Conservative stalwart Preston Manning expressed bewilderment at the perception of Alberta Premier Danielle Smith as anti-Canada, despite her staunch advocacy for Confederation, as indicated by polling data outside Alberta. Manning highlighted surveys in Ontario showing a significant number of voters viewing Smith as a separatist, attributing this to the controversial and attention-grabbing nature of the secession issue.
At an upcoming virtual forum titled “Alberta and the West,” Manning, aged 84, mentioned that Smith will address Alberta’s growth as a robust and independent province within Canada. Manning emphasized the importance of providing detailed information on the advantages and disadvantages of different options to the public.
Smith has scheduled a referendum on October 19 to determine whether Alberta should remain part of Canada or initiate the legal process for separation. Manning, a former federal Opposition leader and co-founder of the Reform Party, is co-hosting the forum with former B.C. premier Gordon Campbell. The event aims to present perspectives both for and against secession to help inform Alberta voters ahead of the referendum.
The organizers, including Manning, have refrained from publicly endorsing any particular stance on Alberta’s future, opting for a neutral approach and leaving the decision to the voters. Manning reiterated his democratic principles, emphasizing that personal beliefs take a back seat to the democratic process.
The referendum will feature ten questions for Albertans to vote on, with the remaining nine focusing on immigration and the Constitution. Smith justified the referendum by citing a growing sentiment among Albertans that separation is a valid response to federal interference in provincial matters.
Critics, such as the Opposition NDP, have accused Smith of amplifying grievances of a minority to appease hardline separatists within her United Conservative Party. Manning, known for his role in founding the Reform Party under the slogan “the West wants in,” acknowledged lingering discontent among some Albertans but stressed the need for attention to regional concerns to prevent secessionist sentiments from gaining traction.