As Premier Danielle Smith calls on separatists within her party to stand down, some party leaders in her own riding say they are on board.
Smith addressed the province shortly after Monday’s referendum to outline voters’ three-to-one decision against holding a formal separation vote, according to preliminary results.
Then on Wednesday, she told United Conservative Party members the result now forms party policy, and those who continue to publicly advocate for secession can “find another party” rather than risk hurting the UCP’s chances in next year’s election.
The party’s MLAs and many local boards are “whole-heartedly, 100 per cent” behind Smith, cabinet minister Justin Wright told CBC News at a breakfast event in Medicine Hat before the premier’s comments were released.
“The consensus has been very strong clear across the board,” said Wright, the MLA for Cypress-Medicine Hat, located next to Smith’s riding of Brooks-Medicine Hat.
“Within even the party, there’s been so many [constituency] boards that have come forward, including my own, with full support for the premier, passing motions just to say we align with her and where things are going.”
Wright said cabinet members met the day after the referendum, and a caucus meeting was scheduled for Wednesday.
Alberta premier’s message to separatists: Be pro-Canada or join a different party
During the referendum, Smith publicly stated support for the remain option, but has been criticized by the opposition NDP for allowing the question to move ahead in the first place.
There has also been speculation that pro-independence groups would seek internal party power to continue their cause.
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Smith told members in a video message and then reiterated in a press conference later Wednesday that separation advocates had been heard by the party, but the issue is settled.
Danielle Smith has a message for pro-independence voters
Party members can form their own opinions, she said, but if they continue to publicly call for separation, they won’t be welcome as candidates or members of local boards ahead of the 2027 election.
“We must be unified,” she said. “If we aren’t, our party will split, and Alberta will suffer terribly as a result.”
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This comes after the UCP riding association for Highwood passed a motion last month calling for a leadership review. At least 22 associations are needed to support the motion for it to come forward at the party’s AGM in late November.
Some prominent separatists have suggested greater participation in the UCP as the next step, after their projected loss this week.
The party will have to address the separation issue quickly, said former Cypress-Medicine Hat UCP association leader Alan Rose earlier this week.
Alan Rose, a former UCP official in Medicine Hat, says Premier Danielle Smith should move beyond the separation issue. (Collin Gallant/CBC)
“It’ll still be a party issue, because that’s where it started,” said Rose, adding that he voted against a second referendum and felt the “resounding” victory gave Smith a path forward.
“There have been factions within the UCP … that wanted to go in a different direction, but that’s not the direction that I believe most people want it to go,” said Rose.
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“Now, I hope the premier realizes that she has enough support to concentrate on what’s actually good for Albertans.”
In Monday’s referendum, about 75 per cent of voters across the province cast ballots in favour of Alberta “remaining a province of Canada,” according to preliminary results.
In Brooks-Medicine Hat, the “remain” figure sat at 63 per cent in unofficial results as of Wednesday evening. The Cypress-Medicine Hat portion for remain was 68 per cent.
