Over to you, Mr. Carney! Read More
Premier Danielle Smith says Prime Minister Carney must act urgently on Alberta’s demands to head off separatism in the province
Premier Danielle Smith says Prime Minister Carney must act urgently on Alberta’s demands to head off separatism in the province
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Over to you, Mr. Carney!
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“I haven’t witnessed independence sentiment being as high as it right now. Really, the ball is in Carney’s court,” says Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, in an interview with Postmedia.
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“I’m watching it. I’m taking it seriously. I think he’s watching it. I think he’s taking it seriously.
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“Now the question will be: Can he act with the urgency that he seems to want to in order to be able to address those concerns?”
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Separatist concerns.
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Smith can read a calendar.
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After a chinwag with the other premiers and Carney on Monday, the Alberta premier was feeling pretty good about an oil pipeline to the west coast becoming a reality.
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Smith is giving Carney a few months to see what progress will be made.
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Lurking in the background is another reality.
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If the separatists can rustle up enough signatures, and they almost certainly can, there would be a referendum vote on splitting from Canada in the first half of next year.
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Does Smith fear if Carney doesn’t deliver something for Alberta there is a risk more Albertans will support separatism or just vote Yes to Alberta becoming its own country as a protest against Ottawa?
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Is Smith afraid if Carney doesn’t come through with something to show Albertans the political temperature in Alberta will keep getting hotter?
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“The clock is ticking. That’s why I have a sense of urgency and I’m encouraging the prime minister to have the same sense of urgency,” says Smith.
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“Your timeframe is about right. A year from now, there will be a number of questions we will be putting to Albertans.”
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These will be questions put on a referendum ballot by the Smith government after the premier travels throughout Alberta this summer to find out what Albertans want a vote on.
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The question on whether Alberta becomes independent will get on the ballot if enough Albertans sign a petition wanting a vote.
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Carney is working against the clock and the dwindling patience of many Albertans.
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Smith says Carney is the one who has to make things happen, to cool off separatist sentiment.