Rebel News Podcast - May 13, 2025


EZRA LEVANT ｜ Expect dirty tricks as Alberta separation referendum heats up


Episode Stats

Length

37 minutes

Words per Minute

164.55821

Word Count

6,105

Sentence Count

458

Misogynist Sentences

17

Hate Speech Sentences

5


Summary

The Alberta Separation referendum has a proposed question from the Alberta Prosperity Project, a group that wants to see a referendum on Alberta seceding from Canada. Ezra talks about the process of calling for a referendum, and why he thinks it's a good idea.


Transcript

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00:01:09.800 Tonight, the Alberta separatism referendum has a proposed question. It's May 12th and this is
00:01:15.780 Ezra Levant's show. Shame on you, you censorious bug.
00:01:32.380 Hi, everybody. Ezra here in Edmonton. You can see the shadow of the Russian Orthodox Church behind me
00:01:38.140 in the city center of Edmonton. I'm here for some town hall meetings. I'll tell you about those a
00:01:44.020 little bit later. But while I'm in Alberta, I want to talk to you a little bit about what's
00:01:48.200 cooking here. I remember reading Alberta's laws for citizen recall and referendums. I read them
00:01:55.440 during the COVID pandemic because I wanted to look into the possibility of recalling the politicians who
00:02:01.340 were burning down our civil liberties with their junk science and conspiracy theories, rebanding a bad
00:02:06.840 flu as a zombie apocalypse. The amount of damage they did with their lockdowns will never
00:02:12.460 be fully known. We can estimate the financial cost, but we'll never know the full human cost,
00:02:17.740 the cultural cost. You know, I was reading something today that the Mongols invaded what's now called
00:02:24.220 Iraq, called Mesopotamia in ancient days. They invaded it almost 800 years ago. Hulagu Khan
00:02:31.720 sacked Baghdad in the year 1258, massacred hundreds of thousands of people, destroyed everything he could
00:02:41.200 find. And one historian proposed that to this day, agriculture in Iraq has not yet recovered from what
00:02:50.040 was done 800 years ago by the Mongols. I thought about it and I thought, you know, he's probably right.
00:02:57.720 I suppose it'd be like destroying every dam in North America, every irrigation canal, every railroad,
00:03:04.660 every bridge. Some of it truly would never be repaired. I think what was done to our society and
00:03:10.560 our humanity, at least in the foolish West, will still reverberate in centuries. I mean, just look at
00:03:16.740 what happened to the fertility rate, to the mental health crisis, to the drug crisis, to our common
00:03:21.960 understanding of civil liberties, to our confidence in our institutions. Anyways, I'm just musing and
00:03:28.120 meandering. But yeah, it's why I looked into the recall and referendum laws in Alberta, because I was
00:03:34.420 looking at the possibility of using those laws for their purposes, which is to recall, that is to remove
00:03:41.220 atrocious legislators, to force special by-elections. But what I quickly found out back then, and I reported
00:03:48.060 it at the time, was that the numbers of signatures required to start a recall process was impossible.
00:03:54.520 It was deliberately set so high that it could never be done. It was deceptive. It was trickery,
00:04:00.760 wasn't it? To pretend that the Alberta government was democratic and populist, to pretend that it
00:04:05.860 cared about the little people and direct democracy, but to insult democracy and populism by making it a
00:04:12.040 false promise, a trick. Jason Kenney did that as premier, and to their discredit, so did his cabinet.
00:04:19.500 But what she did, and Shirley didn't realize at the time which he put in place, the process is anyways.
00:04:26.440 So the law is there. So along came Danielle Smith a few days ago, and she simply revised the numbers
00:04:33.060 to make it a challenge, but not an impossibility. So the process was put in place by Kenny.
00:04:41.100 177,000 signatures are what's needed for referendum. That's 10% of the 1.77 million people who voted last
00:04:49.220 time. It has to be collected in 120 days. I think that can be done. It's an interesting process. I won't
00:04:56.460 bore you with the technical details, but different groups can propose different questions. It's actually a
00:05:01.960 bit nerve-wracking because it's a free-for-all. The wording is set by the people. And the first group
00:05:07.080 out of the gate that seems to be organized is the Alberta Prosperity Project. Here's their proposed
00:05:11.960 wording that they just announced. We're there. We could call for that petition right now.
00:05:17.860 But very clearly, we want to win the referendum. It's not just winning the petition.
00:05:21.780 So over time, we will make an internal decision at the level of the board of directors as to
00:05:31.880 when we will submit the petition question, collect the signatures. At that point, we feel as though
