Vancouver, British Columbia (AP) – The Prime Minister of the province of Canada rich in oil from Alberta said on Monday that it will hold a referendum on the separation of Canada next year if a petition led by citizens reached the required number of signatures.
Speaking on a live address, Danielle Smith said that she does not personally support the province leaving Canada and expressed the hope of a “track” for a strong and sovereign Alberta in a United Canada.
“If Ottawa, for any reason, continues to attack our province as they have done in the last decade, it will ultimately be for the Albertains to decide,” she said. “I will accept their judgment.”
Smith’s announcement comes only a week after Prime Minister Mark Carney led the Liberal Party to a Fourth consecutive federal government. This also occurs when US President Donald Trump continues to threaten Canada with prices and talk about the country to become the 51st state.
Carney and Trump are planned Meet in the White House on Tuesday.
Smith’s united conservative government recently introduced legislation which, if adopted, would reduce the barrels of the bar to come together to trigger a provincial referendum.
The bill would modify the rules of referendum initiated by citizens to demand a petition signed by 10% of voters eligible during a previous general election – against 20% of the total registered voters. The candidates would also obtain 120 days, rather than 90, to receive the 177,000 signatures required.
Smith accused the previous federal liberal governments of introducing different legislations that the hamstrings of Alberta of producing and exporting oil, which, according to her, cost the province of billions of dollars. She also said that she did not want the federal government to mix provincial issues.
“We are not asking for special processing or documents,” she said. “We just want to be free to develop and export this incredible wealth of resources we have. The freedom to choose how we provide health care, education and other social services necessary for our people, even if it is done differently from what Ottawa has in mind. ”
Smith met Carney and said that he “had promising things to say about the change in the anti-resource policies of his government”.
Smith said his government would appoint a negotiation team to try to end federal policies that have long irritated the province. She will also chair a panel “Alberta Next” organizing a series of town halls to hear ideas and grievances of the Albertan.
John Soroski, political scientist at the University of Macewan in Edmonton, said that although there is anger in the province, he does not know if it would lead to vote to separate.
“These grievances are serious,” he said. “I think that separation prospects are very unlikely.
The largely French -speaking province of Quebec organized referendums in 1980 and 1995 for separation. Both failed.
Soroski said Smith could follow the example of Quebec politicians who used the threat of separation when they deal with the federal government.
“I do not see that Smith wants a separation, but I think it is very useful for the province to have in its rear pocket the idea that there is this large number of dissatisfied Albertans,” he said.
Smith said she would work with Carney “in good faith” but wanted “tangible proof of real change”.
