It was clear the instant results from the first million votes counted in Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s divisive separation referendum flooded in minutes after 11 o’clock last night that the separatist campaign to leave Canada was going down to a definitive defeat.
The vote split as counting continued just after midnight: 76.6 per cent of about 1.3 million votes to remain; 23.4 per cent to hold a binding separation referendum.
How definitive the final result is may not be obvious for a few hours, and there will be no official result until Oct. 29, but it’s safe to say Albertans have not come remotely close to endorsing the idea of holding a binding referendum on the province leaving Canada, and the sentiment to remain Canadian was particularly powerful in the province’s two largest cites.
The biggest loser? Danielle Smith, probably.
Her erstwhile separatist allies are furious at her for what they view with some justice as a profound betrayal. Alberta’s federalist majority is outraged at the impact of the divisive and harmful referendum and its noxious nine additional questions, all of which her government drafted.
Her referendum strategy for increasing Alberta sovereignty appears to be in tatters.
Voting and government-mandated hand counting, overseen by the undermanned and under-funded Elections Alberta agency, was a gong show afflicted by late openings, ballot shortages, and lineups in some locations that kept polling places open long after their scheduled closing hour. The resulting delay in releasing the preliminary results will harm the credibility of the vote, but given the percentages, not enough to change anything.
The biggest winner? Likely New Democratic Party Opposition Leader Naheed Nenshi.
Despite his low-energy leadership of the party he inherited from former NDP premier Rachel Notley in June 2024, Mr. Nenshi could well surf into power in the wake of widespread disgust with the high-risk referendum strategy implemented by Ms. Smith and her separatist-dominated United Conservative Party at a time when Canada is under economic and ideological attack by the Trump Administration in the United States.
Recent polls suggest the NDP was creeping into the lead before the referendum. The latest one indicates it may have arrived.
As for the UCP itself, the U may stand for United, but it is a Disunited Conservative Party as of right now.
Ms. Smith may try to heal the wounds she has inflicted on her own party, but it’s difficult to imagine how the UCP – always a Frankenparty that stitched together separatists, federalists, social conservatives, market fundamentalists and traditional economic pragmatists, and lately a considerable number of MAGA nuts – can hold together for long. As the Good Book says, a House Divided against itself cannot stand.
Even before the vote yesterday, it was clear many secessionist leaders were openly calling on social media for a separatist takeover of the UCP and removal of Ms. Smith as leader, just as they dumped Jason Kenney before her. But if they succeed, who will replace her? The UCP leadership talent pool is shallow.
Nor, according to the first results last night, were the nine referendum questions at the heart of Ms. Smith’s sovereignty-association strategy faring particularly well. Her five questions designed to promote a narrative scapegoating immigrants for Alberta’s problems, were leading, but in most cases not by much.
Three of the four constitutional questions designed to keep the UCP’s fight with Ottawa at a boil, a strategy that worked so well during a Trudeau Government, appeared to be going down to defeat, although it is too soon to declare that a fait accompli. Only the plea to abolish the unelected Senate – a constitutional non-starter – was leading by a hair.
If a significant number of the nine questions Ms. Smith’s government spent $4 million of our own money to promote indeed falter, the premier’s immediate resignation would not be an unreasonable response. Given Ms. Smith’s personality, that seems unlikely, though.
But with the UCP’s annual general meeting set to open on Nov. 27, the party has less than six weeks to pick a lane!
If the party cracks open then, the nine noxious questions won’t matter regardless what their final votes are. If anyone’s got an old Wildrose Party sign in their garage, someone will probably be happy to come and pick it up.
As for the separatists, they will declare a moral victory and remind everyone that they collected something like a quarter of a vote – albeit for a question on which they campaigned to have us merely “send a message to Ottawa.” They will vow this fight isn’t over till its over.
And maybe it isn’t. But their leaders – including the self-appointed U.S.-assimilation negotiating team that talked to someone in Washington – will either have to take over the UCP or form a new political party. Either way, they’ll have to run for office, won’t they? How do you think that’ll work out?
