The possibility of Alberta separating from Canada was top of mind for Maple Leaf-clad Albertans in the province’s largest city on Wednesday as they celebrated the birth of Confederation.
With a headband of bobbing maple leaves, Candace Gillies said she chose to dress with extra patriotic fervour this year.
“I don’t want to see Canada be torn apart. If Alberta doesn’t have Canada, then what is it, really?” said Gillies, 46, who has lived in Calgary for nearly three decades.
Federalists and separatists said they hoped Albertans would spend some time on Canada Day thinking about what the country has done for them.
On Oct. 19, voters are to decide whether they want the province to remain in Canada or to start the process for holding a second, binding vote on quitting Confederation.
The campaign period for the referendum began in May, and a number of groups have formed to try and sway public opinion.
Gillies was among those in Calgary celebrating Canada Day who feel passionately about remaining in the country.
She said remaining in Canada is especially important to her because her 10-year-old son had a heart transplant and benefits from public health care.
“Canada provides so much for his medical needs and health that if we left Canada, we would move. We would move out, to go back to Canada,” she said.
Both she and Halim Ezimokhai said they’ll be voting to stay in Canada.
Ezimokhai, 36, was raised in the Middle East and immigrated to Canada in 2007.
He said he understands some people have their reasons for wanting to separate, but the thought of leaving Canada breaks his heart.
“Canada is Canada because we’re together and we support each other no matter what, and there are always solutions that we can find if we work together,” Ezimokhai said.
People passing through Eau Claire Plaza, a popular gathering spot in Calgary’s downtown, wore Forever Canadian shirts or hats in support of a pro-Canada petition that started last year.
But Keith Wilson, a lawyer campaigning for the province to go its own way, said Albertans should take heed of their affordability challenges and consider the politicking needed for Ottawa to be open to producing and moving Alberta’s lifeblood oil resources.
Wilson also planned to be at a celebration, but one that promoted Alberta independence.
He planned to spend Canada Day in Mirror, a hamlet east of Red Deer, where a café owner and fellow separation supporter was throwing an “Albertans’ Day Rally” with speeches, musical performances and activities for kids.
“A typical Canada Day celebration-type event but with an Alberta theme,” he said.
Thomas Lukaszuk, a former deputy premier who spearheaded the Forever Canadian petition, wants Albertans to appreciate the freedom that Canada affords its residents and how the country serves as a global role model.
To his chagrin, Lukaszuk has been back on the road in what he calls the Unity Bus. The motorhome — decked out in a Maple Leaf motif — that he used for his petition campaign is now cruising across Alberta so he can hand out pro-Canada lawn signs.
His petition of more than 400,000 names called on Premier Danielle Smith to avoid a referendum and instead make it provincial policy that separation is off the table.
When a judge threw out a competing separatist referendum petition in May, Smith cited Lukaszuk’s signature count and the separatists’ claim of 300,000 names to say she thinks enough Albertans want to see the matter put to rest once and for all at the polls.
She said even though she’ll be voting for Alberta to stay, many have a decade-long list of grievances with Ottawa over its energy and environmental policies.
Lukaszuk said he’s still holding out hope that Smith calls off the referendum, but added he believes that in any event, it’s a “moment of awakening” for Albertans.
“There comes a time, for every generation, where we have to stand up for what we stand for and be courageous and not allow negative forces to win simply because of apathy,” he said.
Lukaszuk planned to start Canada Day with a campaign stop in Calgary before driving to Edmonton for an evening celebration. In between, he intended to stop at a Red Deer brewery to unveil a new beer with his Forever Canadian message.
For Wilson, reflecting on Canada’s 159th birthday had him feeling both sad and hopeful.
“The sadness comes from Canada changing so much,” he said.
“Canada is not the country it once was — economically, from a quality-of-life perspective, from affordability, from the perspective of people achieving their potential.
“For myself and many others here in Alberta, we then look at, well, what Alberta could be.”
Smith and Prime Minister Mark Carney and Smith are hoping Albertans reach the opposite conclusion.
Carney was scheduled to speak at a Canada Day event in Edmonton, but weather conditions in Ottawa led to his appearance being cancelled.
Smith planned to be in Calgary celebrating the country’s birthday at Spruce Meadows, an equestrian and entertainment facility.
On Thursday, Smith is to make an announcement about her government’s proposed bitumen pipeline to the West Coast. She has touted the proposed pipeline and associated energy deal with Carney as proof that Albertans shouldn’t give up on Canada.
Wilson said the fact that an energy deal is needed at all proves Confederation isn’t working.
“Ottawa controls Alberta,” he said, “and is holding back our prosperity.”
