Former Alberta premier Jason Kenney has expressed disapproval of the United Conservative Party caucus signing a petition to trigger a vote on Alberta’s separation from Canada. Kenney emphasized that the party, which he co-founded in 2017 and led until 2022, was established on the premise of upholding a strong Alberta within a united Canada.
Kenney highlighted that individuals elected under the UCP banner, particularly in the 2019 Alberta election, were elected based on their belief in a united Canada. Therefore, he stated that it would be contradictory for them to support a petition for separation.
The controversy arose when a leader of the petition campaign claimed that members of Premier Danielle Smith’s United Conservative caucus had signed the petition. However, Jeff Rath, a lawyer for the petition group, cited privacy regulations that prevented him from disclosing the names of signatories.
Premier Smith, in response to the claims, stated that members of her caucus are entitled to sign any petition they choose, emphasizing that she does not monitor their actions. She reiterated her belief in a sovereign Alberta within a united Canada, stressing the importance of mutual respect between the federal government and provincial jurisdictions.
While more than 20 UCP backbenchers did not respond to inquiries about signing the petition, the caucus spokesperson affirmed the government’s commitment to a strong and sovereign Alberta within Canada. The spokesperson clarified that while MLAs are free to express personal views, the caucus was not aware of any members signing the separation petition.
Opposition NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi criticized Smith for not taking a firmer stance against separation and for allegedly allowing caucus members to support the separation referendum. Nenshi called on UCP legislature members who signed the petition to disclose their identities, emphasizing their responsibility to their constituents.
Kenney refrained from commenting further on the alleged caucus members’ signatures but expressed outrage at reports of meetings between petition movement representatives and U.S. officials regarding Alberta’s potential independence. He condemned any efforts to undermine Canada’s sovereignty and collaboration with foreign powers, urging those in support of separatism to seek asylum in the United States.
Kenney denounced the notion of private citizens from a foreign country discussing Canada’s dismantlement with the White House, likening the situation to Texas independence advocacy. He called for strong diplomatic actions against any foreign interference in Canadian affairs, criticizing the lack of normalcy in the current political climate.