Given what we know right now, it sure looks as if Danielle Smith’s dream Alberta can become Canada’s sovereign friend with benefits is dying. That’s not a pity.
It is somewhat comforting that question 10 landed strongly in favour of having Albeta remain at part of Canada.
It is also somewhat alarming that the other nine questions were not defeated. Non-Albertans (whomever they might end up being identified as being) should be worried.
Although the counting is going slowly, the result for remaining in Canada seems decisive.
I am relieved, but we are not rid of Smith yet. I suspect her plan is to build an agenda for the next year based on the questions she gets a yes to. Of course that supposes the not so happy separatists, who make up the majority of her party now, allow her to continue. Like most Albertans I suspect they care less about those nine questions than the one on remaining or not.
Ironically, the one thing that may unite those wanting to remain and those not, could be a dissatisfaction with how this all was handled by Smith. There is a saying about any month containing the letter r being a dangerous one. The US midterms are in November and fittingly our MAGA like Premier will also have to face her party members later in that month. She may not be Lucy, but I feel she will have some splainin’ to do.
Regardless how that all goes, we can at least be glad we are remaining in Canada.
Well it seems clear the separatists got kicked in the head. So far, on the notorious nine questions if I was this government, I would wonder if they had a strong enough endorsement to proceed on any of the yes votes given the convoluted wording. In addition some measures require consent from other provinces ? Smith may not resign, but she has brought herself nothing but ongoing trouble, and likewise added to Albertans continuing economic uncertainty. No investor will be interested in this dumpster fire. She and this disastrous government must call an election in an orderly manner to end the chaos.
Albertans voted no to permanent daylight saving time in 2021. (48.8% yes; 50.2% no.) Along came Danielle Smith, who knows best. Voilá: no means yes. And here we are with permanent MDT, against the will and vote of the people. It might surprise those who were female at birth or who identify as female now that one of their own would stand up in public and say, “No means yes,” but here we are. No means yes in Alberta.
https://www.elections.ab.ca/elections/referendum/referendum-results/
The media who was so keen on championing the UCP and Danielle Smith are going to have a much harder time doing that from now on. They also will not be able to ignore or lie about the NDP in Alberta. This isn’t 2023 anymore. Danielle Smith keeps on digging a bigger hole for her and the UCP, and the everything will collapse taking the separatists along with them. With the referendum ballot questions, they were so confusing, that many people likely didn’t know what they were voting on. In any case, time is running out for Danielle Smith being premier, and there is no way she will endure a full term. People will want her voted out. The UCP will also be gone. Unfortunately, the damage they have done will be a lengthy process to repair.
Step 1 complete: kick the separatists to the curb. Step 2 in progress: kick Danielle Smith to the curb. Step 3: Kick the UCP to the curb.
Trash Can Dani did it again! Albertans decided. We stay. We sent a clear message to Danielle Smith and her party of chaos and corruption. It’s time for them to go. She is free to wander the earthquake zone in Panama, or become Ronald Rump’s new platinum blonde press secretary. The rest of them can resume their thriving careers in the rock quarry or whatever. Go ahead and hate your neighbours, but leave us alone. We’re done with you all. Call a general election and let Albertans decide this one, too.
While they say it’s not over until the last vote is counted, the last I saw on the noxious 9 questions was very close and leaning to yes on many of them.
The dilemma is: we had Jason Kenney, supposedly the worst premier in Alberta’s history, only to be kicked out and replaced with one even worse (Dingy Smith), and now at threat of being removed and replaced with ? My guess would be Jason Nixon (aka Magilla Gorilla). Going down the slippery slope of bad to worse to horrible Premiers one thought it couldn’t get any worse before it gets better, well think again folks. Even though we passed the leave Canada test, it doesn’t necessarily mean we are on a path to things getting better, unless of course the UCP explodes apart, which by the way I see it could not happen soon enough.
