Premier’s views on Alberta sovereignty out of step with history
By Lethbridge Herald on May 16, 2025.
Editor,
To Danielle Smith:
I am one of 41 million citizens of Canada. Our Canadian passports are recognized around the world. I am also one of about 5 million residents of Alberta and have been an Albertan for most of my life.
My sovereign is King Charles. My province was created 120 years ago in 1905, becoming the 10th province of Canada.
Danielle Smith is touting “Alberta Sovereignty within a United Canada.” Previous provincial legislation required a minimum of 600,000 signatures (about 12 per cent of the population) to trigger a constitutional referendum. Proposed UCP legislation requires only 177,000 signatures – about 3.5 per cent of the population.
To be clear – within a few months, just 177,000 Albertans may be able to force a separation/sovereignty referendum on over 5 million of us.
What does Smith even mean by Alberta Sovereignty? Smith claims “It’s not like Ottawa is a national government. The way our country works is that we are a federation of sovereign, independent jurisdictions. We have the right to refuse to enforce any federal law or policy that attacks Alberta’s interest or our provincial rights”. This is utter rubbish. The Parliament of Canada is our national government. The Alberta Legislature is our provincial government. Lethbridge City Council is our municipal government.
Tell the descendants of Albertans who joined the Canadian forces, fought for Canada and our allies, and died at Vimy Ridge and Passchendaele in WWI. Albertans who joined the Canadian armed forces and fought for Canada at Dieppe and Juno Beach in WWII. Who flew Lancaster Bombers over Germany night after night in the Canadian Air Force. Canadians from Alberta, Manitoba, PEI, from across Canada – all went to war twice for Canada, with other Canadians.
We are Canadians first! And that takes absolutely nothing away from the fact that we are also Albertans.
Leslie Lavers
Lethbridge
12-11
Well said, but brace yourself for the usual rhetoric from Buckwheat, Harold P et al whose only intention is to bow at the altar of David Parker and other ex Wildrose party members.
With the coal mining now approved once again we see how these Reformers treat Albertans like morons, doing whatever they want and ignoring what the people want they don’t give a damn about any of us do they?
It’s all about looking after themselves and their pals and to hell with everyone else isn’t it?
Slight correction here, Fedup. While I agree with your sentiment regarding the attitude of the current GoA, coal mining at Grassy Mountain has not been approved. The recent decision made by the AER was in favour of exploratory drilling at Grassy Mountain. T
Therefore, everyone must be encouraged to continue the resistance to active coal mining at Grassy Mountain and elsewhere along the Easter Slopes of the Rocky Mountains.
This is a very good article about the state of Alberta politics: https://daveberta.substack.com/p/ten-questions-about-alberta-separatism