00:05:38.680 we're going to be very close, if not at the point of winning the referendum.
00:05:43.980 That's actually pretty clear into the point, which is what's required by the Clarity Act in the Supreme
00:05:48.720 Court of Canada. I think they're doing something interesting. They're pre-signing a lot of people
00:05:54.360 up so that when the official clock is started for the 120 days, they have a banked number of people
00:06:01.600 who are ready to sign to get a head start. I'm probably not describing it properly, but they're
00:06:06.100 really trying to be strategic about it. I think that's going to happen. I think they're going to
00:06:10.380 get their 177,000 signatures, probably 200,000 or more just to be saved. But I think there's going to
00:06:18.020 be problems or if you prefer challenges. I mentioned on the show the other day, the massive
00:06:22.020 defamation you're about to see, total deplatforming of anyone of any public stature or standing who
00:06:28.640 dares to weigh in on the side of Alberta. And by that, I don't necessarily even mean of Alberta
00:06:34.340 separatism, but even people who think the referendum itself is a good idea or those who think Alberta
00:06:40.740 could use it as a bargaining chip, sort of the good cop, bad cop thing that Quebec has had for
00:06:45.740 two generations with their separatist referendums. I mean, you can already see what they're trying
00:06:51.260 to do to Danielle Smith just for allowing the referendum. She's not even promoting the yes
00:06:56.800 vote. She's essentially said she'll vote no, but she's still being smeared as a traitor nonetheless,
00:07:02.620 even though it's Quebec's precedent, Ottawa's Clarity Act, and the Supreme Court's blessing.
00:07:08.180 Speaking of Jason Kenney, I see that he is once again calling people who disagree with him,
00:07:12.880 in this case, people who support a referendum, even in his own former party that had a conservative
00:07:17.820 party, he's calling them crackpots. That's the language he used during COVID when he turned
00:07:22.620 against the people also, started jailing pastors. It's not seemly. It's always, he seems more
00:07:29.820 interested in what Ottawa says than what Albertans say. He's a pick me Westerner trying to ingratiate
00:07:35.180 himself with the Laurentian elite. They'll always hate him, but he keeps trying. I don't know who
00:07:41.040 his client is. That's an important question to ask because he's in the private sector now.
00:07:46.240 Look, I understand wanting to be part of Canada. That's the whole Reform Party ethos. The West wants
00:07:51.940 in. I've been part of that same movement for 35 years, but don't sell out your own people
00:07:56.740 with the acceptance of some Ottawa politicians and journalists. Now, there's going to be a lot
00:08:03.260 of trickery. I'm really worried about that. Remember the 90 or so fake candidates who registered
00:08:08.800 to run against Pierre Polyev in his Nepean Carlton riding? Expect a lot of that kind of trickery.
00:08:14.720 Lots of false flag operations. Do you know what I mean by that? Literally, it could be a flag,
00:08:20.140 like the fake Nazi swastika that someone took a picture of at the trucker convoy, but no one who
00:08:25.860 was there actually saw it. It was fake. It was just used to discredit the movement. Just like the fake
00:08:31.260 lapel buttons that the Liberal Party dirty tricksters spread around at a conservative convention this
00:08:36.320 spring, they were trying to smear Pierre Polyev, even though it was the Liberal Party who made
00:08:40.980 the buttons. Expect a lot more of that, times 100, and not just from the Liberals. I mean,
00:08:46.600 remember how Doug Ford, who calls himself a conservative, kept undermining Pierre Polyev during
00:08:51.800 the federal campaign? He and his surrogates probably attacked Polyev five times during the campaign,
00:08:57.200 and they continue to do so. Look for a lot of that. And in fact, I'm certain that Pierre Polyev
00:09:02.500 himself will at least bar his MPs and staff from supporting independence in the referendum. I mean,
00:09:08.860 it makes sense. He is a federalist, and the conservatives are a federalist party.
00:09:14.120 But realize what that means. The federal liberals and the federal conservatives will be against this
00:09:19.700 referendum. The provincial NDP opposition will be, of course. The provincial United Conservative
00:09:25.280 Party will be neutral as a party. But I imagine individual MLAs are free to join one side or the
00:09:30.940 other. Every legacy media outlet. There might be one or two journalists at the Calgary and Edmonton
00:09:36.500 Daily newspapers who are permitted to be neutral towards the referendum, or at least fair. But I'm
00:09:42.580 worried that the newspaper company itself, Post Media, will most likely be officially against it.
00:09:48.500 That decision will be made in Toronto, or perhaps their New Jersey headquarters.
00:09:53.280 They own the Calgary Herald, Calgary Sun, Edmonton Journal, Edmonton Sun. It'll be interesting to
