While the votes for the referendum are being tallied at the time of this writing, the question is mostly how badly the separatists got stomped, but also what comes next. Even if they get roflstomped, as the kids say, this won’t go away quietly, because the separatists are now better organized, they have voter lists, and they are organizing to consolidate power in the UCP, which means Danielle Smith’s days are very likely numbered. But that also isn’t stopping people like Pierre Poilievre and his chosen Alberta referendum appointee, Dane Lloyd, from feeding more grievance porn to the separatists to keep feeding their movement.
This is exactly the problem with the "Lead Not Leave" crowd and the federal Conservatives in this referendum debate—they refuse to disavow any of the manufactured grievances, so they just keep feeding the separatists' machine. www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/opi…
— Dale Smith (@journodale.bsky.social) 2026-10-18T02:16:11.388Z
But it’s not just the separatists, but also the other questions from Smith’s noxious nine questions, which has a lot of immigrants worried about their futures, and is creating a worse environment for everyone involved. Scapegoating immigrants is a Very Bad Thing, but don’t worry, Poilievre thinks he’s clever when he says “It’s not the immigrants, it’s Liberal immigration policy!” Yeah, that’s not what people hear, and frankly, it’s not the lesson that the white nationalists that make up the separatists are taking. The fact that Poilievre doesn’t get that isn’t surprising, but he’s also not nearly as clever as he thinks he is, and that’s a problem.
Meanwhile, the Carney government’s responses are not exactly encouraging either. It sure sounds like they are already capitulating on the immigration question, talking with the province about how they can do more to accommodate Alberta’s wishes (remember two years ago when Smith complained she needed MOAR IMMIGRANTS and that Justin Trudeau was hobbling their economic growth as a result?) This just rewards their bad behaviour and scapegoating. And now Carney himself is essentially opening the door to constitutional talks, but says he needs there to be consensus, but this just sounds to me like inviting trouble. Premiers can’t even get their shit together long enough to finally deal with interprovincial trade barriers, and now you want them to start finding ways to come up with constitutional amendments? How is this remotely responsible given the urgency of the crisis that Carney keeps insisting we’re in. Completely irresponsible behaviour, and I would say he should know better, but it’s not like he’s exactly paying too much attention to how federalism is working these days.
Danielle Smith Needs Albertan Separatists To Keep It Together Todayyoutu.be/eB_hFFSZboM?…
— Clare Blackwood (@clareblackwood.bsky.social) 2026-10-19T14:43:34.058Z
My Latest:
- For National Magazine, I delve into Friday’s Supreme Court of Canada decision on how “rape-shield” laws don’t automatically extended to questions on past sex work.
- My weekend column points to the choice that Danielle Smith now has with the UCP—kick out the separatists, or let them drag her and her party to defeat.
New episodes released early for C$7+ subscribers. This week I'm with @hscoffield.bsky.social to talk about the Canadian Tax Observatory's recent reports on the "Mega Deductions" and the Disability Tax Credit. #cdnpoli
— Dale Smith (@journodale.bsky.social) 2026-10-19T04:13:40.097Z
Ukraine Dispatch:
The early-morning attacks on Monday hit more power infrastructure, and president Zelenskyy says that they received no warnings from allies as happened in the past.
Noteworthy:
- The CRA has paid out millions of dollars to “sovereign citizen” scams without properly vetting the returns before paying it out, which is outrageous.
- Kevin Carmichael calls on the government to launch a new tax commission to comprehensively review the system in preparation for a much-needed overhaul.
- Justin Ling is encouraged by Carney’s push for Partners for Multilateralism (P4M) as a vehicle to help reform the UN into a more workable organisation once again.
- Ling also ponders some of the lies that are fuelling the Alberta separatists.
- Althia Raj walks through the major changes in Bill C-39 which Liberals seem to be either ignoring, or that they didn’t bother to read the legislation they’re defending.
Message from the King about the tragedy at Wainwright. #MapleCrown
— Dale Smith (@journodale.bsky.social) 2026-10-19T00:55:55.769Z
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