Premier Danielle Smith hails Alberta referendum results as a 'reset' with Ottawa

And so, Julia, we have a clear result on the central question of the referendum, but also some signs this story isn't over. That's right. You know, the debate over separatism has been divisive, but tonight, as you mentioned, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith releasing that address to the province, appealing for people on all sides of the issue to unite. Yesterday, Albertans made their choice. Today, we begin the next chapter. After a contentious few months, a plea for Albertans to come together. It is time to unite and lead our nation forward because Canada has so much to offer and has such a solid foundation to build upon. And there is so much more that unites us than divides us. This after CBC News projected Albertans voted to remain in Canada. A result that elicited a muted response from supporters of independence and mixed reactions from Albertans. I'm glad it happened so resoundingly that we showed there's a strong desire to stay. If we're still in Canada, that is fantastic. But at least what we need is a voice to be heard, right? That's what this is all about, being heard in Western Canada. Most of us have agreed that we want to stay in the country of Canada. It's the best country in the world. With one in four Albertans supporting a second binding referendum, federalist campaigners say separatists need to feel they've been heard. We can't have, you know, 20% of Albertans going around feeling not heard, feeling to be on the margins of our national conversation. We need to bring them into the fold and encourage them to participate in a positive, constructive way. But some supporters of independence aren't abandoning the cause. We obviously have to work harder to get them to vote, you know. This movement has to become government at some point or it's not going to succeed. Do I want to see Danielle Smith stay on as premier? Right now, no. Right now, no. I think Danielle Smith has betrayed her base again, and I think that's enough. Where do you think these results leave Alberta politically? More divided. That division leaves the premier in a tough spot, says this political scientist. Danielle Smith has been pitted between her party membership, which is mostly a separatist base, and the general electorate on many questions, including this one, for quite a long time. And she's been trying to reconcile those things. There were also nine other questions on the ballot. Five about immigration, such as whether to limit access to health care and education for non-permanent residents. And four about the Constitution, such as whether to eliminate the Senate. For the vast majority of the questions, the results appear to show at least a slim majority. And Julia, we got a hint of the Premier's position tonight, but still, she's scheduled to take reporters' questions on Wednesday, I believe. Yeah, she is, and this will be her first time facing media since these results. And then looking ahead, she will also have to answer to her party at the UCP's annual general meeting next month. All right, that is Julia Wong at the Alberta Legislature tonight. So now let's bring in someone who has his eyes on all things political in this province. This is Jason Markisoff, of course. So can we start, Jason, with Daniel Smith's message tonight? What did you take from it? So she said a lot of things that she's said before, talking the good talk about pipelines, having confidence that Mark Carney has really turned the page. talked about bringing us to a next chapter for Alberta. She has a clear mandate. Some of the subtle changes were interesting. She's often talked about a sovereign Alberta within Canada. On her placard in front of her speech, she's talking about a stronger Alberta within Canada, not sovereign, taking away that sovereignty thing. Also, at the end of her speeches, she often says, may we keep Alberta strong and free. She said, may we keep Alberta and Canada strong and free. So she's, I think, realizing that so much of the province has said, you know, joined her in pro-Canada and she's trying to suggest to that movement, that side, that she's with them. So after this vote, you know, if you look at the Alberta independence movement, it's kind of at a crossroads. What's your gut on where it goes from here? Well, the one quarter of the populace that voted to leave or pursue independence, they're United Conservatives. They believe that Alberta is, you know, they do not join her in this and She has to keep her party together. It's been a long struggle for her. And they're going to take these sentiments right to her door. This is their next fight. It's going to be to the United Conservative Party convention next month. Some people will want to try to take her out as leader. Some people will want to try to join the board and make the party more separatist. She knows that that's not popular within the province. And while she's trying to move past October 19th, she also has to move to October 18th next year, which is the next provincial election. And she's lost track in the polls because of the referendum politics. So we have the other nine questions, right? The final results, they're still not in for those. They're still being tallied. But Smith hinted that they might shape her approach to Ottawa now. Yeah, those are going to be her next challenges for Ottawa, to Ottawa. I mean, she still wants to take the fight to Ottawa. She still wants to be seen as tough on Ottawa. So she'll be fighting for immigration reform, constitutional reforms. Will she get a fully constitutional or will she have to push judicial reform? We'll see. There's lots to see. There's lots to wait for. Listen, Jason, thank you very much for tonight. Thank you for your analysis all throughout this. I know you're not done. That's Jason Markusoff here with me in Edmonton tonight. Now, outside of Alberta this evening, there's a lot of relief that the vote is done and that the issue of separation for now seems settled. But as Kate McKenna shows us, the results of some of those referendum questions could raise new issues for the federal government. It's a great day for Canada. In Ottawa, a sigh of relief as three-quarters of Alberta voters reject the idea of separation. I'm thrilled that Albertans have chosen unity. The Prime Minister, fresh from a visit to Alberta, says he spoke to Premier Danielle Smith about the results. We turn to the referendum and moving forward in the spirit of cooperative federalism. Saskatchewan's Premier credits in part a change in federal leadership, saying Mark Carney's pro-building agenda is making a difference. If you compare the current Prime Minister to who he should not be named, I think you could say that the previous fellow would not have approved the Major Projects Office or put that in place, would not have passed Bill C-5, would not be looking at Bill C-39. I really hope that Albertans recognize that their fellow citizens have spoken and we can all work together on addressing many of the issues that we have in common. But some issues are now in sharper focus. Early results from the other nine referendum questions suggest Albertans want more provincial control on immigration. Carney argues improvements are already underway. Where we go from here needs to be established in cooperation with the provinces. The provinces should have control in selection and numbers because they have to provide the services, regulate the job market and the housing for people who come in. Pierre Poilievre criticized Carney for encouraging Albertans to vote against the other referendum questions. but he's applauding their rejection of separation. Conservatives are thrilled to see Albertans vote for a stronger province within a united Canada. Other referendum questions include calls to amend the Constitution, to do things like abolish the Senate. Last week, Carney didn't shoot down the idea of reopening the Constitution. Am I open to constitutional reform? Yes, I'm open to it, but I'm not open to, or I'm open to it with laying the groundwork for consensus. But after the vote, he was being more reserved. What I favour is working now pragmatically to common solutions. Constitutional change is difficult, it's long. The Prime Minister and Premier have found a way to work together. Carney has described that as a tough collaboration, saying Smith has consistently put the most difficult issues on the table. So Kate, some referendum questions clearly call for amending the constitution. How likely is that to happen? Well, it is notoriously difficult to amend the Canadian constitution. It requires buy-in from other provinces, including in some cases unanimous agreement. And some of the issues Alberta is talking about, including abolishing the Senate and giving provincial laws priority over federal laws, are likely to be controversial. All right. Thanks, Kate. That is Kate McKenna in Ottawa tonight.