Smith defends government's referendum ads as non-neutral despite UCP president's claim
Alberta's premier rejected assertions that the province's $4-million campaign on the October separation question is impartial, directly contradicting her party's leader.
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Premier Danielle Smith rejected claims that Alberta's $4-million advertising campaign on the upcoming separation referendum is neutral, directly contradicting assurances from her party's president.
At a press conference Monday, Smith said plainly: "I'm not a neutral party in this." She added, "I believe that we should remain, and I believe that we should do everything we can to address the things that are causing grievances [within the province]. You can't ignore them."
The comment came after UCP president Rob Smith posted on Facebook acknowledging that many party members "expressed disappointment" with the government's ad spending. In his post, Rob Smith noted the premier is spending $4 million to promote "VOTE YES TO THE 9!!!" regarding nine provincial policy questions, while using "measured, limited" language on Question 10—whether Alberta should seek sovereignty. He wrote that the premier had "assured" him the language on Question 10 would be "as NEUTRAL as possible."
Danielle Smith rejected that characterization. She said the government has been "providing more information to the public" on the nine questions because "I don't see anybody actually doing any campaigning on either side of any of those." She did not directly address whether her ads on Question 10 favour the "stay" option over sovereignty.
The contradiction reflects deeper tensions within the UCP. In May, Smith and Rob Smith were already at odds over their respective positions on Alberta's place in Canada. Political scientist Lori Williams at Mount Royal University said the two leaders have "differing strategies," with Rob Smith attempting to "placate" party members concerned about the premier's vocal support for remaining in Canada.
"It's very difficult to try to hold together a party that has people with such disparate and conflicting views within it," Williams said.
Those tensions surfaced last week when the Highwood UCP association—a riding association in southern Alberta and the premier's former riding—formally urged the party to review Smith's leadership. Board member Tanya Clemens, a prominent independence supporter, said the move was motivated largely by Smith's public support for the "stay" option. Clemens said she still respects Smith and would likely support her in a leadership review if one were held today.
Albertans will vote on the separation question on October 19.
