Commentary
Alberta is going through a very politically sensitive period. The independence referendum to be held on Oct. 19 is not binding, but it could lead to the province progressing toward an official, Clarity Act-compliant referendum on secession.
Polling indicates that support for secession in Alberta remains at around 30 percent. Still, polling has also found that over half of Albertans feel they are getting a “raw deal” being part of Canada. That alienation could quickly evolve into separatism and premiers in other provinces could contribute to such a shift, even if inadvertently.
The annual premiers’ gathering in Charlottetown was focused primarily on dealing with the ongoing tariff battles with the United States. National unity, particularly with regard to Alberta, loomed in the background, though, and the issues overlapped as some premiers mused about using Western Canadian resources as leverage against the USA in the trade war. The notion wasn’t well received by Western premiers….