00:09:58.080 see how much freedom their reporters will still have. Same with the local talk radio stations.
00:10:03.340 But everything else, everything based in Toronto will be on the warpath. Already are. CBC, CTV,
00:10:09.020 Global Mail, Toronto Star, just to name a few. You'll have some independent media that are supportive,
00:10:14.560 like the Western Standard comes to mind. And I like them, but they still don't have the reach of those
00:10:19.500 old media. Get ready for more interference from foreign entities than you've ever seen in your life.
00:10:25.040 Don't be surprised if other Canadian governments interfere with massive campaigns, both official
00:10:32.440 and unofficial. I mean, Mark Carney's feds, the Ontario Tories, of course, Quebec, they wouldn't
00:10:37.500 want their milk cow to leave the country before they're done milking it, would they? But I'm talking
00:10:43.220 about other countries too. Who wants to keep the oil sands undeveloped? Well, who would want it to stay
00:10:48.460 under Mark Carney and Stephen Legault's governorship? Well, most of OPEC in Russia, I imagine.
00:10:54.160 I don't know where China would stand on the question. I don't know where the US would either.
00:10:58.200 On the one hand, they might think that Alberta independence would be a stepping stone to joining
00:11:03.280 the US, and they'd want that oil. But then again, maybe they don't want that oil. Maybe it's a
00:11:09.260 competitor to US domestic oil and gas. It's tough to say, but that oil is worth trillions. And as Alberta
00:11:16.240 goes, probably Saskatchewan goes a year or two later, and then other provinces might go too.
00:11:20.600 The stakes really couldn't be any higher. And so expect the dirty tricks to match it.
00:11:26.100 By the way, that's what I'm doing out West. Tonight is our town hall meeting in Edmonton,
00:11:29.500 and Wednesday night is our town hall meeting in Calgary. Both events have sold out, about 800
00:11:33.640 tickets altogether. People want to talk about this. By the way, if you want to know where I stand,
00:11:39.200 I stand against Ottawa's war on Alberta. I stand against Mark Carney and against Stephen Gilbert
00:11:47.840 and the other eco-extremists who want to put eco-tariffs on Alberta to kill its jobs. You see
00:11:53.060 how we use the word tariffs there? Or trade barriers like blocking pipelines. But isn't that what they
00:11:57.940 are? What was a carbon tax other than a tariff on Alberta oil? All this huffing and puffing about
00:12:04.160 Trump's tariffs in Ontario. I mean, fair enough. I agree. Don't punish Ontario. But isn't that
00:12:10.560 exactly what the feds have been doing to Alberta for 45 years and promise to continue to do? So yeah,
00:12:17.180 what's that phrase? Elbows up. Team Canada, eliminating internal trade barriers. None of it
00:12:22.660 was true. Don't think Alberta doesn't notice. Danielle Smith is clever. She says she wants to
00:12:28.860 negotiate with Carney a better deal for Alberta. If she gets a better deal, the referendum will
00:12:35.380 probably fail. But if she doesn't, it just might succeed. Stay with us for more.
00:12:51.760 Well, it's almost time for me to go to the town hall meeting here in Edmonton.
00:12:56.200 And I'll be in Calgary for the same thing on Wednesday. Sold out events, about 800 people
00:13:01.560 coming altogether. That's the room capacity. We probably could have sold twice as many tickets.
00:13:06.880 I want to leave you with two interesting videos. The first by Alexa Lavoie, who did man on the street
00:13:12.000 interviews in Ottawa, where she asked people about Alberta's concerns. And some streeters from Calgary
00:13:18.320 done by Sid, who was asking about the sovereignty referendum. Here's the videos. We'll see you tomorrow.
00:13:24.720 I'm Alexa Lavoie for Rebel News reporting from Ottawa. Today, I'm here primarily to speak with members
00:13:35.480 of the Conservative Party who are gathering for their caucus meeting. But while I'm here in the
00:13:42.800 capital, I took the opportunity to engage with locals on an issue that's gaining serious momentum
00:13:49.440 across the country. The rise of separatist movement in Western Canada. Across Alberta, Saskatchewan,
00:13:57.920 and parts of British Columbia, many Canadians are expressing deep frustration with the federal
00:14:04.680 government. A frustration that, for some, has turned into a call for separation. This is not new,
00:14:13.260 but the sentiment has been reignited, and some say intensified, since Mark Carney's recent election.
00:14:21.780 Many in the West feel their voices are not being heard in Ottawa, and that their provinces are being
00:14:30.200 treated unfairly, particularly when it comes to federal transfers and equalization payments.
00:14:37.400 I asked people here in Ottawa whether they are concerned about this growing divide and what they
00:14:45.060 think of recent comments by Alberta Premier Daniel Smith.
