Road to the Referendum: Lessons from Quebec as Albertans decide whether to leave Canada
This story is Part 5 of the Road to the Referendum series.
Part 1 on regular folks for and against separation can be found here. Part 2 about the border city of Lloydminster can be found here. Part 3 about the impact to First Nations can be found here. Part 4 on the possible economic impacts can be read here.
Albertans will decide whether or not the province should begin the process to pursue the idea of leaving Canada on Oct. 19.
A referendum to have a referendum, so to speak.
While the day will be a first for many, it’s the third time for Robert McAlear has participated in process of a separatism referendum.
“A pattern has emerged for me,” McAlear explained. “It’s trailblazing for people out here, but it’s my third time through this exercise.”
McAlear calls Edmonton home now, but he used to live in la belle province. First in 1980 and then again in 1995, McAlear cast his ballot during Quebec’s two referendums on whether or not to leave Confederation.
“I remember being nervous,” McAlear said. “I don’t know if it was ’cause it was the first time going to the polls, or because this was an important question that was being asked.”
And each time the question was put to voters, McAlear began to notice similarities.
“What happened in 1980 and 1995, that I don’t think any politician would have anticipated, was the fact that politics sort of was turned into the kind of religious fervour that really pitted people against each other,” McAlear recalled.
“I don’t know if they’re unintended or intended, but it happened, I saw it happen in Quebec.
Both times, Quebec ultimately ended up choosing to remain in Canada.
The 1980 vote was 59.56 per cent in favor of staying in Canada to 40.44 per cent wanting sovereignty.
McAlear recalls at the time, only one political figure seemed to realize once the separatist door was opened — it couldn’t be closed.
“It was only Pierre Trudeau after the first referendum said, ‘We all lost a little,'” McAlear said.
The 1995 vote also rejected pursuing separation — albeit by a much smaller margin (50.58 per cent to 49.42 per cent.)
The societal change means the sentiment in Alberta could go from a referendum to a ‘never-end-dum,’ according to University of Alberta political scientist Jared Wesley.
He believes a push for independence will now be part of the province’s identity going forward.
“Separatism is now part of our public discourse — it’s now part of the governing party,” Wesley noted.
Convincing Albertans one way or another will be a challenge — polling this week by Ipsos for Global News indicates just two in 10 Albertans plan to vote on Oct. 19 in favour of holding a future binding separation vote.
But if a vote succeeds, convincing the rest of Canada after a yes vote? Even more so.
“As we saw in Brexit, if you’re campaigning for the status quo and not offering something better, then the vast majority of people who want to see things improved will be left unsatisfied,” Wesley said.
The question residents will answer is: “Should Alberta remain a province of Canada — or — should the government of Alberta commence the legal process required under the Canadian constitution to hold a binding provincial referendum on whether or not Alberta should separate from Canada?”
But even with that finalized, those spearheading independence efforts — like Jeffery Rath, the lawyer for the Stay Free Alberta separatist group leading the movement — have complaints on how the question is being asked.
“Let’s have a referendum on having a referendum! Does that even kick it into 2027? Because there’s a law in the Alberta books that says you can’t have a referendum on independence in an election year,” Rath said.
Alberta’s next fixed provincial election date is scheduled for October 18, 2027.
While polling has consistently shown Albertans would choose to remain in Canada over leaving, Rath claims any and every problem Albertans have would be gone with a ‘yes’ vote.
“The bumper stickers write themselves,” Rath said.
Provincial and federal politicians of every stripe have stated their support for Alberta to remain in Canada.
Corey Hogan, Liberal MP for the riding of Calgary Confederation, says the sentiment of separation didn’t just come out of nowhere, and says more can be done to ensure all Canadians feel respect.
“It’s got to work for Quebecers, it’s got to work for British Columbians, it’s got to work for Albertans,” Hogan said.
“The best defence against anything that assaults our country, whether it’s from external forces or internal forces like separatists, is to make sure this country is working as best as possible.”
After the 1995 referendum in Quebec, the federal government passed the Clarity Act, which created the legal framework for a province to pursue separation.
Prime Minister Mark Carney has already confirmed that October’s question will not be subject to the Clarity Act, however, as a ‘yes’ vote would only mean the province would look into starting the process of separating from Canada.
But if Albertans did vote to leave Canada, Hogan says it would be disappointing.
“In the House of Commons, I think we would be dumbstruck. ‘How did we get here?’ And I know the Alberta MPs — Conservative, Liberal, New Democrat — we would all be sitting there saying, ‘How do we undo this?'” Hogan said.
“This is something that will damage our province and our country for years to come, and that would be the root of the conversation. It would have to be.”
Albertans will make that decision on whether or not to remain in Canada or begin the process of separation on Oct. 19.
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