible that the NDP keep their name off the campaign.
The ‘Forever Canadian’ campaign should refuse any offer of support from political parties.
Geoffrey and DJC: Thanks for the explanation. I’ve been waiting for the anti-separatist parties to jump in with their support for the petition, even a nudge and wink in that direction.
The anti independence people have two major hurdles. 1, no Alberta independence people will sign their petition to get to referendum. So they have a lot of leg work to do. (While the APP already has more than the number needed pledged ahead of time). And 2, IF they manage to get to referendum, all of us will vote on it. Independence will simply check “NO, I would rather drink turpentine and piss on a brush fire in Nova Scotia”. Which means their petition could inadvertently backfire on them.
I believe this is a huge mistake for the NDP, in not giving (even quiet) support to this important initiative.
At the inaugural promo last Saturday, at the gazebo in Strathcona, people of all political stripes were there, including Andrew Knack, Don Iveson and Ian McClelland. While it has been clearly stated by former deputy premier, Thomas Lukaszuk, that it is non partisan, it is dumbfounding that the NDs have taken their position of not vocally supporting keeping AB in Canada.
I suspect that the UCP, whether as individuals or riding associations, will go whole hog into the Alberta FreeDUMB movement. Even Queen Danielle, who says she’s Canadian but clearly acts otherwise, may decide to step into the campaign because stupid is as stupid does. At that point, the ABNDP may have little choice but to jump.
As a side note, I’ve noticed that the MP for Oklahoma, Michelle Remple Garner, has become extremely quiet of late. I suspect that she’s maybe thinking of departing her Canadian political career soon enough and getting a gig in the Okie Statehouse.
Our loyalty goes to our families first. Then our neighbours. Beyond that, it is earned or lost. Alberta has all our loyalty and patriotism, because they have earned it and keep doing what they are supposed to. Ottawa has betrayed our trust. So have central voters. We do not owe federation anything. Nor do we ask for anything other than to be left alone and not interfered with, and we even pay shut up money to east. Only now they are taking our money and intruding. We have no need for Ottawa, nor any want. We already knew the liberal party were bandits, and that federation was severely broken, but the last election showed the entire West, that Central and Eastern voters, are NOT our fellow countryment or ladies. They are NOT our people. Nor does their over all intelligence inspire any confidence. They went from 80% against the liberals to handing them power again, simply because they swapped out their head PM mascot. We in the West watched as they porogued for 90 days. Thats like steering the ship into an iceberg and then taking shoreleave right away. We watched clearly what they were doing, and even Pierre (apparently wrong) had faith in the common sense and intelligence of average Canadian voters. If the Hell’s Angels hits CBC tomorrow and announced they have fired their head Public Relations member and replaced him.. would you suddenly vote for them as a nice now? But that is what the entire west watched with absolute disbelief. AND, the system clearly showed there was nothing we could do about it. Well when that happens, what options are there? You move in with 9 other people. At first its okay. but six months into the first year, 7 of the 9 blow their rent on weed and insanity, and you gotta pay it. Then when you go to work, you never know what waits for you when you get home. Did they go through your stuff again and hawk your stereo? Do they have all their stoned weirdo associates over? letting rats in, setting fires and making messes? And you come home, sweep all the rats out the front door, while the other 7 are opening back windows and patio doors to let them back in. While your out back cutting the grass and building a deck, they are setting the kitchen on fire. Eventually you would speak up and tell them they need to wise up and start being more responsible and courteous. So then they use YOUR credit card to order delivery. You are the one buying, but you know they are bums and insane with drugs and silly gas. Tell em you want tenderloin or prime rib, rare and a six pack, and when deliver arrives, see they’ve order you a sh1t sandwhich with your money, and coors light instead of beer. What are you options? Reasoning has not worked, patience has not worked. And you are tired of not being able to come home after work and relax and not have to go through all your stuff to make sure its there or not wrecked. And you get tired of paying these jackass’ rent on top of your own. Theres like one or two of them who are of the same rational mind. What do you do? Well, you go get your own place, and leave them to their partying. Theres not a single benefit to having Ottawa in our lives. Not economically, or legislatively or culturally. While leaving? More money, less noise, less headaches, and not having to try an reason with these self centered jerks. And even the few small things the others insist on trying to do, they do terribly. You watch and there is not a single chore or job around the house, you would not easily do better. It bugs you watching them try to paint the walls leaving streaks and drops all over. It bugs you watching them