00:14:49.140 The federal government must provide to Alberta the same per capita federal transfers and equalization
00:14:55.420 as is received by the other three largest provinces, Quebec, Ontario, and British Columbia.
00:15:02.100 We have no issue with Alberta continuing to subsidize smaller provinces with their needs.
00:15:07.780 But there is no excuse for such large and powerful economies like Ontario, Quebec, BC, or Alberta
00:15:14.140 to be subsidizing one another. That was never the intent of equalization, and it needs to end.
00:15:20.440 Premier Smith recently stated that Alberta is not asking for special treatment, only fairness.
00:15:26.980 She said the federal government must provide to Alberta the same per capita federal transfers and equalization
00:15:35.080 as is received by the other three largest provinces, Quebec, Ontario, and British Columbia.
00:15:42.920 It's a message that's resonating in the West, but is it being taken seriously in the East?
00:15:50.920 That's the question many are now asking.
00:15:53.820 Let's hear now from the people in the street in Ottawa.
00:15:58.720 Canada is stronger when we work together.
00:16:02.700 As an Albertan, I firmly believe that.
00:16:06.200 You can always ask a question, but I know what I would respond clearly.
00:16:09.960 How do you feel about the separatist movement that is growing in the West?
00:16:13.580 I think under the existing conditions that we live, with the government that's appointed to us,
00:16:19.380 I think everybody's considering their options and what we have and where we're going, for sure.
00:16:24.540 Well, I think it's unfortunate that they had to be put in that position.
00:16:29.260 However, I understand if they would want to do it.
00:16:32.220 It's quite disappointing how the election went, and it's quite troubling.
00:16:35.900 So, I support it if that's what the people are going to vote for.
00:16:40.560 Canada is bullsh**t.
00:16:41.640 You bullsh**t.
00:16:42.460 For which reason?
00:16:43.800 Canada is stronger.
00:16:44.860 We're united.
00:16:46.060 Oh, my gosh.
00:16:47.920 I certainly hope that doesn't happen.
00:16:49.900 Mm-hmm.
00:16:50.860 Any concern?
00:16:51.940 That is a concern.
00:16:53.440 It's a big concern.
00:16:54.280 I mean, a lot of money comes out of there.
00:16:55.520 We'll find it very hard to afford stuff.
00:17:00.000 Well, it's almost like they're trying to be like Quebec.
00:17:03.040 My dad used to joke, my mother is Quebecoise.
00:17:05.760 So, he'd say, when they separate, you've got to go back.
00:17:08.640 But, I mean, they'll lose all the rights and all the great stuff that Canada offers, right?
00:17:12.860 So, I think that's where the natives want to stay.
00:17:16.360 So, yeah, it wouldn't be the smartest thing, in my opinion.
00:17:19.080 Well, I don't think it's very useful, practical, and I'm not quite sure what motivates it,
00:17:24.120 because the factors that have affected the West, particularly in petroleum,
00:17:31.000 date back to the mid-10s, where Saudi Arabia expanded, production prices fell, investment fell.
00:17:41.880 And then the future for petrol is a little bit ambiguous at this time.
00:17:46.860 Well, I'm from the West Coast, and I think that you'll find that it's very specific to Alberta.
00:17:52.620 We're from the Lower Mainland of B.C., and nobody has of that mind.
00:17:59.180 I think that we're pretty happy to be Canadians and wouldn't want to give that up.
00:18:03.080 I don't think it's actually going to take off, but Canada should stick together.
00:18:06.500 Alberta will just end up a state otherwise.
00:18:08.500 I think that this separatist movement is not happening for nothing.
00:18:12.560 I think that the elections, basically, the federal elections, are basically centered on Ontario and Quebec.
00:18:22.120 And the West is forgotten most of the time.
00:18:25.780 And if they want, if they have the feeling like, you know, in Quebec, we had that same sentiment,
00:18:31.420 and we figured, like, we're left out, whatever, this sentiment is probably getting weaker and weaker all the time.
00:18:38.840 I don't know if I should be happy.
00:18:41.620 I'm just glad, actually, that the Westerners are expressing themselves.
00:18:45.140 If there's a majority that wants to separate, why not?
00:18:48.420 Is that going to, you know, maybe wake certain people up in Ontario, Quebec, and especially in Ottawa?
00:18:55.360 Well, I hope so.
00:18:56.940 I would like Canada to stay united, but if it has to come to that, then why not?
00:19:01.920 I'm not a fan of it.
00:19:03.620 I think that we're definitely more unified as a country, working together.
00:19:07.340 I do think there are some issues that do need to be addressed.
00:19:09.660 I think that resources could be more equally shared.
00:19:13.120 I'm for it.
00:19:14.100 Yeah?
00:19:14.500 Yeah.
00:19:14.640 For which reason?
00:19:16.380 Oil and gas pipelines.
00:19:19.120 Numerous other things.
00:19:20.060 How the Liberal Party will reach to bring together the West and the East together,
