 Alberta Premier Danielle Smith For me, Alberta is not all about oil. And Alberta Premier Danielle Smith should not be the architect or the one fanning the flames of separatism in her province. Smith has seriously damaged her reputation among Canadians and Albertans, and even among hard core separatists in that province.
Jeffrey Rath, the leader of the Alberta separatists, said of Smith last weekend: “She’s got to go.” The Premier succeeded in muddying the waters with her 37-word question: “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?” The Angus Reid Institute finds in its polling that most Albertans would vote against proceeding with the separation process — 60% would vote “No” to the official October question, compared to 35% who would vote “Yes”. When asked a simpler hypothetical — leave or stay question— the federalist position strengthens, with 67% opting to stay and 30% choosing to leave. Half (51%) find the official question confusing, and 56% say Premier Smith has handled the issue poorly. As described in an earlier Against the Flow blog column, Smith’s cozying up to her United Conservative Party base, including the separatists among them, has been the Premier’s primary way of building her political strength in close to four years as Premier. Now this coy tactic has caught up to her. I should point out how it was that this writer fell in love with Alberta, but not I hasten to add, with the Premier Danielle Smith and her political tactics. When I was 16 years old, I met up with a pal and crossed the country by rail, sitting up in the rail cars and picnicking most of the way on a good- sized barbecue chicken. When we reached Calgary, we experienced the Calgary Stampede, including the magnificent and very dangerous chuck-wagon races.
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 Randy in his Search and Rescue gear Around the New Brunswick Legislature, the Fredericton Council Chamber, or in volunteering with his diverse causes including York Sunbury Search and Rescue, Randy could always be seen in his electric wheelchair. He was a tireless worker.
Randy died of cancer last week at the age of 71, a venerable campaigner for his favourite disability causes. He was the first executive director of the Premier’s Council on Disabilities; also, the chair of the New Brunswick Human Rights Commission. Dickinson was awarded the Order of Canada in 1999 and the Order of New Brunswick in 2022. In a social media post, the Premier’s Council on Disabilities said he was “a true pillar of our community and a remarkable advocate for inclusion, accessibility and human dignity.” “He inspired others through his compassion, wisdom, advocacy and belief that everyone deserves to be seen, heard and included,” the council statement said. “His legacy will continue through the many lives he changed, the communities he strengthened and the important work he helped build.” New Brunswick Human Rights Commission chairwoman Amber Chisholm also paid tribute to her predecessor in a statement last Tuesday. “The New Brunswick Human Rights Commission mourns the passing of Randy Dickinson, who served as the commission’s chairperson from 2010 to 2015, and then as a commission member from 2022 to 2026,” she wrote. “Randy devoted his life to the advancement of human rights, accessibility and equity for every single person living in New Brunswick. All of us at the commission are honoured to have known him, worked alongside him and learned from him.” Premier Susan Holt also acknowledged Dickinson’s contributions to the cause that was so close to his heart. “Randy dedicated so much of his life to advancing accessibility, inclusion and equality for persons with disabilities,” she said in a statement. “Randy will be remembered for the impact he had on people, his compassion, his tireless advocacy and his unwavering belief in a more inclusive New Brunswick,” said the Premier. “His advocacy and leadership helped shape better policies and stronger supports for many, and his legacy will continue to be felt for years to come.” Randy is survived by his wife and “Number One Partner” in all things, Karen Dickinson. The family remembers what Randy taught: “Would you like some help and if yes, what can I do to help?” Randy’s obituary noted that he was never afraid of hard things and lived his life to the fullest. His approach was similar to that of the young, dynamic U.S. President, John F. Kennedy who said in September 1962, “We choose to go to the Moon…in this decade and do other things not because they are easy, but because they are hard.” In his own way, Randy also chose to aim for the moon. He always said that he wanted to be an engaged citizen, and do for others what he wanted done for himself. He wanted to be helpful and kind. Premier Danielle Smith, the Donald Trump of Canada, Is Paying Risky Footsie with Alberta Separatism.5/14/2026  Cozying up to her United Conservative Party base, including the separatists among them, has been Premier Smith’s primary way of building her political strength in her close to four years as Premier. This week, the Premier vowed to appeal a court ruling that separation would violate Indigenous people’s treaty rights, asserting: “We think that this decision is incorrect in law and anti-democratic and we will be appealing it as a result.” Justice Shaina Leonard had found that Election Alberta’s Chief Electoral Officer did not consider an earlier court decision that separation would ignore First Nations rights. Premier Smith obviously does not consider the court system to be a vital part of checks and balances in Canadian democracy. Meanwhile Chief Allan Adam of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation was incredibly dignified in calmly urging Premier Smith to “take the high road” and accept the court’s ruling, emphasizing that going ahead without meaningful consultation with First Nations is wrong and violates treaty rights.  Prime Minister Mark Carney now has an important decision to make, one central to the unity of the country, whether to go ahead as soon as this Friday with Premier Smith on a “grand bargain” agreement. The Canada-Alberta agreement hinges on a new industrial carbon pricing framework for Alberta, expected to be at $130 per tonne by 2040, rather that the earlier federal target of $170 by 2030.
These at not just numbers on a page. Former federal Environment Minister Stephen Guibeault, the man who once scaled the CN Tower in Toronto in support of his environmental beliefs, resigned from Cabinet late in 2025 over a weakening of climate policies in the government’s memorandum of understanding with Alberta. Then there are the concerns of other provinces besides Alberta on the lack of “a level playing field” in carbon pricing. This argument was made by BC Premier David Eby who says his province is in direct competition with Alberta on energy projects. With First Nations opposing the southern pipeline route, with no clear possibility of being investment partners in this project, chaos now prevails. Surely, this would cause any oil industry proponent of the pipeline project to back away rather than sign on. Indeed, PM Carney has many problems on his plate. |
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