How to talk about Alberta separatism

The big conversation that's happening has shifted with the way that the premier has, has phrased the question.

I think a lot of folks on both sides of this issue were anticipating a straight up yes or no question or a remain or stay question.

But strategically, this new question opens up a lot more possibilities, and we're starting to see, um, in particular, the separatist side adjusting to saying, "No, this isn't a vote to leave." Rather, it's just a conversation to have, continue having the conversation, or to send Ottawa a message, or to support democracy by letting Albertans decide.

And so there, there's a lot more room, I think, for different nuances with this new question than, than we'd anticipated.

Mm.

I think those nuanced reactions to the question are really interesting to watch, and they kind of open up that conversation on the, the values that underpin politics in the West, right? I think there's, there's something about this part [chuckles] of the country where they're so deeply personal in that way, and you're seeing that reaction to the question.

Why do they seem to be so much more personal in this part of the country versus some others?

I think Albertans are used to thinking about their relationship with the rest of Canada as a familial relationship, right? It's like confederation is a family.

Mm.

And we've seen both, uh, sides of this campaign using family metaphors, right? And so our team at Common Ground has been studying separatist rhetoric and propaganda online and has found that through their speeches at a lot of rallies, you'll hear their organizers say that Alberta is in an abusive relationship with the rest of Canada.

And that particular metaphor is quite offensive, particularly for, for those of us that have had experience with domestic violence and other things.

But what they're really getting at is that this is a broken relationship-

Mm

... one that, um, unfortunately, they use violent metaphors and imagery to, to convey that, but one that is beyond repair.

Yeah.

Right? Um, our Common Ground research has suggested that for most, but not all Albertans, it's not an abusive relationship.

It's, it's more like being a jilted lover.

[chuckles] Okay.

So, uh, when you talk with folks about this, um, and this shows up in survey results as well, a lot of Albertans say, "I just feel like the rest of Canada doesn't have our back."

Mm.

Or, "I feel like the rest of Canada doesn't respect us or appreciate us or understand us." And each one of those things is a bit different.

But what it all boils down to is this feeling of unrequited love, that Albertans, not everyone, but the mainstream Albertan, Alberta view is that, um, Alberta contributes more than it gets out.

Yeah.

And, and I think thinking about the relationship in that way changes the way that we approach it, right? If it's not an abusive relationship, and it's not in my view, um, then how, how do we go about addressing relationship dynamics where one side feels like it's less appreciated than the other? And some of your listeners may be thinking, "I don't think that that makes sense," or, "I've never been in a relationship like that before."

Yeah.