00:19:27.440 because there is a growing separatist movement right now.
00:19:31.280 So, do you know how the Liberal Party will achieve that, to bring all people together, unite?
00:19:39.200 We know that Alberta have contributed a lot to equalization payment,
00:19:43.620 and we know that in Quebec we receive a lot, but we don't extract our natural resources.
00:19:48.160 We are not doing kind of our share.
00:19:52.040 But yesterday, Danielle Smith said she wants fairness in equalization payment.
00:19:56.340 What are your thoughts?
00:19:57.420 Oh, yeah.
00:19:57.920 It should be, everything should be fair.
00:19:59.580 We should be actually doing our own resource, and the people of Canada,
00:20:03.880 we should be looking after it, and we should be the ones that are selling it,
00:20:07.200 not other countries coming in and digging it up.
00:20:09.440 Yeah.
00:20:09.840 How do you want fairness with 30% of the people who are separating?
00:20:13.520 70% won't be fair if you are separating.
00:20:18.540 That's not right.
00:20:20.560 Because so much of the money out of Alberta is going to the East,
00:20:23.780 and we can't put a pipeline through Quebec.
00:20:27.320 That's a problem.
00:20:28.760 Well, I know they were talking about, they were comparing it to Quebec and Ontario,
00:20:31.540 how they get the payments, and I kind of understand where she's coming from.
00:20:34.560 If you're going to do that for all the other bigger provinces,
00:20:36.780 and Alberta has been, you know, helping Canada out a lot,
00:20:39.600 so they should deserve to get help as well, so just got to stick,
00:20:43.100 you got to help everybody, you know, it's one big family,
00:20:45.480 so you got to help everybody together.
00:20:46.680 I think the recent stuff with Trump has kind of brought Canada together,
00:20:49.820 so I'm hoping that, you know, just a little bit of dialogue
00:20:52.960 and everything should be okay.
00:20:54.580 Absolutely.
00:20:55.360 She's the voice of the people, and I think it's very admirable
00:20:59.880 that she stands behind the people.
00:21:02.240 I agree with that for sure.
00:21:04.160 I think Danielle's a champion.
00:21:05.920 I call her supermodel online.
00:21:07.700 Finally, a voice for the Canadian people.
00:21:10.260 That makes sense.
00:21:11.400 Well, I'm not sure she can do that.
00:21:13.380 First of all, the equalization payments are made by Ottawa.
00:21:17.780 They're from the Ottawa taxes.
00:21:19.940 That has nothing to do with Alberta giving checks to people.
00:21:24.320 I have the same feeling as a citizen.
00:21:27.540 You know, like in Gatineau, I pay a lot of taxes.
00:21:29.940 I pay a lot of income taxes, like to Quebec, to Ottawa, whatever,
00:21:33.660 to get what in return?
00:21:34.780 You know, I don't have kids.
00:21:36.640 I don't, you know, so I don't get the feeling that I'm getting much in return
00:21:40.460 for the huge amount of taxes and income tax that I pay.
00:21:45.560 I think that everyone, all the provinces should pay the equal amount.
00:21:48.820 So if one's getting more, maybe they should have a little less
00:21:51.820 because everyone should have the same payment equal.
00:21:54.720 Because, I mean, we're all feeding into Canada,
00:21:56.400 and it costs too much to run Quebec,
00:21:58.540 so they should start removing some of their costs,
00:22:01.640 meaning their own CRA and their own different groups, you know.
00:22:05.860 So if they were to eliminate those, it would cost less.
00:22:08.620 We should all be the same.
00:22:10.620 I think she's a very silly, unserious person.
00:22:13.120 She's off doing PragerU things for the States and on our tax dollars.
00:22:17.700 She spent 10 grand going to Florida of Albertans' money.
00:22:20.680 I don't think she's serious.
00:22:21.640 I don't think we should be taking her serious.
00:22:23.000 Same if Quebec, for example, are not willing to build pipelines
00:22:27.640 and they are not extracting their natural resources.
00:22:30.560 I'm less familiar with the Quebec issue.
00:22:32.260 It hasn't been in the news right now.
00:22:33.580 I think all of Canada should be sticking together.
00:22:35.480 I don't know that there's that much.
00:22:38.060 I mean, that's not going to be a provincial thing.
00:22:40.020 I think that there's different schools of thought.
00:22:42.940 You know, there's people that are very strong about the environment
00:22:45.520 and would, you know, make a lot of sacrifices to save the environment,
00:22:49.420 which is fairly legitimate.
00:22:50.540 But when you get into a time when people are under financial stress,
00:22:55.940 we're much more willing to compromise our values.
00:22:58.260 And I think we're seeing that.
00:22:59.680 And I think that the more pressure we get externally,
00:23:01.900 the more we're going to be ready as people to compromise a little bit
00:23:05.480 on the things that, in an ideal world, we stand up for.
00:23:08.820 Same if Quebec is doing everything to stop pipeline
00:23:12.400 and not extracting their own natural resources.
