Alberta’s Smith owes answers before separation vote: former federal minister Dion
By Canadian Press on February 5, 2026.
EDMONTON — The former federal cabinet minister responsible for the law dictating what happens after a provincial separation vote says Premier Danielle Smith must answer questions before a referendum.
Stéphane Dion, a former Liberal leader, tabled the Clarity Act in 1999 after the unsuccessful referendum in Quebec four years earlier.
The act says a vote with a clear majority in favour of separation creates an obligation for provincial and federal governments to enter negotiations that could, one day, lead to secession.
Dion says unlike Quebec, Alberta seems poised to vote on the province quitting Canada without a provincial government committed to the cause.
He says Smith must make it clear to Albertans whether she’d carry through with those negotiations and what she would consider a clear majority.
Dion says Smith has put Alberta on a “worrying” path by changing referendum rules to make it easier for a separation vote without taking a stand on what she would do after.
He says he doesn’t think a majority of Albertans want to separate, but governments must prepare for all scenarios.
A petition collecting signatures to force a referendum in Alberta is in its second month, and organizers have said they expect to get more than the required 178,000 names.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 5, 2026.
Jack Farrell, The Canadian Press
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Dion began his political career as a member of the Parti Quebecois! Later he joined the Liberals and his government was the reason our military is in shambles, consistently bankupting their budget . . . you have no ‘cred’ in asking such a question! Quebec has been the reason the West has always been crushed and abused . . . the Chretien-Trudeau Liberal mafia!
Premier Smith doesn’t have anything to answer for! She is standing up against the decades of abuse by the fedreal Liberals . . . AND . . . has commented multiple times . . . she believes in a united Canada with Alberta remaining in Canada . . . she just wants to get what is promised as a member of Confederation . . . to be treated fairly!
Quebec has always been a leech on the West, on the taxpayer! They want the rest of Canada to give them everything, while shutting down every major project that would generate revenues to pay for their constant give me, give me, give me or else! They also had consultations with France when planning to separate from Canada and Quebec and the Chretien-Trudeau Liberal mafia keep very close ties with France . . . more so than Britain!
Our Premier has nothing to answer to . . . she is trying to get the respect promised in Confederation!