Three-quarters of emails to Smith on 'path forward' address called remarks divisive: Government report
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Roughly three-quarters of the hundreds of Albertans who wrote to Premier Danielle Smith following her May 5 social media address characterized her remarks as divisive, with the same proportion expressing opposition to a separation referendum, shows an internal government report.
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Last month, video of Smith delivering an 18-minute speech was posted across her social media channels and to the government's news site.
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She listed historical grievances Alberta has had with Ottawa, set out a plan to form an Alberta Next panel to determine the province's path forward with the federal government, and acknowledged the likelihood of a citizen-led separation referendum in the future.
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It notes the volume of emails to Smith's office grew by more than 50 per cent over a week earlier, up to more than 8,000 messages, with about a one-quarter of those related to Smith's speech or a potential independence vote.
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'Three-quarters of correspondents call the premier's comments divisive and suggest they divert attention from other issues,' the report states. 'One quarter of correspondents thank the premier for laying out a path forward and giving a voice to those who are dissatisfied with the federal government.'
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The ratio was similarly specific to a potential referendum, the report states.
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'One quarter of correspondents support the idea, with many urging the premier to call a referendum and citing concerns with the new federal government,' it states.
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'A small number of correspondents pose specific questions, such as: how can they move to Alberta, how can they add their support to a petition for a referendum, and how would separation affect federal employees or recipients of the Canada Pension Plan in Alberta.'
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Postmedia also used the freedom of information process to acquire more than 170 individual responses sent to the premier's office in the hours after the speech.
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Many of those opposed to Smith's message took issue with her rhetoric they described as antagonistic.
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'I agree that Alberta has been treated poorly over the past 10 years. There is now a new government in place. Would it not make sense to give them a chance, rather than to approach negotiations in a hostile manner, with Alberta ready to pick a fight — any fight —and therefore further distancing itself from national and provincial alliances,' states one email.
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