Danielle Smith speaks following Oct 19 referendum
EDMONTON — A record number of Albertans voted in Monday’s referendum, with more than 75 per cent choosing to remain part of Canada.
Following the result, Premier Danielle Smith says there will not be another referendum on separation while she remains premier, arguing the national political environment has changed and Alberta can continue fighting for its interests from within Confederation.
Smith said the referendum result gives her government a clear mandate to keep Alberta within Canada while continuing to push for greater provincial autonomy and challenge Ottawa when the province believes its constitutional rights are being infringed.
“For as long as I am Premier, I will honour this mandate from Albertans and will not be holding another referendum on this issue,” Smith said.
She said future disputes with Ottawa will instead be fought through Canada’s political and legal institutions.
“Our government will continue to boldly assert our province’s autonomy by exercising the provincial rights guaranteed to us under Canada’s constitution,” Smith said.
“We will use every legal and political tool at our disposal to protect and advance the interests of Albertans. And when Ottawa interferes with those rights, we will be unrelenting in our response.”
Smith acknowledged Alberta still has unresolved grievances with the federal government and said there will continue to be disagreements over political and constitutional issues.
However, she said the tone from Ottawa and the national political environment surrounding Alberta’s resource industries have changed significantly.
Smith said both federal Conservatives and Liberals now recognize the importance of Alberta’s energy sector and other key industries to the national economy.
“Both the federal conservatives and federal liberals are united in supporting Alberta and our key industries in a manner we haven’t seen in a generation,” Smith said.
She argued the federal government is no longer pursuing policies aimed at phasing out Alberta’s largest economic sectors and said attitudes toward the province’s energy, agriculture, technology and natural resources have shifted.
“Across our country, there is a growing recognition that Alberta’s energy, agriculture, technology, and natural resources are not liabilities. They are national strengths,” Smith said.
She pointed to major energy and infrastructure projects, including the proposed Pacific Link pipeline, as evidence of changing federal attitudes toward resource development.
Smith said the shift does not mean Alberta and Ottawa will stop disagreeing.
“Will Alberta and Ottawa still have disagreements on issues from time to time? Of course we will,” she said.
Smith said Alberta will continue challenging federal decisions through the courts, political institutions and public debate when the province believes its interests or jurisdiction are threatened.
“Alberta will battle and continue to win those fights in the courts of law and in the court of public opinion,” she said.
But Smith said those disputes will now take place within Canada rather than through another push for separation.
“It is time to move forward together as a strong and free Alberta within a united Canada,” she said.
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