As Albertans await some clarity from the premier as to whether she’s prepared to champion the cause of Confederation or take on the separatists in any meaningful sense, it falls to others to take up the mantle of national unity.

To his credit, Jason Kenney has been unafraid to do so, but the fact that he is a former premier helps explain Danielle Smith’s own trepidation. The forces that worked to bring down Kenney appear to overlap considerably with those pushing for a separation vote and, clearly, Smith fears suffering a similar fate.

Fortunately, there’s a prominent Albertan, one whose level of respect and political track record in this province is unmatched by any other living politician, willing to say what Smith won’t.

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