National

Smith says sovereignty referendum provides 'outlet' to avoid creation of new party

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 08 May, 2025 10:33 AM

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says she's willing to risk a separation referendum to avert the growth of a political rival.

Smith has said she doesn't support separating her province from Canada, but Albertans have genuine grievances with the federal government, and she wants concessions from Liberal Prime Minister Mark Carney.

Speaking to CTV News Channel, Smith was asked if it wasn't easier to quell separatism by taking it off the table.

Smith says, “if there isn’t an outlet, it creates a new party.”

Smith cites the high popularity of the sovereigntist Parti Québécois in Quebec, saying she doesn't want to see that happen in her home province.

Her United Conservative Party is the amalgamation of two right-wing parties that joined in 2017 to win power from then-New Democrat premier Rachel Notley in 2019.

Picture Courtesy: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

Vancouver backyard chickens practise social distancing from wild birds amid H5N1 risk

Lumpy Eye the chicken has made plenty of friends in her East Vancouver neighbourhood over the years, said owner Duncan Martin, with passersby regularly greeting her in the yard outside their home. But now the seven-year-old Bovan Brown hen is being kept in isolation in her coop, to prevent her coming into contact with wild birds — and H5N1 avian influenza.

Vancouver backyard chickens practise social distancing from wild birds amid H5N1 risk

Trudeau names ex-premiers, business and union reps to Canada-U.S. relations council

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has formed a new Canada-U.S. relations council to support the federal government as it deals with the incoming Trump administration's vow to impose tariffs. The 18 members of the council include Steve Verheul, who was Canada's chief trade negotiator during the renegotiation of NAFTA.

Trudeau names ex-premiers, business and union reps to Canada-U.S. relations council

Liberal endorsements start to trickle in as Carney launches leadership bid

Liberal MPs are starting to reveal which candidates they're backing in the race to replace Justin Trudeau, just as the presumed front-runners get ready to declare they're running. Health Minister Mark Holland, Liberal MPs Ben Carr, Ken McDonald and Stéphane Lauzon, and former cabinet minister Randy Boissonnault say they're supporting former finance minister Chrystia Freeland.

Liberal endorsements start to trickle in as Carney launches leadership bid

Resources minister says many Republicans don't know Trump's plans for tariffs

Exactly what president-elect Donald Trump plans to do with tariffs on Canada remains a mystery not just to Canada but to most Republicans, Energy and Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson said Thursday.

Resources minister says many Republicans don't know Trump's plans for tariffs

Professional association of B.C. bylaw workers releases cheeky top calls list

The professional association for B.C. bylaw workers says among its top 10 "interesting" calls received last year included a resident complaining about a neighbour "purposefully" flatulating in their general direction as a form of harassment. The Local Government Compliance and Enforcement Association of BC released a list of top "interesting, unique and funny calls" received by bylaw departments in the province last year.

Professional association of B.C. bylaw workers releases cheeky top calls list

Victoria police use-of-force data shows Indigenous 'overrepresentation'

The Victoria Police Department on Wednesday released race-based data showing an "overrepresentation" of Indigenous people in cases involving police use of force over a six-year period from 2018 to 2023.