I am not as sanguine about the future of Alberta separatism as you are. I was hoping for the kind of massive repudiation, like an 80% or higher vote for “Remain”, that would send Wilson, Sylvestre, Rath, Modry, et. al. slinking back into the woodwork from whence they came.
But instead, one in four Albertans who voted, have chosen Option 2, to hold another, more consequential referendum on separation. And, while riding-by-riding results show that 86 of 87 ridings voted majority “Remain”, the margins outside of the two big cities were far narrower than 3 in 4. (The sole riding to vote majority Option 2, as of 7:15 Tuesday morning, is Central Peace-Notley, just to the north of Grande Prairie-Wapiti).
https://results.elections.ab.ca/8400
I think the seppies will be energized by this result, and see it as something to build on, especially in “rurban” Alberta. And, as of this morning, the results of the “noxious 9” separatism-adjacent questions are quite disquieting.
In 1980, after the pro-separation ‘No’ side lost 60%-40%, René Lévesque famously said “à la prochaine fois” — until next time. Fifteen years later, in 1995, we almost lost the country.
Well, I don’t know how to say “à la prochaine fois” in “redneckois”, and you can be sure none of the seppies will say this in French, but you can bet your bottom dollar that will be their attitude.
Whether it’s 20% or 25% Honestly screw em all. Now that we’ve voted on this, it’s done. That’s how we do things in alberta: and let me tell you, these folks want to keep pushing in the manner they have, more than a few of them are going to get punched in the face, that’s also how we do it in alberta.
And still we have CTV and some talking head called Matt Solberg grinding away that the separatists have a case and that the Premier has a strong mandate to pursue her course and go ahead with the noxious nine. My god, when will the media let this news round of Alberta’s historic whining and snivelling die its natural death!
CBC was no better with Ian Brodie and others blathering about all those pesky grievances. I should have watched Global, they had Shannon P\hillips.
Val: I watched Global. Shannon was great. And Drew Barnes sounded sane, which is pretty scary if you think about it. It’s been amusing and disturbing at once to watch Doctors Brodie and Spector arguing on social media about why Albertans should have voted for Option 2. They reflect the real views of the Conservative Party about Canada more than Mr. Poilievre’s recent commentary, I suspect. DJC
Predictions – hundreds of high school students will be bused in from Edmonton to attend the UCP AGM in November and vote against turning the UCP into a separatist party. Paid for by an unknown benefactor. Disgruntled separatists will rally to form their own party. They will return to the fringes of society. NDP will win the 2027 election. Danielle Smith will retire to Panama and flog her opinions on her podcast. Stupid people will actually pay to listen to her opinions. There’s a sucker born every minute. No, that wasn’t said by PT Barnum.
It will be interesting to see how things transpire over the next year. Danielle Smith is very talented politician but her popularity has been damaged by this referendum. A lot might depend on her ability to maintain control over the UCP. Alberta is scheduled to have an election in the fall of 2027 but I can see a scenario where they have it in the spring to consolidate power. The next issue to watch closely is the gerrymandering of the urban ridings to ensure that the UCP maintains a majority. Prepare for a lot of court battles.
The referendum results showed a noticable urban-rural split. Living in the Fort McMurray-Lac La Biche riding, any degradation of services including health care and education is pinned on the federal government even though the province is responsible. The UCP has a strong identity with people that is difficult to overcome. The rural-urban divide is a politics a problem across North America and this is exploited very well by reactionary conservatives like Danielle Smith.