half shovel the driveway, right into the neighbor’s driveway. Then you need to apologize to the neighbor, and they look at you like you’re one of them and just as bad, when you aren’t. It ends up just being easier if you do things yourself after a while, and less headache. You control the quality of work, you have the common courtesy to not shovel snow into the neighbor’s walk and driveway. You may even actually do his walkway once in a while since you are already out shovelling anyways. And you no longer have the headache of making excuses for your hoodlum selfish roomates. Really, think about it. look at whats going on across the country as well as with the US. the west is here despite voting against all this stupidity. A good example is when central Canadians say “put tariffs on the US!!” almost none of them realize they are saying “put a massive extra tax on anything I buy from the US”.. Saskatchewanians would say “well yeah, thats common sense. That what tariffs mean. No we do not want to pay more for stuff we buy”. The Albertan says “tariffs means your government essentially putting sanctions on YOU if you want to buy anything made in the US.. which is everything.” And then snicker and say “they should just make tariffs voluntary in central Canada and see how many of them volunteer to pay $28 for something with a price tag of $20 on it”. Trump is doing what the popular majority of his people elected him for, and they all got 40% pay raises this year, lower inflation, and are booming right now. And he is NOT elected by Canadians, and does not, nor should he care what we think. If you want a vote in the US, 51st state is for you. If not, then you respect their choices. Western Canada likes Trump. He does what his majority voters tell him to do. And thats how it is supposed to work. So we are sitting here, wondering “why and how did the vast majority of US citizens finally wake up, pull themselves up by their bootstraps avoid their cultural destruction and protect their rightful liberties, and save their country at the last moment; while somehow central Canadian voters have not woken up”?? The divide is beyond ‘oil and gas’. Ya economically, it makes sense for the West to leave federation; but its always been that way for the last century. It is now the culture out central eastern Canada, has been replaced and twisted into something we no longer recognize, trust and want nothing to do with. We are not giving up our liberties, nor our culture and heritage either. We are not into cultural suicide like Ontario in particular is. They no longer know who they are. And neither do we. And that is a problem a LOT deeper than just flippant “well why aren’t they all outraged”? You are seeing neither the whole, or the other pictures. Besides, what does it matter to ‘post national liberal Canada’? If you’re post national, then it shouldn’t matter if the West leaves or not, should it? The West does not need the East, and it has gotten to the point where the West does not WANT the East either.
Jess: This comment is more than 1,200 words. It is dense and difficult to read, time consuming for the moderator (viz., me). Because your remarks, while in my opinion mostly wrongheaded, have provoked some useful discussion and because I am committed to free speech on this forum as long as it is civil, I am going to publish it. In future, though, please keep your responses to no more than 300 words. Not only will my life be easier, but more people will read your commentary. Any more extremely long comments like this, though, and I will simply delete them. You will note that one other commenter is often permitted to submit extremely long comments. Life may not be fair, but “Scotty on Denman” amuses me, and often says insightful things. Since this is my blog, I can make any rules I like. As President Trump would say, thank you for your attention. DJC
You know, this feels like a mistake. The NDP has been having a lot of trouble getting any media or public attention of late, in fact since Mr Nenshi was elected leader. This is an opportunity to raise their public profile.
I would be curious to know what discussions may have occurred in the back rooms that led to this decision.
Jerry: Feels like a mistake to me too. We are all curious, of course, about what discussions have taken place in the smoke-free rooms inhabited by the Nenshi NDP. What I hear (as I suggested in the story) as that some MLAs have been strongly in favour of being involved but that most are uninterested. Mr. Nenshi, it would seem, has his own plan and it doesn’t involve co-operating with Mr. Lukaszuk. DJC
I have to agree with both of you. I can understand the reasons for not full throated partisan support; but to my mind, Nenshi should be saying to his mla’s, “if you want to support it as an Albertan citizen, go ahead”.
Well said. Anyone seeking to undermine democratic will of Alberta is inviting wrath. If one wishes in favor of why staying in Canada is better, then they can do that. So far, I have not heard any good reasons. Besides, if theyre ‘post national’, what does it matter?
I imagine there was discussion in those smoke-free backrooms. This is a minefield of potential problems and as much as we dislike Ms. Smith she has probably already developed plans to jump on any mis-moves by the NDP. For starters Geoffrey is correct that partisanship could poison the petition drive but also official support could be somehow turned against the NDP.
