Monte Solberg

But I'm also convinced that the federal government is no longer targeting and trying to phase out and eliminate Alberta's largest economic sectors.

Former Conservative MP Monte Solberg, who led a campaign to remain in Canada, says Smith's message was refreshing.

She correctly identified that Albertans wanted to move on.

But Solberg says members of Smith's United Conservative Party will expect her to act on the other referendum proposals on immigration and constitutional issues.

It all goes back to Danielle Smith and how she proceeds through this.

Could the national broadcaster perhaps bring on an Albertan to talk about Alberta issues? Would it kill you people to put one of us on the panel? I don't even care if you have to dust off Monty Solberg, a federalist.

I don't care.

But at least get someone on there from the province.

I know some of them, uh, you know, the lead not leave people with Ken and Trevor and that group of people.

And with, uh, I know that, uh, Monty Solberg had a group of people out there, uh, that were working on it.

Uh, I know the former prime minister Harper, um, made some interventions in that thing.

And somebody that I have overlooked over the course of this campaign and all of my trashing is Tom Lukasik.

Well, joining me now are two Albertans who have been campaigning to keep this province in Canada.

Monte Solberg held several cabinet posts under Prime Minister Stephen Harper, and he's with me in our Calgary studio.

And Independent Senator Paula Simons represents Alberta in the Senate of Canada, and she is in our Edmonton studio.

Good morning to you both.

Mm.

And for people who may not speak English as a first language, for seniors, frankly, for lots of regular, ordinary people, these questions are difficult to decipher, and the process of voting itself is, as I've politely said on Blue Sky, baroque.

[laughs] Uh, Monte Solberg, you heard my conversation with Keith Wilson.

You had thoughts as you were listening.

As a matter of fact, just a couple of hours ago, and-

Yeah, and actually former Premier Stelmach was there, uh, Monte Solberg was there, mayor of Red Deer, mayor of Calgary, mayor of, uh, mayor of Airdrie, mayors, lots of mayors, lots of people, great energy.

Lots of conservatives.

Uh, lots of conservat- yeah, lots of conservat- Albertans.

I mean, I, sure there are some people who are probably swayed by that.

Uh, I, I remember, uh, Monte Solberg, who had been in Harper's cabinet and has had a lot of, uh, activity on the federalist side in, in the referendum-

Yeah

... uh, said he was worried early on that there were an awful lot of small C conservatives in Alberta who are going to go for that, "Let's send Ottawa a message." Uh, but I, I, I don't see any heat growing under that pot.