Yes, so the referendum is done- what’s next? I’m still trying to figure out all these players in the Alberta “separation movement”. The ones who have drawn the most attention, the APP dudes like Rath, Modry and the guy from Bonnyville (I’m writing quickly so no time to look him up- he looks and sounds creepy anyway) have little credibility as more and more is found out about them. Is the APP done? And that David Parker guy who started the Take Back Alberta group has fled the country after getting his hands on voter’s lists? So, he’s done, too? Then, there is Keith Wilson, the Convoy lawyer and separatist, who started his own group with a farmer lady from southern Alberta called “Let Alberta Decide”. Well, Alberta decided. So are they going to go home now? Jeffrey Rath says his group wants to replace Danielle Smith- and basically keep playing the separation game using the UCP. Keith Wilson says he doesn’t want to start a “separatist” party, so obviously he thinks the UCP is still the best vehicle for separation. He says Danielle Smith should stay. And really, she’s got them farther down that road than anyone else could, with her skills of duplicity and being able to talk out of both sides of her mouth simultaneously. I think you’re right, Smith won’t resign. She will tell these guys, and the UCP she’s still their best bet. Duplicity is definitely in her skill-set and she can very easily talk out of both sides of her mouth. She will tell the party she can make ALL of their dreams come true.
Just an aside, and a question for you: what do you think would have happened if Thomas Lucaszuk hadn’t entered the scene?
Betts: Mr. Lukaszuk demonstrated that he is a capable pro-Canadian politician, able to work positively with the federal government. He also, in my estimation, made at least one major blunder in the way his petition was framed, allowing the oremier to claim that the signatories to his petition had clearly demonstrated they wanted a referendum, when in fact what the wanted was clearly the opposite. I am inclined to believe that goven the principle of of cometh the hour, cometh the man, someone would have entered the scene. DJC
He did well along with many volunteers, but there were also other groups and volunteers who stood up and worked hard, and we owe them all.
The referendum results show once again the stark urban/rural divide in Alberta. The more urban the riding, the stronger the support for remaining in Canada and voting no to the nine. Of course the converse is true for rural and small town ridings. Hope I’m wrong, but there are lots of reasons for the UCP to gerrymander the electoral map to dilute urban votes.
The urban/rural divide is not as stark as we often believe.
Here is the regional breakdown re Question 10.
In the two big cities, support for remaining in Canada exceeded 80%. On a riding-by-riding basis, 19 of Calgary’s 26 ridings voted over 80% for “Remain”. Some were as high as 85%. None of Edmonton’s 20 ridings were below 80% “Remain”, and at least one hit 90%.
Alberta’s smaller cities also voted to remain in Canada, although admittedly by smaller margins.
– Red Deer (2 urban ridings): both 70:30 “Remain”
– Lethbridge (2 urban ridings): both cleared 80% “Remain”
– Medicine Hat (2 split urban-rural ridings): 63:37 & 68:32 in favour of “Remain”
– Grande Prairie (urban): still not finished counting (!), but 62.6% “Remain”, 37.4% Option 2 (2nd Referendum)
– Grande Prairie-Wapiti (mixed urban-rural riding), also not finished counting, but much tighter margin for “Remain”: 51.1%:48.9%
– Fort McMurray — FORT McMURRAY — even went well over 60% “Remain”
The seppies’ biggest strength was in truly rural Alberta. But even there, how many ridings voted majority Option 2? Just two: Central Peace-Notley, (49.3%/50.7%) and Rimbey-Rocky Mountain House-Sundre. (48.9%/51.1%).
Oh, and Bonnyville-Cold Lake-St. Paul? This is seppie leader Mitch Sylvestre’s own riding. 62.4% Remain, 37.6% Option 2, with 55/74 of polls reporting. He couldn’t even get his own community to vote for his project.
Turnout – 2,057,452
2023 Election – 1,764,915 (60.5%)
I worked at a polling station in the Red Deer Doughnut as it was referred to last night. The nincompoop nine questions were popular, no spoiled or returned ballots. And the votes in this group were not even close. Voting divisions had 10% NO answers with overwhelming support for Smith’s silliness. Don’t expect the separatist dream to go away, this is now embedded in the flesh of Alberta and will not be excised easily.
You live in Red Deer and you’re surprised by this ? I been to Red Deer, it is Alberta’s beating redneck heart.
I was not surprised because I live near Red Deer and understand the situation on the ground. I was responding to someone who was expecting change when change may never happen.
“embedded in the flesh of Alberta and will not be excised easily”
So good. May I steal this?
