Premier Danielle Smith walks a tightrope ahead of UCP AGM

You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account.

Ahead of this weekend’s United Conservative Party (UCP) AGM, Prime Minister Mark Carney is expected to sit down with Premier Danielle Smith to delineate a roadmap to pipelines, energy regulatory reform and carbon capture projects. One would expect genuine progress in these negotiations to take the wind out of separatists’ sails. But not necessarily; for some independence-minded Albertans, Carney is a separatist’s dream.

Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.

Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.

Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.

Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.

How real is the separatist movement, this time? It’s been four decades of them chirping in Alberta; but arguably, this is the most organized they’ve been. And for people hell-bent on Alberta’s separation from the rest of Canada, pipeline deals with Ottawa no longer matter.

This newsletter tackles hot topics with boldness, verve and wit. (Subscriber-exclusive edition on Fridays)

By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.

A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.

The next issue of Platformed will soon be in your inbox.

We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again

Interested in more newsletters? Browse here.

Carney puts the country further into debt, and at the same time cripples our ability to earn, grumbles one disgruntled Albertan I spoke to recently. A bad deal on pipelines can be worse than no deal at all, another suggests.

Thus, the upcoming UCP AGM presents a timely opportunity to get more like-minded people on the party board and push the premier to hold a referendum on separation.........

© National Post