Latest news with #ThomasLukaszuk
CTV News
30-05-2025
- Business
- CTV News
‘Reaping what she has sowed': Lukaszuk says premier stoked flames of separatism
Thomas Lukaszuk speaks with Alberta Primetime host Michael Higgins about his efforts to ensure any referendum on separation is framed with a pro-Canada question Former Deputy Premier Thomas Lukaszuk speaks with Alberta Primetime host Michael Higgins about his efforts to ensure any referendum on separation is framed with a pro-Canada question. This interview has been edited for clarity and length. Michael Higgins: You filed an application with Elections Alberta for a petition. What's the question you're pushing and why? Thomas Lukaszuk: I'm of the opinion that if we are going to have a referendum anyway on Alberta's place in Canada, that conversation must be led by Canadians, loyal Canadians, and it must be based on facts, not disinformation. So I chose to ask a question whether you agree that Alberta must remain in Canada and any form of separation must be rejected, to which the answer should be yes. I want to have that kind of a positive, constructive, nation-building conversation, as opposed to a question that, in my opinion, is contrary to First Nations treaties, to our Canadian Constitution, but that is premised on a whole bunch of disinformation. MH: How close are you to a response from Elections Alberta? TL: I think we're very close. We made sure that we did the due diligence to make sure that the application is filed properly, that the question is within the parameters of this never used before legislation, this Private Citizens Initiative Act. I'm expecting Elections Alberta to respond to us in a short order of time and approve the application. MH: You're not alone in this. Pro-separatists are queuing up at as well. What's at stake in this race to be first to land a question? TL: The first question that is asked and properly filed with Elections Alberta is the question that will be asked. You can't have two referenda on a similar or opposite question. So if our question gets approved, I firmly believe that that will be the question on the referendum. The other question, separatist question, simply falls off the ledge. But as I said earlier, I think it is important that we have this constructive talk and actually talk about what would it mean if Alberta somehow was to separate from Canada. I am convinced that the vast majority of Albertans are proud Canadians that want to stay in Canada. There are issues with Ottawa, no matter who is in government in Ottawa, but those issues can be resolved. Most Albertans don't want to even consider separation. I am more considerate about the damage that this conversation is having on Alberta and our Canadian economy. We saw what happened in Quebec during the FLQ crisis. There's a reason why Bank of Montreal has its headquarters in Toronto right now, not in Montreal, and this could be devastating to our internal economy while we live in such a turbulent world. MH: Let's say your application wins out, and it is a pro-Canada question that ends up on the ballot. Where does that leave the Smith government? What kind of position does that put the premier in? TL: It puts her exactly where she belongs. She's finally reaping what she has sewed. She has at least 14 MLAs in her caucus who are openly talking about separatism. So she is now dancing this really awkward, uncomfortable dance where she says, 'I'm pro-Canadian, but at the same time, we have to give separatists a chance to speak out', and she's making the rules easier on them by passing Bill 54. She's playing very dangerous politics and she now will be confronted, and I hope that she will be the first one to sign our petition, the pro-Canadian petition, if she really claims that she is pro-Canadian. But she has another political issue because there are new political formations, new political parties coming about who are very much pro-separation, that are taking away from her UCP support. So her political future, there's a big question mark over it. MH: How much of a battle are you prepared to wage, especially if it is that that the other side comes to the game with a with a pipeline of funding behind it? TL: Separatists have a pipeline of funding, and I know where the pipeline ends. It ends here in Alberta, I have no idea where it starts. That is a good question to ask, but you know what? We will be fundraising. We will be launching a massive campaign. We will have to raise 600,000 signatures in three months. I know that it's doable and I judge it just by the response I'm getting right now. I can't walk down the street right now without somebody saying, 'Good on you. Where do I sign? How do I volunteer?' We're getting a lot of that. The petition will be made available across Alberta in every town, hamlet and county, and I know that Canadians who happen to live in Alberta are eager to sign this particular petition. Our petition will not be won by money but it will be won by the love for Canada. MH: If it is that you don't win out, that it's not a pro-Canada question that's on the referendum ballot, assuming there is a referendum, do you switch gears? If you've got organization, do you then get active against separation? TL: We then will be encouraging all Albertans to vote no to a pro-separatist question, of course, but I don't think it takes a lot of convincing. When I have a 90-year-old lady from a nursing home in Lamont calling me, and I've never met this woman, saying, 'I'm infirm, I'm in a nursing home, but my husband fought in the war, and I want to sign the petition.' When people are this passionate about signing a petition I don't think there is a real competition. But the other side is very vocal, they're very militant, they're well organized. These are the same people that fought us on COVID vaccinations. They have their infrastructure in place, so we will hear a lot from them, but I'm convinced that sanity shall prevail.
CTV News
22-05-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
Former Alberta conservative MLA launches petition to stop Alberta separation
Edmonton Watch Former Edmonton MLA and Deputy Premier Thomas Lukaszuk says he has put forward a petition to Elections Alberta about the province staying in Canada.
