Author: Clayton DeMaine
As trade relations between Canada and the U.S. break down again, former premiers, United Conservative Party Premier Jason Kenney and NDP Premier Rachel Notley have joined forces on a campaign against the Alberta independence movement.
After U.S. President Donald Trump announced his plans to impose a 50 per cent tariff on the Canadian automotive and steel industries, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce announced Tuesday that Notley and Kenney would co-chair its Alberta and Canada: Stronger Together campaign.
According to the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, the campaign will bring business and community leaders together around a “shared commitment to Alberta’s prosperity and Canada’s economic future.
The chamber said in a statement the campaign comes at a “consequential moment for Alberta and the country,” and will make the economic case for a “strong Alberta within a strong and united Canada.” The group said the campaign will also focus on “advancing practical solutions” to challenges facing Alberta.
In the 2019 Alberta provincial election, Kenney’s United Conservative Party defeated Notley’s incumbent NDP government with 54.9 per cent of the popular vote against her 32.7 per cent.
Albertans are set to head to the polls on October 19 to vote on a variety of referendum questions, one of them being whether Alberta should secede from Canadian Confederation.
“Alberta and Canada are stronger together — and a more competitive, prosperous Alberta makes for a more competitive, prosperous Canada. The national business community represented by the Canadian Chamber is an integrated network of hundreds of thousands of businesses of all sizes who know Alberta’s interests, and theirs go hand in hand,” Kenney said in a statement released by the chamber of commerce.
“We’re ready to rally with facts and to make the case for a strong Alberta and a united Canada.”
Notley emphasized the “critical moment” Alberta and Canada find themselves in amidst trade threats and tariffs from Trump.
“We need to be focused on building this province, growing job opportunities across the board, strengthening our healthcare system and vital programs that keep Alberta strong,” Notley said. “Any distraction that takes us away from that focus is a missed opportunity for all of us.”
The Canadian Chamber of Commerce president Candace Laing said both Kenney and Notley “understand what’s at stake” and celebrated the two putting aside their differences to fight for Alberta to remain in Canada.
Liang added that uncertainty about Alberta’s future within Canada deters potential investment into the province.
“Prolonged uncertainty around constitutional or political separation brings real risks for investor confidence, economic growth and Canada’s competitiveness, at exactly the wrong time,” he said. “With geopolitical and economic uncertainty reshaping global trade and investment, Canada will be only better off with greater economic cooperation – not less.”
Hahaha! Kenney & Notley! Hahaha
Two washed up Alberta haters taking the “Canadian” side. Go figure.
Sorry guys, but carney is doing all that together with ford. “A strong Alberta is a strong Canada!” Haha. Only because of Alberta’s wealth but the rest of Canada keeps Alberta much less productive than necessary. Maybe the “rest of Canada” should be producing their own resources instead of looking to Alberta.