Alberta NDP urges Smith to cancel separation vote amid Canada-US trade war

Alberta's Opposition leader, Naheed Nenshi, has called on Premier Danielle Smith to cancel or at least postpone a provincial referendum on separation from Canada, arguing that now is not the time for such a divisive vote. Nenshi stated that holding the referendum amid a significant trade war with the United States demonstrates weakness and a lack of national unity.

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It's time to call off the referendum. The premier's pandering to separatists just shows weakness; it shows that Canada is not united.

The referendum, scheduled for Oct. 19, asks Albertans if the government should begin the legal process for a future binding vote on secession. Canada and the U.S. have recently escalated a trade dispute, with both countries imposing tariffs on billions of dollars worth of goods. Canada's counter-tariffs are set to take effect on Sept. 8.

Premier Smith's office, in response, referred to her previous statements on a radio talk show, where she defended the referendum. Smith indicated that the vote would proceed because hundreds of citizens have signed petitions requesting it. She emphasized the need to clarify Albertans' wishes and stated her personal intention to vote to remain in Canada.

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Citizens signed one of two petitions saying they wanted to have this question now, and that's what the vote is going to be on Oct. 19.

Nenshi's criticism echoes concerns raised by Parti Québécois Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon in Quebec, who suggested postponing a secession referendum there due to the unpredictable nature of the Trump administration. Nenshi contrasted the genuine separatist concerns in Quebec with what he termed Smith's "separatist of convenience," questioning why Smith does not perceive the same dangers that Quebec separatists acknowledge.

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If real separatists (in Quebec) understand the danger of doing this, how come a separatist of convenience, like Danielle Smith, doesn't understand that danger?