Smith says sovereignty referendum provides 'outlet' to avoid creation of new party

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says she's willing to risk a separation referendum in part to avert the emergence of a political rival.

Smith says she doesn't support separating her province from Canada, but says Albertans have genuine grievances with the federal government, and she wants concessions from Liberal Prime Minister Mark Carney.

Speaking Wednesday to CTV News Channel, Smith was asked if it wasn't easier to quell separatism by taking it off the table.

Smith responded, "If there isn't an outlet, it creates a new party."

Smith cited the high popularity of the sovereigntist Parti Québécois in Quebec, saying she doesn't want to see that happen in her home province.

"We've got 30 to 40 per cent of Albertans polled saying that they are dissatisfied with the country to the point where they would consider [separation]," she said. "My job is to try to bring those numbers down."

Her United Conservative Party is the amalgamation of two right-wing parties that joined in 2017 to win power from then-New Democrat premier Rachel Notley in 2019.

Last week, after Liberal Prime Minister Mark Carney's election win, Smith's government introduced a bill that would sharply lower the bar for citizens seeking to trigger provincewide referendums.

That sparked renewed grassroots efforts in Alberta to gather support for seceding from the country.

Smith has said she wants to enable direct democracy on a wide range of Albertans' concerns and, should there be enough signatures, has promised to initiate a separation referendum next year.

NDP health critic Sarah Hoffman said Thursday unleashing talk of separatism is not good for the country, for Alberta, or for investment.

Of Smith's Wednesday comments, Hoffman said, "That is selfish and it is dangerous."

First Nations Chiefs from across Alberta have also condemned Smith's legislation as well as any suggestion of Alberta separation, warning their treaties with the Crown predate the province and Alberta doesn't have the authority to challenge those agreements.

Smith has said her aim is to compel the Liberals to bring an end to federal policies that have long irritated her province, including by demanding guaranteed oil and gas pipeline access to tidewater.

Her approach includes sending a negotiating team to Ottawa, while at the same time hosting town halls to gather feedback from Albertans on how to get a better deal.

After meeting with Carney and her provincial counterparts, Smith said in a statement Wednesday there's an emerging consensus among premiers that federal regulations need to be cleared away to allow for "nation-building projects" and investment.

"I expect to see meaningful action from Prime Minister Mark Carney and the federal government to remove the restrictive policies and barriers that have landlocked our resources and hampered our economy for the past decade," she said.