The premier of Alberta, a Canadian province rich in oil, has announced a referendum on secession from Canada next year if a citizen petition gets the required number of signatures.
On air, Danielle Smith noted that she does not support the province leaving Canada and expressed hope for a “path forward” for a strong and independent Alberta within a united Canada.
“If Ottawa continues to attack our province as it has for the last 10 years, then ultimately the people of Alberta will make the decision,” she said. “I will accept their decision.”
Her comments come just a week after Prime Minister Mark Carney led the Liberal Party to a fourth consecutive federal government.
The announcement also comes amid US President Donald Trump's threats to impose tariffs on Canada and his claims that the country could become the 51st state.
Mr Carney and Mr Trump are due to meet at the White House on Tuesday.
Ms. Smith's United Conservative government recently introduced legislation that, if passed, would reduce the number of members needed to hold a provincial referendum.
The bill would change the rules for citizen-initiated referendums to require petition signatures from 10% of eligible voters in the previous election, instead of 20% of registered voters. It would also give petitioners 120 days instead of 90 to collect the required 177,000 signatures.
Ms. Smith accused previous federal Liberal governments of introducing various laws that restricted Alberta's ability to produce and export oil, which she said cost the province billions of dollars.
She also stressed that she does not want the federal government to interfere in provincial affairs.
“We're not asking for any special treatment or handouts,” she said. “We just want to be able to freely develop and export the amazing resources we have.
“Freedom to choose how we deliver health care, education and other important social services to our citizens, even if it's different from how Ottawa intends.”
After meeting Mr Carney, she mentioned that he “had some promising things to say about reconsidering his government's anti-resource policies.”
Ms Smith said her government would set up a negotiating group to try to end federal policies that have long caused discontent in the province.
She will also chair the Alberta Next commission, which will hold a series of meetings with city councils to gather ideas and complaints.
In the predominantly French-speaking province of Quebec, referendums on secession were held in 1980 and 1995. Both times they ended in failure.
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
