Alberta separation vote moving ahead despite Canada-US trade tensions, says Danielle Smith

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says the province’s separation referendum will go ahead despite renewed trade tensions between Canada and the United States.

Speaking on her Your Province Your Premier radio programme on Saturday, Smith rejected a caller’s suggestion that the October 19 vote should be postponed to promote Canadian unity during the trade dispute.

“We have a citizen initiative process. 700,000 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 October the 19th,” Smith said, according to CTV News.

Smith said she plans to vote for Alberta to remain in Canada and will campaign to persuade other Albertans to do the same.

“We need to make sure that we are clear about what Albertans want us to do,” she said.

Her comments came after Canada-US trade negotiations collapsed late Friday as Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney described the renewed economic confrontation as an attack on Canada.

Smith said she was deeply disappointed by the breakdown in negotiations and joined other provincial leaders in supporting Carney.

Alberta NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi also called for national unity, saying: “Team Canada must stand together now more than ever.”