Bell: Attention separatists — Danielle Smith doubles down on Alberta in Canada

In my last column , a separatist leader tells us many UCP members are not happy Premier Danielle Smith is campaigning for what she calls a sovereign Alberta in a united Canada.

They want the premier to state her position and then remain neutral. In other words, zip it!

Those separatists see Smith promoting Alberta staying in Canada as putting a finger on the scale when it comes to the Oct. 19 vote of Albertans on whether the province should remain in Canada or pursue an actual Yes/No vote on leaving the country.

Here is Smith on Monday. You cannot accuse her of not making her position plain this day.

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Smith says she wants to acknowledge the anger with the past deeds of the federal Liberal government.

The premier adds she wants to address the grievances many Albertans have with Canada and wants to make sure Alberta never gets screwed over by Ottawa ever again.

“Let’s double down on trying to make things work. That’s what I’m doing. I think the prime minister is doing that too.”

Smith goes on and talks about the founding principles of the UCP, the United Conservative Party she leads.

She says the party principles are clear. The UCP is not a separatist party. It is a party backing Alberta in Canada.

It is an odd situation since polls show many UCP supporters, in some cases most UCP supporters, are for Alberta independence.

Smith says you are always going to have “alternative voices” in every political party.

But, for the premier, what you don’t have to do is spend all the time talking about things those in the UCP disagree on.