00:23:15.900 Yeah, I think that's a big problem we've had over the last 10, 15 years
00:23:19.620 or even longer.
00:23:20.540 We haven't, you know, been using our natural resources to our benefit.
00:23:24.440 And if we had been doing it, we wouldn't be in this situation right now.
00:23:27.460 We'd be way ahead with all the problems we have right now.
00:23:30.800 We'd be so far ahead.
00:23:31.880 Like some countries, they're self-sufficient.
00:23:33.440 There's no reason why Canada shouldn't be self-sufficient
00:23:35.280 with all the natural resources that we have.
00:23:36.800 And you don't have any concern maybe that the sovereignty is achieved in the West
00:23:42.880 for Alberta, for example?
00:23:44.660 No, no, I don't think so.
00:23:47.280 There's not enough people who want that.
00:23:51.860 Sydney Fisard for Rebel News here in downtown Calgary,
00:23:55.400 where the talk of the town recently has been separation.
00:23:58.400 Will Alberta leave Confederation?
00:24:00.520 Premier Daniel Smith recently introduced changes to our referendum system,
00:24:04.740 allowing citizens to vote on things that matter to them.
00:24:08.660 And one of those things could be leaving Canada.
00:24:11.340 After the federal election results granting the Liberal Party another term in government,
00:24:16.520 many in Alberta have had enough and are seriously considering moves towards separation.
00:24:21.380 That's exactly why we hit the streets today,
00:24:22.860 to see what Calgarians think about this referendum change
00:24:25.860 and whether or not it's something that might actually come to fruition.
00:24:29.380 Our government will appoint, and I will chair, the Alberta Next panel.
00:24:33.160 This panel will be composed of some of our best and brightest judicial,
00:24:37.620 academic, and economic minds to join with me in a series of in-person
00:24:41.540 and online town halls to discuss Alberta's future in Canada.
00:24:45.420 Premier Smith put out an address to Albertans,
00:24:48.140 and she's also made changes to the referendums.
00:24:50.520 I assume you've heard about this.
00:24:52.020 What do you make of these changes?
00:24:53.220 I think that it's obvious, her intentions.
00:24:59.380 She can't openly say that she's for segregation.
00:25:01.660 That would cause discourse.
00:25:05.020 And she's too smart for that.
00:25:06.680 But what she can do is pass a bill like that, or whatever the term for it is,
00:25:10.820 just to make it known, you know, to her, not followers, but to her citizens,
00:25:16.620 that, like, she's not just going to pass the opportunity up.
00:25:20.820 She knows that if the majority of us want to separate from Canada,
00:25:24.620 whether that's a sovereign nation or maybe that's part of the United States,
00:25:29.280 I'm not sure, she knows that if 55% of us want to, it's going to happen.
00:25:33.140 She's not going to sweep an option like that under the rug.
00:25:35.920 She's a joke.
00:25:36.720 That's all I have to say about her, yeah.
00:25:38.300 Whatever.
00:25:38.780 Danielle Smith is just spewing garbage out of her mouth a lot of times.
00:25:42.500 I think it just, nobody wants it.
00:25:45.380 She's, I don't know, she's trying to force feed it down our throat, I think.
00:25:48.420 I've been following that, especially in Alberta.
00:25:50.320 I'm from Ontario, and I think politically that's a very strong move on Danielle's part.
00:25:55.920 It reminds me of referendums in Quebec.
00:25:58.680 I'm hoping that Alberta chooses not to leave Canada
00:26:01.140 because we are stronger as a nation, all provinces, all territories.
00:26:04.920 My fellow Albertans, today I wish to speak to you about the future of Alberta and Canada.
00:26:09.200 We don't ask for special treatment or handouts.
00:26:12.940 We just want to be free.
00:26:14.160 I agree on, like, just giving everyone a vote, that aspect of it.
00:26:18.740 The separation aspect of it, I don't know.
00:26:22.300 I feel like stronger united than against, I don't know.
00:26:27.600 Separation might lead to a lot of downfall, a lot of things people aren't ready for yet.
00:26:33.420 So I think pushing for it too quickly and then not knowing what comes in the end,
00:26:38.640 a lot of people might regret it.
00:26:40.340 So, I don't know.
00:26:42.340 I feel like one step at a time.
00:26:44.940 Then it looks like Western provinces, a little bit abandoned by Eastern provinces and by federal government.
00:26:52.600 It's a good idea, but it looks like very challenging because of Aboriginal people's treaty and other legal battles.
00:27:01.640 But I think I can't judge them.
00:27:03.900 I think they have to do this because Ottawa, always prime ministers are coming from the east.
00:27:09.220 And then our oil and the resources, we are not able to use it.
00:27:13.320 So I think a good idea.
00:27:14.780 It can be tried in any way.
00:27:16.320 Well, I'm from BC, but I have family here.
00:27:19.660 So I have a lot of sympathy for how Ottawa has treated Alberta miserably for, I guess, 10 years.