Note that Mr. Heuser only responded that the provincial NDP are not connected and not collaborating officially. Yet this is an opportunity for Albertans to send the message that they don’t like what the UCP is doing here and they should concentrate on other things. NDP membership, elected and otherwise, supporting this in a non-partisan way would be good. Even riding associations helping on their own with the organizing grunt work of getting this done would help a lot and should be politically defendable. Note that Ms. Smith tries to distance the UCP from the other petition, probably for the same reasons the NDP is wary here.
I think the argument Mr. Lukaszuk will make is interesting, that his petition should have the recent citizen initiative process rules applied to it. After all the premier did say about the petitions “Albertans have a democratic right to participate in the citizen initiative process. They shouldn’t be slowed down by bureaucratic red tape…”
I am just as glad that the NDP are sitting this out, to be honest. I think if they were involved, the rabid commentators could use the NDP’s involvement as an argument not to sign the petition.
Every choice, every utterance, every action, everything about the UCP makes my blood boil, but what has made my spine tingle with rage is the disloyalty in a time of national crisis, the cozying up to Trump, the clear support for separation from Canada and/or becoming the 51st. Though I happened to be born in Alberta, I am a Canadian citizen, with a Canadian passport, and a Canadian pension. How dare the UCP threaten that! Of course, I will sign the pro-Canada petition.
But… I also believe the threat to separate is mostly being used as a distraction from the criminal corruption of the destruction of public healthcare, the undermining and underfunding of public education, the cruelty toward the most vulnerable citizens, and the disrespect for democracy and the rule of law that are everyday demonstrated by this UCP government.
Separation talk, which I have to believe is just that, is red meat for the MAGA base. I hate to think I might be taking the bait of this false narrative by even responding.
I don’t know if “not taking the bait” is part of the NDP non-response. I would like to see some sign of life and leadership from the NDP. They seem to be suffering the same paralysis as the Democrats in the US. Paralysis in the face of evil should be taken as moral unfitness for leadership.
And, yes, I will, of course, sign the pro-Canada petition.
This 50 year Alberta NDP supporter and member, is entirely happy with this decision to have no formal ties with this worthy group as it goes about its business. Fidelity to Canada is not limited to or encumbered by, holding a party card. Canada is the sum of all its parts.
Well I’m glad to see that Gil McGowan and the AFL are supporting the ‘Forever-Canadian’ petition, that should add to the numbers nicely, one would think.
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Reboot alberta/Marlin Schmidt
UCP shells out $143m for coal reversal policy.
As he highlights $200@mth× 77,000 × 12 mths = $180m
” corporate or AISH”
Priorities in Alberta..
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And for anyone worried about what the us puts in their milk products, Dani is suspending not accepting dairy from the US.
Will be interesting to see what follows on this.
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And just a foot note for anyone following, Skippy did NOT attend the debate in Drumheller, he sent a video message, which if it’s the same one he posted online is so much gaslighting, Marlaina should harness him up: he could stay in BRC as a useful politician and keep the whole riding going for the next 4yrs…
If they can keep the 27,000 signatures every two days pace, then stormy danielle and her separatist party will have about two to three weeks to throw up some roadblocks. And I suspect if the ndp get involved, than standing up for Canada will be the act of commies and it would be sunk.
Jones: The NDP have no Legislature time, because Danielle Smith cut back the Legislature sessions very much. Also, the media doesn’t care about the NDP, and they constantly prop up the UCP. That’s about to change, very soon, because the UCP are about to have a torpedo hit their ship.
Best for the NDP to tread carefully here. The UCP are sinking, and real soon, so it’s best to let them go down.
We’ve been afflicted with so much hyper-partisanship for the last thirty years or so that it’s almost come to be perceived as the equivalent of politics. So much so, in fact, it has given politics, political processes —or “politicization”—, and politicians a bad name. Indeed, hyper-partisanship has actually given partisanship itself a bad name too.
When Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi assumed the purple meant a blend of liberal red and conservative blue, he wasn’t condescending either—or even partisanship in general—, rather he was symbolically reminding that the tradition of municipal government is for elected councillors to conduct city business in a nonpartisan fashion, presided over by the mayor. He was coy when courted to run for the NDP leadership, repeatedly referring to his “nonpartisanship” and fanning his purpurine feathers. Whether feigned or calculated, his standoffishness dared tarry long enough to require a special exemption from the minimum duration of membership rule so he could be eligible—and doubtlessly the inducement recognized his apparent abundance of caution. Once he’d joined the campaign, his rhetoric was potted and stiff, but he won a massive victory nevertheless, against candidates with actual governing experience, some as cabinet ministers. Still, pundits had a hard time putting their finger on where Nenshi was really at.
As new leader, Nenshi symbolically added a touch of Dipper orange to his “nonpartisan purple” plumage and immediately embarked on a meet-and-greet pilgrimage around the province, blowing off criticism of his subsequent news-media absence which originated mostly from the left: Why does he have to go TO the mountain when 86% of us party members already placed him atop the pinnacle? He should now be mustering his warriors, blowing his horn, and jousting at every single one of a litany of UCP blunders and perfidies! But Nenshi didn’t respond.
Instead, he reposed in the cooling shade of principle that a party leader also needs to be elected to parliament in order to lead the party caucus. Two months before winning the by-election UCP premier Danielle Smith churlishly delayed for as long as legally possible, he got 89.5% support under party leadership review —despite said absence and criticism. In June Nenshi won Edmonton-Strathcona with 82.3% 0f constituents’ votes and was sworn in as leader of the Loyal Opposition on July 12, 2025.
Since then Nenshi’s media presence has increased markedly, especially online. Although his rhetoric is now not as stiff as the novice partisan’s once was, and is now replete with typical Dipper issues and ideals, it is notable in his more-detailed criticism of the UCP government policy that Nenshi makes an effort to be the least partisan as possible—that is, he has been appealing broadly to Albertans by taking on the practical issues that affect everybody —healthcare, pensions, policing—bread and butter issues which the UCP is attempting to sabotage, it seems in preparation for turning Alberta into a 51st US state.
But shouldn’t unilateral secession, unconstitutionally tantamount to treason and every nations’ most serious crime, be something any leader of the Loyal Opposition attack as feverishly as the UCP attacks Ottawa and Trudeau and Liberals and alt-gendered citizens and environmentalists and epidemiologists? Shouldn’t separatism, at very least, be the test to see if Nenshi’s simply too nonpartisan as opposed to the UCP’s galling chauvinism, too multicultural as opposed to the UCP’s MAGAmono-cultism, so middle-of-the-road that he can’t do politics in the most partisan arena in the country?
If we’ve learned anything about Nenshi, about his still somewhat enigmatic credentials in the cut and thrust of partisan politics, it should be that by any measure —other than grumbling from his own party’s supporters — it certainly hasn’t hurt him to play a very cautious and considered game that doesn’t get thrown off by petty criticism. And, once again, he avails the cool shade of another parliamentary circumstance: the Assembly hasn’t sat in session since he won the ringing, near-90% endorsement from his party, nor has he yet made his debut as Loyal Opposition leader in the Assembly since winning over 82% of his by-election riding. We know only enough to infer that he will keep a cautious, middle-of-the-road course without reckless outrage over the UCP’s apparent attempts to continually provoke just that— at least not until the Assembly reconvenes in late October. But we do know something about the UCP because of Nenshi: their conspicuous dearth of ad hominem against him personally probably means they’re afraid of him.
Nenshi’s smart not to let the party get sucked into the separatism controversy because, even if it might be necessary to engage more forcefully later, it is at least premature to do so now. Be that as it may, he might also be observing Napoleon’s motto that it’s better not to interfere when your rival is already doing so much damage to itself. But he can again remain as inscrutable as a green Cheshire Cat in camo, a fortuitous political position for any partisanship, shaded cooly by a number of facts and principles that media sensationalism naturally glosses over.
The most ready to hand is the fairly mystical argument that Alberta separation is rightly a patriotic, not a partisan issue. Nenshi is probably content to shelter under that leaf—at least until he steps into the brighter spotlight when the Assembly reconvenes.
Another fact worth considering is that Nenshi has declined to officially involve the party in the Citizens’ Initiative petition signup, not the actual referendum campaign itself, which wouldn’t be held until next year anyway. His distancing from the effort doesn’t appear related to the fact that the petition’s sponsor is the former deputy premier in the now-defunct ProgCon party’s government —indeed, Thomas Lukaszuk has reiterated that his initiative is motivated entirely by patriotism, not partisanship—which is, as far as we know yet, Nenshi’s position too. But this early into the game, it’s smart not to risk this effort, as yet unfledged.
