In a televised speech on Tuesday, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith reiterated her government’s commitment to implementing reforms following a mandate from Albertans during the referendum. Smith emphasized the importance of pursuing these reforms within the framework of national political and legal institutions. While acknowledging that not all issues between Alberta and Ottawa have been resolved, Smith expressed confidence that the federal government is no longer targeting Alberta’s key economic sectors as it had previously attempted.
Smith commended the federal government for its handling of major projects like the Pacific Link pipeline and demanded action on what she referred to as the “nine bad laws,” with seven of them now considered to be either scrapped or reformed. She emphasized unity among Albertans and Canadians moving forward, emphasizing a collaborative approach beyond political divides.
Addressing concerns about holding another referendum, Smith affirmed that it would not be pursued under her leadership. Meanwhile, the citizen’s initiative petition for a vote on separation remains in legal limbo pending an appeal.
Following the referendum results, Jeffrey Rath of the Alberta Prosperity Project indicated that the independence movement in the province would continue, prompting discussions within the United Conservative Party regarding Smith’s leadership.
While preliminary results showed three-quarters of Alberta voters opted to remain in Canada, the margins for the other nine referendum questions, including issues related to immigration and constitutional changes, remain close as counting progresses. Smith, who advocated for remaining in Canada, vowed to respect the majority decisions of Albertans on these questions, with most questions meeting the majority rule threshold except for the one concerning opting out of federal transfers.
Prime Minister Mark Carney acknowledged the challenges of constitutional change but highlighted the potential for addressing issues like immigration without such changes. Opposition NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi criticized the referendum as a costly political exercise, diverting resources from essential services. Elections Alberta is expected to announce final results on all questions by October 21, with ongoing scrutiny on the referendum’s impact and future implications.