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Carson Jerema: The separatist rebellion brewing in downtown Calgary

If after a successful referendum, separatists unilaterally declare independence, things could get ugly

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CALGARY — Whenever a practical question arises of how an independent Alberta would work, a lot of separatists tend to respond by accusing the other side of “fear-mongering.” In fact, the source of any fear is the separatists themselves. A largely disorganized group of activists, with zero democratic legitimacy, suddenly discussing, on the regular, a “unilateral declaration of independence,” or as it is known in the Criminal Code, sedition, does not exactly spell calm, confident and trustworthy. Here’s the thing: it is scary, and pointing that out is hardly fear-mongering.

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At a debate on Alberta independence put on by the Aristotle Foundation in downtown Calgary earlier this week, former premier and staunch federalist Jason Kenney pointed out just how complicated separatism would be. A successful leave vote would, theoretically, begin “complicated multi-year negotiations over everything from currency to citizenship to debt allocation to CPP to how to build a military to how to get access to trade agreements in Canada and around the world.”

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It would take “constructive relations with Alberta First Nations” and turn them “upside down,” he added. Kenney even warned of an Oka-style land dispute on all 47 First Nations in the province.

As there is no right to........

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