Smith pushed back after Alberta NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi and other federalists warned that holding the vote during an escalating Canada-U.S. trade war could undermine national unity.
“Well, it’s a separate process,” Smith said when asked whether the referendum could expose a weak link that the Trump administration could exploit.
“We have citizen initiative law,” she added, arguing the government must respect petitions that receive enough public support to put a question to voters.
Albertans are scheduled to vote Oct. 19 on whether Alberta should remain in Canada or whether the government should begin the legal process required to hold a future binding referendum on separation.
Smith pointed to competing petition campaigns as justification for holding the vote.
“400,000 people asked for a vote to remain, 300,000 people asked for a vote to leave,” she said.
Despite defending the referendum, Smith left no ambiguity about where she stands.
“I think this is an important time for us to be looking at the benefits that come from being a part of Canada,” she said.
“That’s what I’ve been advocating. That’s why I’m voting to remain.”
Smith acknowledged Alberta still has disputes with Ottawa but said she believes there is growing momentum for provinces and the federal government to work together.
“I hope to persuade as many people as possible to vote with me,” she said.
Nenshi has demanded Smith cancel or at least postpone the referendum, arguing the vote sends the wrong message as Canada battles the United States over trade.
“It’s time to call off the referendum,” Nenshi said.
“The premier’s pandering to separatists just shows weakness; it shows that Canada is not united.”
His criticism follows a similar warning from Parti Québécois Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon.
St-Pierre Plamondon said that if his party takes power in Quebec’s October election, he would postpone a promised independence referendum until after U.S. President Donald Trump leaves office, arguing the administration’s unpredictability could interfere with the process.
Nenshi seized on the comparison to attack Smith.
“If real separatists [in Quebec] understand the danger of doing this, how come a separatist of convenience, like Danielle Smith, doesn’t understand that danger?” he said.
Smith, however, maintains holding the referendum is about respecting Albertans rather than promoting separation.
“Citizens signed one of two petitions saying they wanted to have this question now, and that’s what the vote is going to be on Oct. 19,” she previously said.
“I think we need to make sure that we are clear about what Albertans want us to do.”
The Oct. 19 vote would not itself separate Alberta from Canada.
Instead, choosing the separation option would direct the government to begin the legal process required to hold a future binding referendum on independence.
Prime Minister Mark Carney has called the upcoming referendum a “question on the question,” saying the federal Clarity Act would only come into play for an actual secession vote.
Carney has also argued a future independence referendum would require a “clear majority” recognized by Parliament, rather than automatically being settled by 50 per cent plus one.
For Smith, defending Albertans’ right to hold the referendum and supporting independence are two separate questions.
Her answer to the latter remains straightforward: “I’m voting to remain.”
Smith is right. Venezuela was the Beta test for Alberta if we retaliate. The thin skinned Orange dotard and all Canadian politicians cannot be trusted. But the question is are there enough Albertans with enough will and sense to take control of their own future? Hope springs eternal but I am planning for for a worst case this fall. Too many wit brothers, dim and nit. will spoil the chance..
If Nenshi got his way on this matter, there would by major civil unrest.