Albertans should approach the Oct 19 referendum fairly, calmly, and with clear eyes. This is not about anger or division. It is about whether Alberta can keep accepting a federal system that too often treats our province as a source of revenue rather than an equal partner.
For decades, Ottawa has held Alberta back through policies that discourage investment, obstruct responsible resource development, and harm the prosperity that supports jobs, families, and public services. Albertans have tried elections, negotiations, court challenges, and constitutional arguments, yet the unfairness continues.
That is why I believe Albertans should vote for Option 2 on Oct. 19. It is a democratic way to say the status quo is no longer acceptable. If Ottawa will not treat Alberta fairly, Albertans must be prepared to stand up for our economy, our future, and our right to decide what comes next.
Over my last two videos, I’ve taken a deeper look at two very different documents about Alberta’s future.
First, the Canada West Foundation report, including what I think it gets wrong, what it inadvertently gets right, and why Ted Morton’s contribution reads remarkably like an explanation of how we arrived at the independence movement in the first place.
Then, the @ATCAlberta ‘s newly released work, which takes a very different approach. Instead of stopping at the problems Alberta might encounter as a new country, 45 Albertans put serious work into asking how we could actually solve them and manage a responsible transition.
Put the two documents beside each other, and something becomes pretty obvious to me.
We subject independence to enormous scrutiny while too often treating staying in Canada as though it carries no cost and requires no defence.
It does.
If we’re going to examine what Alberta might face if we leave, then let’s be equally serious about what another ten or twenty years on our current path could mean.
And remember, we are NOT voting on independence on October 19.
Option 1 keeps Alberta in the status quo.
Option 2 begins the legal process toward a future binding referendum and gives Alberta something incredibly valuable in the meantime: leverage.
For once, Ottawa would have to deal with an Alberta government backed by voters who have demonstrated that remaining in Canada cannot simply be taken for granted.
Maybe Canada finally offers meaningful change.
Maybe it doesn’t.
But I cannot understand why we would voluntarily give away our strongest negotiating position before we even find out.
Watch my previous two videos for the deeper dives, then come back to this question:
Why would Alberta surrender its leverage before we’ve had the chance to use it?
October 19. Option 2. Then let Alberta decide. 💙
#LetAlbertaDecide #Option2 #AlbertaIndependence #Alberta #October19
Oct 19:
Stay forever under the system this map exposes…
or start the path so Alberta can do better for our kids and grandkids. Population imbalance = permanent colony status.
More seats won’t fix it. A real choice will. Vote Option 2.
@LukaszukAB@ABDanielleSmith How about you ask Carney to come back from Europe and go before parliament and explain why he walked away from the negotiations! Team Canada my ass!
We spend a lot of time asking what Alberta would need from Canada after independence.
Let’s ask the other half:
What would Canada need from Alberta?
Energy. Agriculture. Transportation corridors. Continued trade.
Canada already uses Alberta energy as leverage internationally.
Maybe it’s time Albertans understood the leverage we have too.
Canada needs Alberta too.
#Alberta #LetAlbertaDecide
🎥 Mayor Farkas didn’t do his homework. He recycled Ottawa’s fear campaign, leaned on a meaningless survey of 137 businesses, and ignored the billions still pouring into Alberta. Calgary deserves a mayor who defends this province, not one who parrots its opponents. https://t.co/70SdJ6Dt1R @JeromyYYC