Echoes of Brexit as Alberta blunders towards vote on separation from Canada

Alberta’s premier Danielle Smith unveiled a referendum question asking whether Alberta should remain part of Canada or whether the government should begin the constitutional legal process for a binding provincial referendum on separation. The question’s wording reflects a complicated origin involving grievance politics, improvised constitutional theory, personal ambition, internal infighting, backstabbing, bitter litigation, and an unprecedented data breach. The push for secession is framed by claims that prosperity was stolen by distant elites and could be fixed by voting to leave, alongside mutterings of foreign interference. Warnings emphasize potentially catastrophic damage, especially as the United States has openly mused about undermining or annexing Canada. The effort is compared to Brexit because it resembles a poorly thought-out ballot followed by campaigning against it.

"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 question's confusing syntax reflects its tortured genesis: grievance politics in the prairies, improvised constitutional theory, personal ambition, infighting, backstabbing, bitter litigation and an unprecedented data breach."

"Not only was it poorly thought out, but David Cameron put it to a ballot and then campaigned against it which is exactly what Danielle Smith said she would do, said Duane Bratt, a professor of political science at Mount Royal University in Calgary."

"But the secessionist effort has prompting warnings of potentially catastrophic damage at a time when the United States, has openly mused about undermining or even annexing Canada. The Brexit analogy comes up over and over again and for good reason. Not only was it poorly thought out, but David Cameron put it to a ballot and then campaigned against it"

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