It’s hardly a secret that, like the majority of Albertans, Nenshi opposes secession. Sensibly, therefore, he is careful not to repel other patriotic Canadians who might happen to be conservatives who might be reluctant to co-endorse anything with the NDP. That is, by declining to get involved with the petition, Nenshi properly reminds that although the Wexit-Take-Back-Alberta faction which controls the UCP cabinet will endeavour to make the referendum as partisan as it possibly can, it is really a patriotic question that transcends rather than identifies with any particular party. Step one is to thwart MAGA’s attempt to polarize the issue by refusing to respond in kind to its partisan hyperbole which has been so extreme on occasion as to change the course of history. Having recorded so many successes thus far by being levelheaded and not particularly—if at all—partisan, Nenshi generally compares well against his rivals who, affecting all the rhetorical charm of screaming banshees, provide this favour at their own cost.
It’s hard to say if Nenshi is merely cautious or problematic ally risk-averse, but so far as we know it’s sensible that one doesn’t lose their minds over an Alberta referendum on something that is almost certainly moot anyway: there is no legal or politic way for any Canadian federate to secede, no constitutional mechanism to do so—only an SCoC reference opinion that the Constitution would need to be amended, even if, say, Alberta’s referendum complied in every way with the statutory federal Clarity Act first. Furthermore, despite some pretty breathy or dubious polls that put support for secession as high as 30%, even at that the proposition is far from succeeding, obviously much less than even that when the more realistic estimate is that support isn’t much more than 10%, if that. Why set your hair on fire and go berserk on MAGA-Wexiteers over something so remote—especially when you are carefully cultivating a reputation for reasoned prudence and levelheadedness?
Some things should simply not be turned into partisan footballs and the province of BC has proven that on at least four memorable occasions. Three of those were referenda on changing BC’s electoral system from First-Past-the-Post to some form of proportional representation, each of which were inappropriately manipulated to be a partisan as any general election campaign —that is, were publicly funded so Yes and No sides were ‘fairly’ represented in the ensuing hoopla of largely misleading propaganda —inappropriate because the objectives were to select an electoral system that must be absolutely impartial and unbiased, not favouring any candidate or party, yet registered parties and other groups enthusiastically jumped on the bandwagon to obscure that fact, it seemed as much as they possibly could. The worst offence was committed by the NDP cabinet when it designed the 2017 Referendum incorrectly titled “How BC Votes” (should have been “How BC Elects” since it wasn’t about the voting system), a perceivable conflict of interest. In all three Referenda, FPtP prevailed. There was something proponents of either side could agree on: partisanship derailed every attempt to change the electoral system —an did much to misinform the already poorly-informed about how our Westminster parliament works with respect how we elect members. This is the negative example: a referendum about the best nonpartisan option among electoral systems cannot be properly conducted in a partisan fashion.
The other example is positive: notorious partisan rivals can conduct a successful petition and referendum by appealing to nonpartisanship among a usually partisan electorate. When premier Gordon Campbell tried to implement a Harmonized Sales Tax after promising on campaign not to, former Socred premier Bill Vander Zalm, who in his day was vehemently anti-socialist, co-sponsored the Citizens’ Initiative that eventually toppled both the HST and the premier with none other than longtime NDP pundit Bill Teileman, and together they mustered such a broad antipathy to the tax that citizens voted across party lines, even in infamously hyper-partisan BC, to defeat it. It was the first time a legislated tax had been rescinded by popular demand in eight centuries of Westminster parliamentary history.
Ironically, it was Vander Zalm’s Socreds who desperately threw the CI cookie onto the the approaching 1991 B election ballot —a plebiscite asking if BC should have a Citizens’ Initiative law—a blatantly partisan tactic which voters accepted CI as enthusiastically as it dumped the Socred party. The highly controversial Zalm had been turfed by Socreds shortly before Mike Harcourt’s NDP terminated the very last Socred government, but he returned to co-sponsor the Anti-HST petition which ended up terminating Campbell’s premiership, but not before the BC Liberal government unsuccessfully ran every partisan interference in could to derail the Initiative (the courts forced Campbell-appointed “Acting” Chief Electoral Officer to release the petition results) and Campbell—in a curiously non-defensive move just before his cabinet fired him—called for the Referendum which decisively defeated the HST after Campbell was left in the dust. Non-partisanship prevailed in this case, despite every attempt at injecting partisan positions into the debate—included, again, publicly funded propaganda campaigns which did more t mislead than inform voters.
