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    Carney calls Smith's Alberta referendum question a 'dangerous bluff'
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    Carney calls Smith’s Alberta referendum question a ‘dangerous bluff’

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    1. MTL_Dude666 on

      It is a very dangerous bluff! Especially since Carney has seen first-hand what uninformed and emotional decisions can do: Brexit!

      And in the case of Brexit, it was only about leaving an economic union. Imagine what uninformed decisions can do in the case of leaving a country!

      Smith is essentially playing Russian roulette. It’s not because only 30% of people are pushing for it that it cannot blow up in your face!

      Edit: I wrote my comment before reading the article and yep, they mention Brexit!

    2. Timely-Profile1865 on

      Bluff or not it is an appeasement to the small but overly powerful and vocal section of the party supporters.

      It is bad for business and no matter the result it will hurt Alberta.

      But the UCP in fact does not care at all about the vast majority of the people of Alberta

    3. Inevitable-Ad8692 on

      I agree. This could easily backfire. I bet a lot of Albertans who would prefer to remain in Canada might vote for a referendum in the dangerous belief that it will strengthen the province’s hand. 

      Smith is playing with fire. If she singes her fingers, so be it. However, I would prefer that she doesn’t burn down the house.

    4. AlbertaGengar on

      Pollsters agree that ~25% of people would vote for a true secession referendum. The message senders are ~20% as well.

      I forsee people who are dissatisfied with the status quo (employment opportunities, cost of living) voting to “start negotiations” to send a message. It’s a similar trend with brexit, the rise of right wing parties globally, Trump.

    5. jello_sweaters on

      Carney’s in a tough spot here, since he can’t really call out Smith’s obvious lie that she isn’t actively trying to push separation through.

    6. GraveDiggingCynic on

      Not to worry, Prime Minister, the Treaty Nations will sink this one as well. Anyone in Alberta who wants to become a US citizen can be given a compass that ought to point them in the right direction. They can leave. They can’t take Treaty-encumbered land with them.

    7. Novel-Werewolf-3554 on

      I love how a one off non-binding referendum generates unlimited op-Ed’s meanwhile in another province having entire provincial and federal parties dedicated to leaving Canada warrants zero attention from the usual suspects. Perhaps the UCP should change its name to the Alberta party or the Alberta Block so that the temperature can be lowered.

    8. Effective-Clue6205 on

      I don’t understand that Brexit argument, that it could backfire or something. If becoming a country was so dangerous, how come we have around 200 of them? Why so many countries? Why not reduce the amount of countries then if it’s so dangerous? Why not join the richest country in history, the US, instead of risking being separate from them? It could “backfire” if Canada is independant, no?

      I think it’s hypocrit that so many people are being selective in what deserve being a country or not. Self-determination should be the baseline here.

      And I’m not an Albertan independance supporter, I honestly don’t really care, it’s their own choice to make. It’s for Albertans to choose, not people from other provinces.

      I just find the reaction so weird. Let them vote, let democracy speak.

    9. Zombie_John_Strachan on

      Since legal separation isn’t going to happen, the correct question is will the US recognize a unilateral Declaration of Albertan Independence?