Of course, Mr. Climenhaga should be given partial credit though for giving us this forum to express our thoughts and guiding our conversation.
Abraham Lincoln’s “house divided” quote is probably the most famous iteration, but we might draw further relevance from the original source in Matthew 12:25. Here’s the context from the King James version:
>22Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw. 23And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the son of David? 24But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils. 25And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand: 26And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand? 27And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges. 28But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.
So it was Satan’s house that was divided against itself, allowing the righteous to prevail.
(I cite the King James version because we’re still a “one king” country in contrast to our “no kings” neighbours.)
Robert: Like you, I prefer the KJV. It’s archaic language is part of the appeal and, anyway, it’s the one I had to memorize as a kid. The story also appears in Luke 11:17 and Mark 3:25. Luke quotes Jesus as saying “a house divided against itself falleth,” and Mark says Jesus said, “if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand.” As for “every city or house divided against itself shall not stand,” perhaps St. Matthew today would include province and country as well. Anyway, we all get the point. As for whether or not the UCP is allied with Satan, I’ll leave that to readers to figure out. Among other things, Mr. Lincoln was an excellent editor. DJC
@djc
“gong show” – good thing I had put my coffee down.
It was. We even called it so (we being my fellow elections workers). My hands are still sore from packaging those 10 damn ballots. My sympathy for the people counting. Multiple overlapping around the clock shifts.
Without the advance vote and special ballots, we would’ve had a debacle yesterday. I can only speak to my polling station, but voters were very understanding. It was recognized that doing the whole process 10x meant showing patience & tolerating. Even with day before ballot packaging, my station ran out after 6 pm. We had enough ballot books on site to make more packages. Not all polling stations did.
I couldn’t offer my opinion while I was on the clock, but the voters sure did. Smith is WILDLY unpopular. There were many comments more or less saying “this should have been a provincial general election to get rid of her”. And the “seppies” amongst the turnout were quiet as church mice in a cat cathedral.
One disheartening thing I saw was people walking in holding her propaganda pamphlet, and going to the ballot screens. It wasn’t many, maybe 10 out of the 145 at my station, but still, seeing that many people probably drinking her kool-aid hurts. Furthermore, all of those literature carriers were Caucasian.
With respect, I think the rural/urban divide isn’t quite as stark as some people believe, and there are some reasons to believe that it might diminish over time.
First, for a few years now, unease and dissatisfaction about the Smith government have been percolating in the ranks of municipal governments, even and especially in rural and small town Alberta. Things like orphan wells, energy companies that refuse to pay local taxes, and provincial interference in local issues have become chronic problems. Since these local governments traditionally have been the “farm team” for the provincial Tories, that’s an interesting development.
Second, the rural vote comes from a significantly older demographic. Age-wise, a lot of these voters are my contemporaries and we, to be honest, are ageing out. We’ll see how the younger generations of rural dwellers turn out.
Wishful thinking. I am also of a certain age and yesterday I watched the 3 generations born after myself vote to maintain the rural/urban gap. The children and grandchildren of the believers also believe.
Watching these Fake Conservatives in Reformers Danielle Smith and Pierre Poilievre trying to convince Albertan that they want to stay in Canada hasn’t fooled any of the true conservatives in my world.
They saw where this was headed and were just trying to save their hides so they could be re-elected in Alberta.
Not one single other Conservative MP or MLA showed that they supported them, except for this UCP MLA Jason Stephan clown in Red Deer who bragged about voting for another chance to waste a lot more of taxpayers money on another Referendum proving just how stupid he is.
Telling foreigners they aren’t welcome in Alberta is a huge mistake especially when we have relied so heavily on foreign doctors and nurses to replace the ones Klein ran off.
What if the ones already working here see this as a slap in the face and decide to leave or find that they are being harassed a lot more because of what Smith has done.
Giving Smith an excuse to use a major shortage of doctors and nurses as a reason to force Albertans to accept a full blown American Style Healthcare System like she has wanted all along is just plain stupid.
