Albertans want to keep their CPP with Ottawa

Posted on October 1, 2026 by Sunny South News

Dear Editor:

During a recent virtual conference Danielle Smith became emotional while speaking Saturday about the upcoming referendum with Preston Manning, former leader of federal Conservative Party, in attendance. He said that she should provide more information before the vote. Smith said it’s important to understand the frustrations felt by Albertans over the question “should the Province of Alberta remain in Canada or separate from the rest of Canada.”

When she allowed all this to happen the Forever Canadian petition had already garnered 300,000+ signatures.  She then turned around and allowed the separatists to gather only 175,000 signatures which is NOT fair compared to the Forever Canadian group. Thomas Lukaszuk, a former Deputy Premier for the Conservative Party of Alberta, spearheaded this petition.

For a long while Premier Smith sat on the fence and undecided on how she will vote – to remain in Alberta or separate from the rest of Canada. But after Prime Minister Carney convinced her that a pipeline would be built from Alberta to the BC coastline, she changed her mind. Also, with President Donald Trump’s war with Iran and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz the price of oil in Alberta rose to $100 per barrel so she is happy to spend the taxpayers’ money on the referendum that will cost $400 million. 

Recently, we have noticed numerous ads on TV regarding online gambling from Ontario. We are getting to be more like the US with their gambling policies, private health care and politics. Online gambling is an unhealthy environment for young children as they can get hooked on this vice. The government promised to help them stop this sickness, so who is the winner here?

I feel that Danielle Smith should scrap the referendum altogether and call an election as she was never elected by Albertans democratically. It was the UCP caucus who chose her to run the province.

Albertans want to keep their CPP with Ottawa and not go into further debt with the separation bill that they will never see paid off in their lifetime. 

Paul Jones, Coaldale