PPC leader says Albertans should vote for binding referendum on separation for leverage with Ottawa

He said he’s with Albertans and shares their concerns about the future of the province.

He said Ottawa is not dealing with Alberta like an equal partner but rather as a subordinate.

“It’s time for Alberta to be respected,” Bernier said. “During my tour, I’m telling people the People’s Party are the only national party that is on their side in the upcoming referendum that will happen on Oct. 19.”

Bernier shared this message as part of his “Lessons from Quebec” tour through Alberta this week. On Wednesday evening, he spoke to Red Deerians in the Frontier Room at Westerner Park about what Alberta can learn from Quebec’s two referendum experiences and discuss the province’s future.

Per Elections Alberta, the upcoming question in October will be:

Should Alberta remain a province of Canada, or should the Government of Alberta commence the legal process required under the Canadian Constitution to hold a binding provincial referendum on whether or not Alberta should separate from Canada?

Option 1: Alberta should remain a province of Canada.

Option 2: The Government of Alberta should commence the legal process required under the Canadian Constitution to hold a binding provincial referendum on whether or not Alberta should separate from Canada.

Bernier argued that the first option is status quo and nothing will change, but the second option, which he supports, sends a direct message to Ottawa.

He said voting for the second option doesn’t mean you’re voting to leave Canada.

“I know Pierre Poilievre and Mark Carney are telling Albertans that if you vote for that option, it’s a vote for separation. That’s not true, that’s false, and it is a lie,” he said. “It’s a vote for a negotiation with Ottawa, and in these negotiations you will give more bargaining power to Danielle Smith… She’ll be able to ask the federal government to stop interfering in provincial jurisdiction.”

He said that Alberta is the engine of Canada but that the Prime Minister only sees the province as revenue for the federal government.

Bernier explained that if Alberta chooses to move forward with a referendum, there may be a referendum in the near future on Alberta remaining in Canada or not, but there may also not be. He said it depends on the potential negotiations.

He said negotiations between the federal government and Alberta would be good for all of Canada because what Alberta will have afterwards will have to be given to other provinces by the feds.

“That’s the only way to save this country and is the only way to ensure Ottawa does not interfere anymore in provincial jurisdiction,” he added. “There’s no risk to vote to start the process for a binding referendum, and at that time you can have an independence debate.”

He said it’s similar to the first referendum that was held in Quebec in 1980. Bernier, who was 17 at the time, said it was about negotiations with the federal government, but the second referendum in 1995 was about separation.

“I believe if Alberta vote comers start the process option, they will put a knife at the throat of the establishment and they will tell them, either you give us our autonomy or we will hold a binding referendum on separation,” Bernier said. “I hope they have the courage to vote for what they want and send a strong message to Polievre and Carney that enough is enough and we want a fair deal with Ottawa.”

Bernier was in Calgary on Tuesday and will be in Edmonton on Thursday. He said that so far the message has been well received.

His position is that he believes the negotiation with the federal government will be successful and that a vote on separation will not happen.

He said, in turn, the federal government will be fair to Alberta.

“If that does happen, I believe Alberta will stay in the country, but I’ve said publicly that I’ll be on the yes side in Quebec. Not because I want Quebec to be an independent country but because I want to send a strong message to Ottawa. It’s the only way Ottawa will listen, and we’ll have negotiation.”

by Ian Gustafson

PPC leader says Albertans should vote for binding referendum on separation for leverage with Ottawa

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