Independence should be on the table, says Hat MLA Drew Barnes

Kenney appeared to pour cold water on the idea of using Alberta independence as a bargaining chip in negotiations with Ottawa.

“This is an argument, perhaps this is what Drew was making – certainly others are – that threatening separation or threatening a potential referendum on separation will somehow strengthen our hand,” said the premier. “Look, you don’t make a threat you’re not prepared to keep.”

In an interview with CHAT News on Friday, Barnes indicated independence shouldn’t be seen as an idle threat.

“What I’m hearing from the majority of Cypress-Medicine Hatters and the majority of Albertans – up to 80 per cent – is that they want a fairer deal with Ottawa, with our Canadian partners and if we can’t get a fairer deal, independence has to be on the table. Independence should be on the table,” he said.

Fellow Fair Deal Panel member Donna Kennedy-Glans took issue with that comment stating, “that’s not what I heard and I was every single big town hall and I was at a lot of the smaller ones. I don’t know how he can say those things.”

Kennedy-Glans also appeared irked by the idea that Barnes signed off on the panel’s report and then turned around and issued his letter.

“It was a negotiated consensus,” she said, adding the option was there for the report to have a dissenting opinion. “Lots of us had to give and take. That’s a process when you have eight people co-writing a report.”

Asked what an independent Alberta would look like, Barnes painted a fairly rosy picture.

“I think an independent Alberta could be the freest and richest place in North America,” said Barnes.

The government will now examine a number of the panel’s recommendations including creating its own pension plan and police service.

A referendum will also be held next fall during the municipal elections on equalization payments.

by Alex McCuaig

Independence should be on the table, says Hat MLA Drew Barnes

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