Danielle Smith Is No Separatist. She’s Much Worse

[Oscar]

Danielle Smith Is No Separatist. She’s Much Worse

QUOTE: "The premier’s referendum plan is destructive, divisive and ultimately evil."

Emmett Macfarlane - February 23, 2026 - The Tyee

NOTE: Emmett Macfarlane is a professor of political science at the University of Waterloo. This piece is drawn from his Substack Defending Canadian Democracy. [ https://emmettmacfarlane.substack.com/ ]

Listen to this article - 7 min

EXCERPT: "In a televised address Thursday night Alberta Premier Danielle Smith launched a xenophobic assault on immigration and proposed a set of referendum questions for this fall advocating a constitutional agenda that would reduce Canada to a rump of pathetic, disaggregated fiefdoms.

Smith seeks to initiate a Maple MAGA revolution. It’s a vision that would see her take control of the courts, punish the most vulnerable members of our society, undermine the rule of law and destroy Canadian federalism. . . . . "

MORE: [ https://thetyee.ca/Opinion/2026/02/23/D ... ign=230226

[Oscar]

A Sober Look at Alberta’s Separatist Surge

By Michael Harris - February 24, 2026

QUOTE: "How did we get here? Is it treason? And five more key questions examined."

EXCERPT: "Canada has had its share of separatist scares over the years, largely coming out of Quebec.

In 1995, Parti Québécois Leader Jacques Parizeau nearly blew up the Beaver. The vote against separation was razor thin — 50.58 per cent versus 49.42 per cent in favour.

Now the danger to national unity has shifted westward to Alberta. Could Wild Rose Country go its own way, becoming a sovereign nation, or perhaps America’s 51st state?

As improbable as that sounds, the amber caution light is flashing in Alberta, where a premier with a wishy-washy commitment to Canada may prove to be the best friend separatists in the oil-rich province have.. . . ."

[ https://thetyee.ca/Analysis/2026/02/24/ ... ign=260226 ]