Edmonton council unanimously opposes Alberta separation referendum

Edmonton city council voted unanimously Friday to declare that Edmonton and Alberta are vital to Canada and should remain a province.

Mayor Andrew Knack brought the motion to council before summer recess, saying the city needed to take a stand on the October referendum ballot. "I wish I didn't have to bring this forward, but I think with where we're at in the public sphere, it is important for council to be firm on this," Knack said.

Knack and Coun. Michael Janz both characterized nine other referendum questions on the ballot as racist and designed to divide. "I would argue they're quite racist and xenophobic and are triggering racism and anti-immigrant hatred in our communities," Janz said. The mayor said he wanted to address all the questions together but chose to move forward with the separation motion now, scheduling debate on the remaining questions for an August 18 council meeting.

Knack cited pressure from employers and investors about the referendum conversation's effect on Edmonton's investment climate. "I've already been hearing from employers and prospective investors about what the entire October referendum conversation is doing to our investment strategy," he said.

He urged Edmontonians to vote and make their voices heard. "I'm worried that a small number of people are going to dominate the discussion, and maybe a small number of people will get out to vote, and the vast majority of Edmontonians who want to be a part of this country, are going to be complacent to not get out and vote."

University of Alberta political scientist Jared Wesley noted a contrast with Calgary's approach: Mayor Jeromy Farkas had said cities lack the capacity to wage campaigns on the issue, while Edmonton chose to make a public stand.