When I was teaching, it was often my experience with general level classes that the most disruptive students got the most attention, to the detriment of the rest of the class. It was a classic case of the tail wagging the dog.
Something similar, in my view, transpired in the whole lead-up to the Alberta referendum. A group of malcontents, loud, brash and uninformed, pressed a weak premier, Danielle Smith, to hold a referendum on a referendum, which went down to defeat and will probably ultimately result in the removal of Smith, owing to the number of separatists in her caucus.
There is no doubt the pro-separation faction exerted an oversized influence on the province, an influence that should, but will not be, muted after 75% of Albertans rejected their siren call.
So what are the people saying? This first set of letters from The Globe reveals much:
After Danielle Smith’s referendum, the political reality looks stark. It seems this multimillion-dollar exercise was never about leaving Canada, it was an amateur schoolyard brawl manufactured for her own short-term survival.
By inviting grassroots radicals into the tent to secure her leadership, Ms. Smith has built a volatile political compost pile. Now it is rapidly breaking down the leftovers. The roughly 75-per-cent majority who voted “remain” are exhausted by the chaos, while hardline separatists feel betrayed by a Premier trying to be all things to all people.
My view from a distance makes the destruction clear: Ms. Smith has run out of runway. If she is wise, she would exit stage left now, before the political pile overheats and consumes her government.
Charles Claus Terrace, B.C.
Now that Alberta has overwhelmingly voted to remain in Canada, I hope this matter, and the illusion that separatists carry any political weight in the province, can be dismissed for good.
Danielle Smith should resign immediately for calling an unnecessary referendum to placate separatists in her United Conservative Party. It also stirred up unnecessary divisions, at a time when unity is required to face real threats to Canadian sovereignty from the Trump administration.
Jeff Buckstein Ottawa
Re “Alberta voters reject push for separation referendum” (Online, Oct. 20): What do separatists not understand? No means no.
William O’Meara Toronto
From Star readers:
Albertans need a new leader
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith allowed a referendum question to be brought forward by a movement that unsuccessfully tried to remove Alberta from Canada. This at a time when all Canadians need to pull together. Perhaps it’s time for Albertans to demand a new leader; one who cares about the future of our great country.
Linda Matthews, Toronto
Yes Alberta has chosen to stay in Canada for now, but the question about immigration still garnered more than half for the yes vote. Federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said the focus should now be affordability, safety and “less immigration.”
He and Albertans are again blowing the dog-whistle. They don’t want people to come to their province who will likely be working more hours for less money than those they consider “true” Albertans.
They forget that the immigrant is the doctor, nurse, restaurant worker or truck driver. They stimulate the economy, pay taxes and volunteer. Alberta will soon be crying that they can’t find people to work.
Murray Van Halem, Dundas, ON
Undoubtedly, many thousands of words will be produced analysing the results of the referendum. One thing is clear, however: there will always be those who refuse to let reality intrude upon their outlandish dreams and schemes.
P.S. check out The Beaverton for a fresh breath of satire under this headline:
