‘Danielle Smith is a separatist’ NDP alleges after Bill 54 proposes lower referendum threshold

Danielle Smith has repeatedly said she does not want Alberta to leave Canada, but she has threatened a national unity crisis, and on Tuesday her government introduced a bill that would make it easier to launch a referendum, including one on Alberta independence.

On Facebook, the president of the UCP says the premier is listening to people who want a divorce from Canada, and Bill 54 creates a pathway for that.

“The bill is designed to allow Albertans to bring questions of any nature before Albertans for contemplation,” said Mickey Amery, Alberta Justice Minister.

The Alberta NDP issued a press release Wednesday titled “Danielle Smith is a separatist,” arguing her policies are proof she’s moving in that direction.

“She passed a sovereignty act. She’s actively dismantling the RCMP. She’s trying to pull Albertans out of the Canada Pension Plan,” explained Naheed Nenshi, Alberta NDP leader.

“This isn’t just about her blowing smoke like she likes to do. This is actually putting our nation at risk. This is threatening and it’s dangerous.”

The NDP has launched a petition calling on Smith to stop any separation agenda she may have. Meanwhile, an Alberta independence petition started in 2019 — appears to have gained more than 7,000 signatures since the election — now sitting above 200,000.

Ever since the federal Liberals won again on Monday, separation rallies and townhalls are being planned, including one on Thursday at the legislature.

A Calgary-based political scientist says Smith’s words have stoked that independence movement, rather than calmed it.

“Never once has Quebec said that if you don’t vote for the party that I want for the federal government, we’re leaving. This is unprecedented in Canadian history, and it really calls into question whether there is a serious approach to dealing with Canada’s interests,” explained Lori Williams from Mount Royal University.

But UCP ministers are rallying around the premier on Wednesday. Several have declined in recent days to say they support an independence vote.

“The premier has never spoken about anything other than a sovereign Alberta within a united Canada. I believe her,” said Adriana LaGrange, Alberta Health Minister.

Smith says rather than leave Canada, she wants a fair deal from the country and has promised a panel to explore what that means in 2025.