I recently explained why the Canada West Foundation is bringing together economists, academics and policy practitioners with expertise in fiscal federalism, trade, public finance, constitutional law and other relevant fields for a comprehensive report to be released later this summer on what Alberta separation would actually mean.

On the question of separation, it’s not a straight yes or no answer. The ballot gives two options: keep Alberta a province of Canada or direct the government to begin the constitutional process for a future, binding vote on separation. That second option doesn’t pull us out of Confederation; it opens the separation door, while the first option closes it.

Whatever happens on referendum night, the grievances that got us here still need to be tackled.

Your weekday lunchtime roundup of curated links, news highlights, analysis and features.

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I was first elected in 1993 under premier Ralph Klein, and our cabinet carried forward the fight Peter Lougheed had waged against Ottawa’s National Energy Program (NEP) that was introduced in 1980, and over the patriation of the Constitution.

At one bruising first ministers’ meeting in 1981, then-prime minister Pierre Trudeau turned to the premiers and asked, half........

© Calgary Herald