Kenney stoking Alberta separatism notions: political analyst

As election season begins to heat up ahead of this fall’s federal election, Alberta Premier Jason Kenney says he would rather see Prime Minister Justin Trudeau leave office than the province leave the federation.
In a video shared on social media Saturday, Kenney said it’s a challenge facing Alberta in the next three months.
“Rather than focusing on Alberta separating from the Canadian federation, I’d like to focus on separating Justin Trudeau from the Prime Minister’s Office,” said Kenney in the video.
But Mount Royal University political science professor Duane Bratt said Kenney stoking the flames of separatism could be a dangerous precedent.
“It’s a dangerous game to play to say, ‘well if the Liberals are elected we are separating’,” he said. “Kenney did not create this fire around separation, but I think he is stoking it by saying, ‘I’m not a separatist, but if I don’t get my way the only other alternative is separation.’”
Bratt wondered if Andrew Scheer’s federal conservatives aren’t elected this fall if it could mean the Alberta separatism talks heat up even more.
“What happens if Trudeau is, in fact, re-elected … based on voters in Quebec and Ontario?” Bratt pondered. “Does that mean that preparations for separation referendum are in place?
“You’ll notice in (Kenney’s video), there was no criticism of the B.C. government, there is no criticism of the Quebec government — it was directed at Justin Trudeau, first and foremost. And that’s where the partisan aspect comes in.”
Kenney went on to say in his video that he will continue to fight for fairness.
“I will never give up on Canada. I do, however, recognize that Alberta is getting a raw deal right now,” said Kenney. “Let me just put it this way: I don’t think we should allow Justin Trudeau to push us out of our country.
“Yes, we want fairness in this federation and under this government’s leadership, we will fight for that fairness without relent. Including, if necessary, a constitutional vote on equalization.”
Kenney’s video comes on the heels of a recent poll released by Abacus Data stating 25 per cent of Albertans favour separation — a number that nearly rivals that of Quebec.

Kenney is seen in a Postmedia file photo. Jim Wells/Postmedia

While Quebec’s separatist movement stems from identity issues, Bratt said, Alberta’s surrounds political issues.
“You’ll note arguments around separation seem to only occur when non-conservatives are in power federally,” he said.
A February poll by the Angus Reid Institute found that 50 per cent of Albertans would support secession from Canada. In contrast, in an October 2016 poll, 82 per cent of Quebecers said they have no desire to revisit the idea of sovereignty any time soon.
The poll also found that Albertans were most in favour of creating a regional party to represent the interests of Western Canada, which Reid believes is far more likely than actual separation.
“It’s similar in many respects to what happened in Quebec back in the 1970s with the formation of the Parti Québécois.” he said.
Some of Kenney’s followers expressed their desire to pursue separation.
“Current polls are suggesting something over 50% support for separation in AB. Stay tuned. We’re fed up,” wrote Twitter user Vern R.
Lorraine Valestuk, however, expressed the exact opposite.
“I am so mad at you, @jkenney,” Valestuck wrote. “I don’t know precisely what you’re playing at, but these kinds of words are dangerous. I say this as a born and bred Albertan: it’s heartbreaking to watch you plucking and tearing at the fabric of this good nation.”
zlaing@postmedia.com

Source: https://calgaryherald.com/news/politics/kenney-stoking-alberta-separatism-notions-political-analyst