Lead Not Leave: Why October 19th Matters

October 19^th looms large on the horizon for Albertans and clarity around what is at stake calls for our attention now.

October 19th 

The entire referendum is not an inconsequential set of questions to shrug at as we put another Alberta beef burger on the BBQ this summer.

I’ve stated what my answers will be on the five questions related to immigrants.

As to Question 10 (as it stands now) on separation, I’ve understood it to be a referendum on whether to hold another referendum. Just a small deal before the big deal.

I was wrong.

(Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press)

My vote on Question 10 will be Yes to Option A. But it’s important to understand why a vote for Option B has incredible consequences that are grossly under-represented.

Option B

“Option B is not a harmless way to ‘keep the door open’ to independence, or to ‘send Ottawa a message.’ Rather, it is a vote to put the province into constitutional limbo: years of Crown-Indigenous conflict, consultations, court cases, campaigns, and internal party warfare over a departure whose terms cannot be known in advance.”

Jared Wesley, political science professor at the University of Alberta, goes on to say,

“Contrary to what separatist leaders contend, Alberta cannot secede unilaterally from Canada.”

“Planning to dismantle the country is not something you can do off the side of your desk. The process would consume cabinet attention, legislative time, public service capacity, millions of taxpayer dollars, and nearly all of the political oxygen in the province for at least another election cycle.”

Jared Wesley is a professor of political science and leads the Common Ground project at the University of Alberta.

His post on The Line is informative and worth your time reading.

Of note, there is a strong parallel with the 2020-2022 debate over public health restrictions to combat COVID-19. The issues are very different, but they both involve the same people pursuing the same ideas.

When the separatist question is defeated, the grievance crew will likely rise up against something else. Don’t give their cause oxygen.

Lead Not Leave

The Line is partnering with Lead Not Leave to provide credible arguments for why Alberta should stay in Canada. Click on the link to learn more about the initiative.

The Next Two Months

Prepare to see content in the next two months crafted to encourage everyone to vote for option B to hold an actual separatist referendum. The messaging will try to convince you that voting for a real referendum will settle the issue once and for all.

Don’t fall for that.

Please read Wesley’s post. What do you think? Join the conversation and post a comment below.

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