Flip this question around. If Alberta were still an independent ‘dominion’ or country today, and thinking about joining Canadian federation. Why would we? Look at the set up and policies. If Alberta was already a free independent country, what about federation today, would be worth giving up our sovereignty for? Why isn’t Greenland lining up to join Canada’s federation? It would seem an obvious thing looking at a map. Or how many Northern US states, are looking North with envy and thinking “I would sure like to ditch the Union and join Federation”? Zero. And the same holds true inside of Canada. If Alberta were independent today, there is currently nothing that we would gain by joining federation at this time, and yet much to lose. From control of immigration, language, money, taxes, individual liberties, our cultural identity and heritage. It would be simply giving up our self-governance and determination. put another way, why doesn’t Central or Eastern CAnada wish to simply Join the US? Even though there would be far more benefits than not to do so. You would be giving up your autonomy and sovereignty for subjugation and domination by a much larger population and a distant government in Washington. The very idea is unthinkable. The same holds true for Alberta. Why would a national Alberta ever choose to join federation today under these terms? Where no matter what we vote it doesn’t matter. the election is called as we are leaving the voting stations. And central Canada keeps voting for insanity and masochism. Same reason 51st state, tho preferable to current situation, is not really on the table. We would be just trading one overbearing distant government for an even larger one. It may be okay now under Trump, but eventually democrats will get back in, or the republicans will become corrupt again. Its tempting now with Trump, but it would be a nightmare with a Kamala 4 years from now.
But seriously, imagine Alberta was out here, doing our thing. And Canada was trying to convince us to join federation today. From having to start doing everything twice, once for real, and then again in french? to having to admit a goofball like Trudeau was our leader, to insane gun control, currency manipulation, stupid regulations that would turn us from Saudi Arabia to Newfoundland.. If you really think about it honestly, why would Alberta join federation today? And what would you offer us that the US could not beat, and that simply remaining sovereign and independent could also be beat. My Grandfathers did not fight under this Canadian flag, they fought under our Ensign. And they would be up in arms over the current state of things, adopting the very ideals they went to war against. So maudlin history is not a valid ‘reason’. Why on Earth, would we join federation today? which easily translates to ‘why would we stay’? We do not need or want Ottawa. We gain nothing but embarassment and headaches from the rest of Canada. Nothing ottawa does, could not be done better ourselves. Even Poilievre slipped up saying “Alberta needs to be free.. to make money for ..Canada.” Absolutely not! we need to make money for Alberta. Canada is like the stoned roomates you worry about what you are gunna find when you get home from work. And while you pay their rent, they do everything to piss you off. Then you tell em to shovel the driveway, and they shovel all our snow into the USA neighbor’s driveway, and then get pissy for them building a fence to stop you from doing this. Eventually, you realize that if you want nice things like your American neighbor and you want to not have your stuff hawked and stolen while you work, that the only solution is to move out, get your own place, and let the unreliable and insane roomates pay their own rent, and hawk their own stuff, while blaming Trump or the West and everyone else but themselves, for their bad choices. From Alberta’s perspective, its a no brainer.
If Alberta were “still” an independent “ ‘dominion’ ” or country…
…but Alberta was never an independent dominion or country—except for the respective territories of indigenous Plains nations. It wasn’t even a colony. Before confederation it was part of HBC’s commercial charter.
In the otherwise unorganized territory between the new provinces of Manitoba (confederated in 1870) and British Columbia (1871) there were many difficulties with respect administration. These Northwest, or Northwestern Territories became the redoubt of Métis rebels fleeing westward after the Red River Rebellion— until their defeat at Frog Lake (Northwest Rebellion 1885), and refuge of a number of indigenous Plains nations pushed westward by the expanding settlement from Europe, Britain and Eastern Canada until forced to sign treaties by the end of the century—when the buffalo on which their culture depended was extirpated.