Global News
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Global News
Alberta anti-separatism group that includes former deputy premier wants to pose referendum question
A group of Albertans who oppose efforts to have the province separate from the rest of Canada has filed an application to have its referendum petition approved. The group, which calls itself Forever Canada, has filed paperwork with Elections Canada in the hope of being able to ask Albertans this question: 'Do you agree that Alberta must remain in Canada and any form of separation be rejected?' Thomas Lukaszuk, who spent time serving as deputy premier as part of Alison Redford's Progressive Conservative government, told Global News on Wednesday that he filed the paperwork a week earlier because he wants the debate about separation in Alberta to be well-represented by people who want to remain Canadian. He also said he believes the number of Albertans who want the province to remain part of Canada is far larger than those who want to leave. 'We should be strong and forceful in reaffirming our commitment to our country — to Canada,' said the former politician, who was born in Poland during the Cold War. 'And those who don't feel the affinity or loyalty to our country, they shouldn't be the ones leading this debate. Story continues below advertisement 'I love this place. I moved here as a refugee 45 years ago, and every day I'm thankful to this country … for giving my family a second chance. And I just can't let go of it.' 1:55 Alberta referendum amendments unlikely to stop separation vote Last month, the Liberals emerged victorious in the 2025 federal election, but in Alberta only secured two of the seats the province has in the House of Commons. Shortly after, Alberta's UCP government put forward Bill 54 — the Election Statutes Amendment Act — which seeks to make changes to provincial election rules and to make it easier for citizens to call for a referendum. If passed, the bill would change citizen-initiated referendum rules to require that a petition be signed by 10 per cent of the eligible voters in a previous general election — down from 20 per cent of registered voters. Applicants would also be given 120 days instead of 90 to collect the signatures. Story continues below advertisement 1:48 Alberta proposes sweeping changes to provincial election laws Premier Danielle Smith has said she does not personally support the idea of Alberta separating from Canada while adding Ottawa needs to know Albertans have legitimate grievances that need to be addressed. She presented Prime Minister Mark Carney with a series of demands that she would like to see action on over the six months following the election in order to reset Alberta's relationship with Ottawa. She has accused his Liberal government of hurting Alberta's oil and gas sector with its economic and environmental policies. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy In recent months, pro-separatist voices have become louder. In April, Cameron Davies, a longtime behind-the-scenes member of Alberta's conservative community parted ways with UCP. Just days later, he was named the new leader of the Republican Party of Alberta, a party that wants to move towards independence for Alberta. When asked about Lukaszuk's petition application, Davies described the move as 'sad' and 'pathetic.' Story continues below advertisement 'It is no shock to me that leftist groups or organizers … would attempt to undermine or disrupt the independence movement,' he said. However, Davies said he believes the provincial government should be calling a referendum on whether Alberta should remain part of Canada, and noted the province had two government-initiated referendum questions that made it to ballots when Jason Kenney was premier. 'We don't believe that it should be citizen-initiated,' Davies said. 'We believe that the government that's elected to represent Albertans should listen to the will of the people and initiate a binding referendum. (We don't believe) it should be necessary to collect petitions for the government to do the right thing. 'All that's lacking is backbone and political will by the current government to call for a referendum.' Story continues below advertisement Eric Adams, a constitutional law professor at the University of Alberta, said he believes the government could face some uncertain times now that it is trying to make it easier to allow for citizen-initiated referenda. 'At some level, this is just a bit of chaos that's been created in a moment when we really need the provincial government to take charge,' he said. 'What is their position on Alberta's place in the federation and lead with that position. Instead, I think we're going to see an awful lot of instability.' Adams said he believes it was inevitable that a group like Forever Canada would file its own petition application to counter separatists' efforts. Lukaszuk said filing an application is the latest step in 'a bit of a chess game' and that he believes if his group is the first to have its application approved, it would serve as a strategic advantage. Story continues below advertisement 'There definitely are enough people who would sign a (pro-separatist) petition, particularly when our Premier Danielle Smith is making it easier for the separatists to have their petition go forward with Bill 54,' he said. 'The question is who will be leading this debate and what kind of a question Albertans will be asked.' Some leaders in Alberta's business community have spoken out about the issue recently. Earlier this month, the president and chief executive of the Calgary Chamber of Commerce said she believes a referendum on separation would harm the provincial and nationwide economy, regardless of the result. 'Businesses are not interested whatsoever in uncertainty,' Deborah Yedlin told The Canadian Press, adding she believes the uncertainty will make companies think long and hard about whether they want to invest in Alberta. 'It's bad for Alberta, but not just Alberta. It's bad for the country.' Some First Nations leaders have raised concerns about Bill 54 and about the separatist movement and its impact on treaty rights. Adams noted that if a clear majority were to vote in favour of secession, he believes Alberta's government would say it is bound by that result to pursue separation and would enter into complex negotiations with Ottawa and other provinces that could take months or years. 'It would make for a very rocky time in Alberta's political history,' he said, noting that aside from implications for First Nations, potential deals would need to be made with regard to national parks, currency, citizenship and more. Story continues below advertisement –with files from Global News' Morgan Black and The Canadian Press