00:27:27.040 And so I think what she's done is say that it's important that Alberta's issues get good attention.
00:27:35.700 And they've been highly, not just ignored, but trampled on.
00:27:38.800 And so I think that she's setting it out like it's important to pay attention to Alberta issues.
00:27:45.180 And so I think she's doing a really, really good job, actually.
00:27:48.140 I will soon appoint a special negotiating team to represent our province in negotiations with the federal government on the following reforms requested by our province.
00:27:58.240 We hope this will result in a binding agreement that Albertans can have confidence in.
00:28:02.700 Call it an Alberta Accord, if you will.
00:28:05.220 She's a nut bar.
00:28:06.800 She bailed on us once.
00:28:08.560 I don't trust her.
00:28:09.400 She'll just bail again when it gets tough.
00:28:12.420 When the arguments get heated, she'll bail.
00:28:15.340 I don't trust her.
00:28:17.060 She's a reporter.
00:28:18.140 That's it.
00:28:19.020 Well, I think that's just the foundation of democracy, right?
00:28:22.900 Quebec has done the same in the past.
00:28:24.320 It hasn't passed.
00:28:26.220 But it's important to, like, actually hear those opinions.
00:28:29.800 It would be incredibly shocking, obviously, if that passed.
00:28:34.060 But holding the referendum itself, I think it's just like a symbolic move of, like, you feel very passionately with this.
00:28:41.880 Let's hear you.
00:28:43.000 Like, if you want your voices here, that's what we do in Canada.
00:28:45.840 We'll give you your vote.
00:28:46.760 I think that was misleading or misunderstood on how she mentioned that.
00:28:52.600 You know, like, yes, you can as a province.
00:28:57.220 We side with Quebec.
00:28:58.620 But I don't think we will.
00:29:01.780 You know, I think the federal government's actually going to pay a little bit more attention to us out here in the West.
00:29:07.760 Because we are their resources.
00:29:11.240 So, you know, like, refine the gas and the oil and, you know, get on board or get out.
00:29:17.680 Everyone's voices could be heard a little bit more and respected, if I'm honest.
00:29:21.020 I think we're going to be heard a little bit more from the East Coast, not just necessarily Albertans, but even from the East Coast.
00:29:25.720 I think that we all should kind of be heard a little bit more from the Ontario government.
00:29:31.060 Danielle Smith, I've supported her for a very long time, even when she was with the Wild Roads.
00:29:36.140 I've had lunch with her and, you know, I was around when she switched to Florence.
00:29:40.240 She was a fantastic lady with a lot of smarts.
00:29:44.180 And, you know, I don't, I, like, right now I don't understand her.
00:29:48.780 I voted for her to be the Premier of the province of Alberta.
00:29:52.180 And, you know, I don't think I made a mistake.
00:29:55.180 But yesterday after that address, she's got me wondering about her, you know, like, is she for Albertans?
00:30:04.240 Or, you know, because as far as I'm concerned, I'm on social media between five and six hours a day.
00:30:11.020 And, you know, a large majority of the people I speak with want to separate from Canada and that live in Alberta.
00:30:20.080 And she seems to be getting weak and wanting to go the other direction.
00:30:24.960 And I don't know, I don't know why.
00:30:27.340 As most Albertans know, I have repeatedly stated I do not support Alberta separating from Canada.
00:30:32.840 I personally still have hope that there is a path forward for a strong and sovereign Alberta within a united Canada.
00:30:40.800 You're excited for a referendum vote?
00:30:43.320 There's so many different groups involved in this.
00:30:46.340 There should only be one or they should all get together and one referendum vote.
00:30:53.020 And let Danielle Smith be in charge of it because, you know, people are out there wondering when they're going to happen and what's going to happen and stuff like that.
00:31:01.840 One vote, one referendum, not 10 different groups of people trying to make this work.
00:31:09.040 Because if they don't capitulate with each other, you know, it could be a bigger mess.
00:31:17.280 So you said you're from Saskatchewan.
00:31:18.920 Obviously, since Mark Carney's been elected and a little bit before, there's this separation talk that's been going on.
00:31:23.380 Are you feeling that conversation hitting Saskatchewan?
00:31:25.600 Of course.
00:31:27.220 Well, I can't say for Scott Moe.
00:31:29.700 I know that he's very conservative and he's kind of friendly with Danielle Smith.
00:31:36.120 And I'm, by the way, I'm super conservative, too.
00:31:38.380 And I think living in the prairies, we get the major vote.
00:31:41.480 But I think we've been having lately talks on Alberta separation referendum that's been going on.
00:31:51.040 And honestly, I wouldn't comment anything on that.
00:31:54.160 But I just think it's a thing.
00:31:55.740 It's an issue.
