Danielle Smith says she won’t muzzle UCP caucus as referendum talk heats up

OTTAWA — Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says that her United Conservative Party supports national unity, but adds that she won’t stop members of her caucus from expressing different views on Alberta separation.

Smith told reporters on Tuesday that she wasn’t bothered by UCP MLA Jason Stephan publicly calling for a referendum on Alberta separation one day earlier.

“We all have different ideas about how we get respect from Ottawa … I’m not going to be demonizing anybody who may have a different view than me,” Smith said when asked whether she’d had a chance to talk to Stephan about his remarks.

Stephan declined to say how he’d vote in a referendum on Albertan independence.

The central Alberta MLA wrote in an op-ed last week that it was time for “Alberta to explore other options” outside of confederation, after the Liberals won their fourth straight federal election.

Stephan didn’t immediately respond to a request to be interviewed for this article.

Smith stressed the party’s founding agreement was clear on the matter of Alberta’s place within the confederation.

“Loyalty to a united Canada… is one of the founding statements of our party, so I would say I and my caucus are supportive of that,” said Smith.

“We are supportive of trying to find a way to exercise our constitutional sovereignty within a united Canada.”

Smith said that she hopes to beat back separatism with her words, rather than heavy-handed actions, in the weeks and months to come.

“All I can do is try to convince people that my view is right… and I’m hopeful to convince all Albertans,” said Smith.

Smith added that this was a conversation that needed to take place among Albertans, and not interlopers like Ontario Premier Doug Ford.

“I don’t tell (Ford) how he should run his province, and I would hope that he doesn’t tell me how I should run mine,” said Smith.

Ford slammed Smith just hours earlier for opening the door to a referendum at a time when Canada faced an existential crisis from south of the border.

She stressed that she and Ford have a “respectful relationship.”

Smith said in a Monday address to Albertans that a question on Albertan independence will be added to the referendum ballot in 2026, if it gets enough signatures.

Speaking from Washington, D.C., Prime Minister Mark Carney was evasive when asked about the possibility of an Alberta referendum.

“As an Albertan, I firmly believe that… Canada is stronger when we work together,” said Carney.

“You can always ask a question but I know (how) I would respond.”