Rob Breakenridge: You're not helping, David Eby
Politicians from outside Alberta are right to take the threat of separatism seriously, but overblown rhetoric isn't the way to do it
By: Rob Breakenridge
Given the absurdly high levels of support for a new pipeline from Alberta to the west coast — and his oft-stated opposition to such a project — it’s safe to say that B.C Premier David Eby is not a politician held in particularly high regard by most Albertans.
That said, as a Canadian, Eby is certainly entitled to voice his opinion when it comes to national unity. Moreover, it’s fair game for any Canadian to judge the actions of those who are not just trying to scuttle Confederation, but willing to solicit foreign support for their cause.
But so far, he’s not helping.
At the recent first ministers gathering in Ottawa, Eby stated bluntly that, “to go to a foreign country and to ask for assistance in breaking up Canada, there’s an old-fashioned word for that, and that word is treason.” Last week, in an interview with CBC, he doubled down, asserting that this “is the definition of treason.”
Of course, treason isn’t just an evocative term meant to convey disloyalty to one’s country: it’s a specific — and serious — offence, spelled out in detail in the Criminal Code of Canada. It’s a hard fit here, to say the least, which surely a former B.C. attorney general would know. And maybe we’re numb to Trump’s constant attacks on his opponents, but it’s not ideal to have elected leaders accusing private citizens of committing crimes.
Look, it’s welcome and perhaps long overdue to have politicians at the national level recognizing the separatist threat that’s been bubbling in Alberta. All of that attention can have unintended consequences, however. Can we please just ask that national leaders not inflame the situation any more than it already is?
Again, that’s not to exclude non-Albertans or to suggest that federalists have to walk on eggshells to spare separatists’ feelings while that movement goes scorched earth on all things Canada. But reinforcing the perception that the rest of the country doesn’t care about or doesn’t understand the concerns and frustrations driving this whole conversation only boosts the separatist cause. Dismissing this movement will not diminish it.
The B.C. premier would perhaps argue that he wasn’t accusing an entire movement of treason, but rather applying the term to specific actions by specific individuals. And indeed, there are all kinds of questions about the appropriateness of Alberta separatist leaders taking meetings in Washington, D.C., with Trump administration officials.
It’s unclear as to what the exact nature of these meetings has been, or even the particular participants. The separatist side claims the request has been financial assistance for an independent Alberta nation if and when it gets to that point.
The White House hasn’t commented directly on these meetings. However, there has been public comment on Alberta’s possible independence vote, with recent remarks by Trump’s treasury secretary and other assorted MAGA and Republican figures.
The optics of these meetings aren’t great and the separatist movement embraces Trump and MAGA at their own peril. Comments like those from Eby, however, play into their hands. As the separatists see it, Canadian federalists are “desperate” and “panicking” and that “this is all they’ve got now.”
It surely isn’t winning people over and it isn’t lowering the temperature. We need much better from our national leaders right now.
For his part, Prime Minister Mark Carney hasn’t done or said anything — so far — that would be seen as inflammatory in this context. Arguably his memorandum of understanding with Alberta was a measurable blow against the separatist cause.
A recent scoop in Politico revealed that Carney surprised his Liberal caucus during a December meeting where he spoke in stark terms about the potential threat to national unity brewing in Alberta and the importance of taking that threat seriously. That’s certainly encouraging, although his recent Plains of Abraham stumble in Quebec shows he’s hardly infallible on the national unity question.
We could also use some leadership from some prominent national conservative leaders who are prepared to make the case for Canada that Alberta’s premier currently feels reluctant to do.
Former prime minister Stephen Harper showed signs of that last week at an event alongside Jean Chrétien, another former prime minister. Harper didn’t directly address Alberta separatism (other than to say “I didn’t sign that petition”), but he clearly planted his federalist flag.
As he put it, “Our pride does not have to be not liking Donald Trump. We should be proud as a people and as a nation. There is no reason why this country should not be as nationalistic as anyone else. We have a lot to be proud of. It is a tremendous country.”
He went further at an event in Ottawa a day later, as his official portrait was unveiled: “In these perilous times both parties, whatever their other differences, must come together against external forces that threaten our independence and against domestic policies that threaten our unity. We must preserve Canada, this country handed down to us by providence preserved by our ancestors and held in trust for our descendants. We must make any sacrifice necessary to preserve the independence and the unity of this blessed land," he said.
More of that, please.
A recent poll from Ipsos offers an interesting snapshot of separatist sentiment in Alberta and where there are both opportunities and risks for the pro-Canada side.
Close to three in 10 Albertans say they are open to the idea of separation, which is comparable to the numbers in Quebec and a solid base for the movement to build upon. Interestingly, though, the poll shows that only about half that number are truly committed to leaving Canada. For the rest, it’s a reflection of frustration, historical grievances, and a desire for greater autonomy.
That puts separation potentially much further away from 50 per cent, but it illustrates the unpredictability of possible protest votes. If a “Leave” result compels Ottawa into constitutional negotiations, that may still be enticing to those who want a better deal within Confederation.
Conversely, the perception that true separatist sentiment is running near 15 per cent could lead to voter day complacency on the part of federalists.
Now is not the time for national political leaders to be tempting fate or playing with fire. Be aware of what is happening here in Alberta and do take it seriously. But, please, don’t make it worse.
Rob Breakenridge is a Calgary-based podcaster and writer and host of The Line: Alberta Podcast. He can be found at robbreakenridge.ca and and reached at rob.breakenridge@gmail.com
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Eby didn't say that people advocating separatism is are traitors. He said that people going to a foreign country that wants our destruction and seeking its assistance in breaking us up is treason. It is, both in the way the term in commonly understood and under the law, if one war to include hybrid warfare.
In the modern world, war isn't only conducted with boots on the ground. War is also conducted through disinformation (see Russia's current attacks on the West), economic coercion, and dark money operations.
Trump and his administration have been explicit that they want to destroy Canada as an independent nation. They have overtly encouraged Alberta's separatist movement. They are currently using economic coercion and disinformation to achieve their ends.
Any Canadian who makes common cause with a foreign country that seeks to dismantle and/or absorb our country is a traitor. Their acts are treachery. It is absolutely possible to acknowledge Alberta's grievances and attempt to redress them in house while still being able to call a spade a spade when describing those who publicly conspire against our survival.
Separatism and bashing other provinces is a tactic of mediocre and irresponsible politicians.
Smith and Eby are of a kind that way: Eby is flailing in BC, barely avoiding an election loss to a ramshackle right of center opposition party and having turned a series of surpluses from his NDP predecessor into steadily growing deficits as the wheels come off his progressive agenda. Bashing Alberta and especially Danielle Smith still gets a favorable response from his base.
Smith seems to be struggling with a fractious caucus and the populist crowd that caused so much trouble for Jason Kenney has turned to separatism. Toss in ominous undercurrents of corruption in her government and party, plus an agenda that’s offside with most Alberta opinion, and she’s turned to the old trick of blaming it all on Ottawa and punching the hippies in BC.