During this unruly time the Northwest Mounted Police, progenitor to the modern RCMP, was formed. There were trespasses by American fur and whiskey traders to deal with, and there were Sioux refugees from Custer’s last stand on the Little Bighorn, holed-up in the future Saskatchewan’s Cypress Hills until starved into submission; there were fundamentalist Mormons emigrating from Utah Territory (when the condition of confederation with the USA was to make polygamy illegal there) and a variety of communal Christian immigrants, some with a propensity for violence—indicative of the fact that this prairie region was very difficult to populate with loyal British subjects.
Hence the “spare-cloth” provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan were not confederated until 1905. Their settlement owed much to the depredations of Imperial Russia upon religious minorities and recalcitrant ethnicities who accepted emigration to Canada in extremis. These new immigrants were disallowed from stepping off the train from Halifax until, a week or more later, they were deposited on the bald prairies. Even then, many, if not most (initially), subsequently emigrated thence to the USA.
Switching to the new flag in 1964 is no reason to be up in arms about belonging to our federation today.
Nice woulda-shoulda-coulda, though…
Anyone from outside of Alberta who doesn’t really understand whats going on, heres a link that explains it well, and it references Alberta Prosperity Project and the financial realities. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DzckwY4MYWo
and here is APP’s home page where you can download the economic and legal cases. This has been worked out by academics and professionals for the last five years, and longer in a few cases. Called “The Value of Freedom”.
https://albertaprosperityproject.com/
Nenshi and the NDP have been sidebarred by the powerful Forever-Canadian movement and provincial politico Thomas Lucaszuk.
Lucaszuk is virtually everywhere, on the ground and in media: legacy, podcasts, you nane it.
Either the ndp help as individuals or get out of the way.
Groundswell politics waits for no one. Action is what Albertans need in order to stanch the flow of Maga north and kneecap Smith, not waiting for elections years from now or for traditional leftie media to finally start talking about it.
Lisab has been on the story more or less since the beginning. Good on her.
My attempts to encourage tyee to cover it 2 or 3 months ago went unheard.
The NDP has refused to nominate candidates in order for constituents to have local voices. This dragging their sorry ar ses around attitude is so not working for them or media that wants to play it safe.
Tyee preferred to pump out endless stories about the septickists at the time with not a single story about Forever-Canadian or the Stay in Canada referendum. Leftie rage farming is all that is. Click click subscribe.
In my riding, Peter Guthrie is owning the narrative while the NDP? Literally no candidate, no voice.
Forever Canadian is action and action not milquetoast words is what is going to stop septickism. This movement is Solidarity. Either stand in solidarity or stand to the sidelines where the ndp is perennially content to be. But a story with this many legs is worth chasing.
Good to point out the foibles of formal endorsement but many ndp members are canvassing for Forever-Canadian. I for one await my verification form by email in order to receive my canvassing package. And then I’ll hit the ground running.
Still waiting to hear even 1 reason why Alberta would join federation today if we were talking about joining the federation rather than leaving. Still waiting to hear a single reason Alberta should want to stay. Old maudlin history the East doesn’t seem to even remember anymore, or “My Grandfather fought for…” (under the Red Ensign, a completely different flag for a country that would not recognize it today). Those are emotional appeals that mean nothing. If it DID, Pierre would be PM now and none of everything going wrong now would be. So, besides faux emotional explanations, what actual practical reason should the West want to stay?
America is 5% of the world
Canada is 0.5% of the world
Alberta is 0.05% of the world
Defenseless and open to be sold to anyone with money
After the prosperity project makes it move
The same corporations will own the business
The same land owners will own the land
And they will act unencumbered by any obligation to the population.
Prosperity will remain exactly where it is now EXCEPT income inequality will sky rocket.
It is a power grab to be able to mismanage Albertas resources worse than the 1/3 trillion clean up bill oil has left us and by the same people.
How the title of “grass roots” was thrust upon the entitled uber wealthy land owners that are the instigators of the PP is amazing. The rubes that have been conned to further enrich the already land owning rich elites in the dream of their own prosperity are going to be sad when it doesn’t trickle down to them. I can hardly wait for the partition begin. Alberta out of Canada is as backward as any fundamentalist enterprise. Many will leave early and more will leave later. And the first peoples will hire the best lawyers and take it all.
Lungta: Not sure I agree with your arithmetic here, but I get your general point. DJC
The minute that Nenshi/NDP endorses the petition, the Smithereens will label it as an NDP/lefty initiative. Thomas is better off inviting all Albertans of any political alignment, who are loyal Canadians, to sign it. To criticize any party for non-endorsement will cause more polarization.