Alan K. Spiller: Guess what happened? Jason Stephan has announced his resignation as an MLA today. Something tells me the UCP aren’t going to endure. The damage they have done will take a long time to repair.
Serial commenters to this blog will remember this bird LOUDLY and REPEATEDLY predicting the defeat of the “sEpPiEs” and if you think I’m not going to bring it up y’all don’t know me at all.
The majority of albertans aren’t maga bigots who want to join the United States and they NEVER have been. As far as I’m concerned these cretins can crawl back into the swamp from whence they came. They better not say boo to me about it, I’ll tell you that much.
the tag line from the potentate now is ” a strong alberta in a united Canada” as opposed to a ” sovereign ” alberta a few days ago.
i crossed paths yesterday a.m
with an acquaintance who used to be a friend, until he and his partner morphed into conspiracy drenched separatists. he now says the separatists that are truly committed post referendum, are now “independentista’s”.
in his world, most non violent tactics deployed in the future to achieve the goal of independence, as opposed to separation, are fair and righteous; use your imagination to determine tactics.
the seditious mob that will persist with achieving their fantasy, will need to be paid close attention to for the foreseeable future.
more waste of time and effort.
What constitutes the ideological attack by the Drumpf administration on Canada, and does this mark a change from prior US administrations? Bougie progs and Kons alike have been safely ensconced in this most secure province of the Empire, free from having B-52s rain bombs on their heads or having their daughters turned into taco meat by cruise missiles, as all the while the Canadian state and corporate structures catch farts for the US war machine. How exactly was the referendumb divisive in a Province that shat out Reform and the Wild Rose? You’ve always been here.
I really do not care at all with anymore percentages. What is needed now is a full out war in the UCP and its total destruction. As for Danielle Smith I will be happy to see her in a compostable pile. They have already destructed enough.
As for Nenshi, I am still not convinced and it could be a big obstacle for the NDP to win big in the next election.
As for the MAGA group, they will stay forever because that is what cults do. We will have to live with the disease.
Carlos, don’t you know that you’re not supposed to put toxic substances in the compost!!
130 million dollars down the drain that could have been used for a lot better endeavours but we all know how conservatives are fiscally responsible. After decades of their propaganda what they will do is leave the issue for the NDP to resolve.
Perhaps our host or one of the readers/commenters can clear this up for me: while flipping to and fro from one TV station to another, I heard a number of analysts/talking heads referring to Alberta separatist activity that had been around for over a century.
I don’t ever recall reading about any such movement, even prior to the passing (and subsequent Royal assent) of the Statute of Westminster by the British Parliament in 1930. Did I miss something or was it others’ imaginations?
Tnx much,
Bob
Seems to originate from certain public ‘intellectuals’ that promote and advocate for a certain political agenda that also happens to be coincidentally favorably aligned with the policy goals of the current Alberta premier (Who would have guessed?). See for example,
https://www.ctvnews.ca/calgary/article/separation-has-existed-since-before-alberta-was-alberta/
Where, ““I think it’s been part of the political culture of Alberta from well, in fact, from before Alberta became a kind of province in 1905,” said Cooper.”
Noting that opinion without appropriate supporting facts and evidence is meaningless. However, it should also be noted that, “The conscious and intelligent manipulation of the organized habits and opinions of the masses is an important element in democratic society. Those who manipulate this unseen mechanism of society constitute an invisible government which is the true ruling power of our country.”
Finally, refer to the Wikipedia entry on authority bias for more background:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Authority_bias
Thanks, Miss Teps.
The quote from the CTV piece and your summary confirm what I suspected. Despite the headline, Cooper and Ted Morton only offer examples of recent grievance politics (the NEP, COVID-19 public health restrictions, etc.).
At the risk of committing my own logical fallacy (poisoning the well), I don’t believe Cooper and Morton have ever had the proper skillset to comment on the pros and cons – and history – of Alberta independence without their own ideological biases overwhelming the analysis.
They are ahistorical morons who don’t read books and go on vibes.