00:31:56.300 And that's something that U.S. wants, I would say, because Alberta would be more or less looking for collaboration with Alberta and Saskatchewan and the prairies.
00:32:05.360 To be clear from the outset, our government will not be putting a vote on separation from Canada on the referendum ballot.
00:32:13.340 However, if there is a successful citizen-led referendum petition that is able to gather the requisite number of signatures requesting such a question to be put on a referendum,
00:32:24.900 our government will respect the democratic process and include that question on the 2026 provincial referendum ballot as well.
00:32:32.720 Do you think that Alberta has a good reason to stay in Confederation?
00:32:36.080 Yes.
00:32:36.680 What would that be?
00:32:39.820 The country will fall to bits, actually, because if you, you know, Saskatchewan will go, now B.C. is standing on its own.
00:32:47.140 Now the north looks abandoned.
00:32:49.260 It really is very dangerous if it happens.
00:32:52.880 I think there's a lot of reasons that Albertans might want to leave Canada.
00:32:57.820 But again, I'll reiterate, I think it's really important that we stay strong as a nation, work together.
00:33:01.960 The provinces to develop what the future of Canada will look like.
00:33:08.960 I would say it's 50-50.
00:33:11.100 Could be one way or another.
00:33:12.440 Like, you know, Quebec in the 1960s, what happened?
00:33:15.100 They chose to be with Canada.
00:33:17.920 But if really a lot of things and negotiations is done, it might.
00:33:22.540 I'd better remain with Canada.
00:33:24.480 Whatever the bad part is, the good part is, you've got to take the good and the bad and make it work.
00:33:30.820 I don't think Alberta, with whatever, like 2-3 million people can stand alone as a nation.
00:33:39.140 I struck out.
00:33:40.320 Well, don't fix what's not broken, right?
00:33:42.180 Well, many Albertans would say that, you know, there's a lot of things that are broken.
00:33:46.100 Oh, yes, definitely there is.
00:33:47.800 But, you know, with everybody in office, it's getting done.
00:33:52.180 It's getting sorted out.
00:33:53.320 I think we'll do all right.
00:33:55.120 There's been a huge push in the last couple of months for interprovincial collaboration.
00:34:01.560 And I know, I know from, you know, being in B.C. that Alberta has had, you know, the short end of the stick in the past.
00:34:09.720 And I really believe that in the next couple of years, we're going to start seeing the province expand together.
00:34:15.080 And I hope that means B.C. and Alberta.
00:34:17.140 I travel a lot.
00:34:18.500 I don't know if an Alberta country passport would get me.
00:34:22.280 And I wouldn't be leaving here to go to the U.S.
00:34:23.980 So, it would be Alberta on its own.
00:34:26.620 I don't see how that is beneficial to me at this point.
00:34:30.340 You like those Canadian passport benefits, huh?
00:34:32.860 Yeah, they open a lot of doors.
00:34:35.140 The best reason to leave would be to stop relying on people who are, like, screwing us, really.
00:34:47.080 I think that the further away we can get from the Crown and the World Economic Forum and anything to do with those sort of systems,
00:34:58.320 the better we're going to make this country, the more the people can, like, unite around us, around Canada, around Calgary,
00:35:06.440 not around climate change and around, I mean, for lack of a better idea, DEI, I mean, I hate to say it.
00:35:15.220 There needs to, we need to be proud to be Canadian.
00:35:17.540 We don't, we can't be proud because of these things.
00:35:20.060 This isn't why we're Canadian.
00:35:21.700 We just are.
00:35:22.340 Right now, in this time, we all actually need to come together.
00:35:25.560 And I think that in order to, you know, have a united front with the United States right now,
00:35:30.280 I think that Alberta should try and stick close to Canada, similar with Quebec.
00:35:35.240 I think we all kind of need to just stay together right now and wait until everything from the U.S. front is sorted out,
00:35:42.280 until we move past that.
00:35:43.580 I was at Stephen Harper's victory party in 2015.
00:35:49.020 We weren't even there five minutes, and the CBC said, oh, don't bother going in there because Trudeau's already won.
00:35:57.920 Well, that's not possible because, as far as I'm concerned, the votes haven't all been counted in Alberta and British Columbia.
00:36:04.580 How could he win already?
00:36:05.980 And that's what my problem is.
00:36:08.040 That's not good enough.
00:36:09.380 It's not good enough for me.
00:36:10.280 It's not good enough for my 13 grandkids and my five children.
00:36:14.340 It's not, Sid.
00:36:15.900 We need to do something.
00:36:17.500 I hope you liked what they had to say.
00:36:18.880 Let us know in the comments what you think.
00:36:20.620 Do you believe that an Alberta referendum to separate from Canada should be Alberta's next step?
00:36:26.020 For Rebel News, I'm Sidney Vizard.
00:36:35.980 For Rebel News, I'm Sidney Vizard.