1) Alberta was created by writ of parliament. It’s never been “independent”
2) the big fight between 1905 and the mid twenties was about control of resources without equal provision for French and English. Alberta, with heavy settlement from orangemen of all types was called a hotbed of toryism by Laurier, but those people were all English crown loyalists, very much interested in Canada being English and having nothing to do with the pope but very much wanting alberta to be part of CANADA.
By the way the federal government capitulated entirely by the time brownlee was premier, which taught albertans not that they’re second class citizens, but that if they act like the spoiled toddler of confederation they often get what they want.
You could make an argument separatist sentiment grew in the eighties with the whole NEP debacle, but no, those people wanted a new government in Ottawa, separation was not on the table.
With the final Quebec referendum separation became anathema to rank and file albertans. Why would we want to do to ourselves what Quebec did to themselves , with less reason ?
So the absolute earliest you could pin this separation BULLSHIT is the LATE 90s / early 00 with the rise of one Stephen Harper and a little party called the Reform Party.
So no, separatist movements are not a hundred years old in alberta, especially those with American roots.
Mr Cooper needs to read a book.
The coincidence of tRumpublicanism and Maple Maple separatism is significant. Typically it revises history in a self-gratifying way: schematically with obvious omissions and anachronisms, and completely fantastic insertions. The evil genius is that the false or mangled history becomes grist for the news-media mill through the simple große Lüge expedient of repetition—which is how the minutia of past peeves are scraped into a grievance grab-bag and submitted to the court of public opinion as if a cogent rationale for retaliation and vengeance against Canada, which is otherwise the envy of the world. Most of these gripes are wholly forgettable if not magafied to make them look bigger.
The UCSP predictably cites enthusiasm for secession but to me it looks more like all-hands-on-deck desperation that MAGAmania is about to collapse, requiring maximum effort in pulling out all the stops. Even the Option 2 part was designed to be ambiguous (mixing indiscernibly hard separatists with voters who wanted to “send Ottawa a message” but don’t want secession) in order to make support for secession look bigger than it is.
If there’s a next-time, this bump on the highway of federalism will doubtlessly be included in the grievance grab-bag of the future.
Yet the whiff of separatism has been lingering like slough-gas in rural Alberta for generations, from mid-1930s Social Creditism and its 1980s scion Reform, and Wildrose of the 2010s on to the Quasimaga United Conservative separatist party, with hints of Confederation of Regions, Maverick, Buffalo, Wexit and other anti-federal fringe groups climbing onto and falling of of the wobbly bandwagon along the way.
Meanwhile, in the ongoing universal saga of what goes around comes around, “whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.”, karma is a bitch, negative actions have negative consequences, ect., ect. another possible case study presents itself:
https://globalnews.ca/news/12049115/alberta-separatist-leader-rath-faces-109m-debt-claim-from-us-investors/
“If you are a law firm, these are very, very serious matters,” said Roderick Wood, a University of Alberta law professor who is an expert in insolvency and bankruptcy law. “If you have a secured party in a position where they are enforcing their claim, any debtor, not just a law firm, is really in a situation you would rather not be in. It’s a very challenging situation.”
Because, all of the slow learners on this planet are always in need of more than one large helping of cosmic just deserts.
This should have been the end but it won’t be. These clowns love democracy when it comes to getting their separation question on the ballot but have no time for democracy when the majority votes against them. No one ever accused them of being bright, after all.
At this point our only hope is that the federalists within the UCP finally find the balls to take a stand and splinter the right once more by breaking away from the separatist mouth breathers and split the vote. But with the lack of morals and character in the UCP, I’m not holding my breath…
Dusting off Wildrose signs? I guess it’d be allowed cuz there’s no verboten “Conservative” in the name. Still, there might be registered copyright to consider. If that were the case the cast-off separatist faction of the UCP has options: it could change its name to something clever like Riledwose, or resurrect an old party name like United Farmers or something. An ideologically incongruent anachronism, you say? No worries!—it’s already almost post-Truth Social.