Sen. Marc Gold told the Senate no province may secede without parliament’s approval. Gold, a former law professor, called it “a matter of law” but did not explain how it would be enforced.“Let us simply say this government is working hard to keep this country strong and united and will continue to do so,” said Gold during question period in the senate on Thursday, per Blacklock’s Reporter. Parliament in 2000 passed the Act To Give Effect To The Requirement For Clarity As Set Out In The Opinion Of The Supreme Court, dubbed the Clarity Act. It requires that the Commons verify the wording of any question put to a referendum to ensure “a clear expression of the will of the population of a province on whether the province should cease to be part of Canada and become an independent state.”The Clarity Act preamble states: “The Supreme Court has confirmed there is no right under international law or under the Constitution of Canada for the National Assembly, legislature or Government of Québec to effect secession from Canada unilaterally.”.Kenny calls Rath ‘treasonous kook’ as he advocates for Alberta as 51st state.Sen. Paula Simons during question period asked whether the act applied if Prairie provinces attempted to secede.“The first sentence in the preamble specifically names Québec,” she pointed out.“In light of increasingly strident separatist rhetoric in Alberta and also in Saskatchewan, would you clarify whether the Clarity Act applies to provinces other than Québec?”“It is not really a matter of belief, it is a matter of law,” replied Gold.“The Clarity Act applies to all provinces.”“Could you state then what hurdles a province would have to clear before it could separate?” asked Simons.“Were I in a classroom perhaps in a law school or otherwise that would be a question I would welcome,” replied Gold. He did not elaborate..WATCH: Alberta independence group unveils its referendum question.Parliament passed the Clarity Act following a 1995 referendum in Québec that saw a slim majority of 50.6% of electors vote no on the question: “Do you agree that Québec should become sovereign after having formally offered Canada a new economic and political partnership under the bill respecting the future of Québec and the agreement signed on June 12, 1995?”The referendum was lost by 54,288 out of 4.7 million votes cast in Québec with 86,501 spoiled ballots. Turnout was 94%.Alberta petitioners, led by the Alberta Prosperity Project, seeking to secede have proposed a referendum question stating: “Do you agree the province shall become a sovereign country and cease to be a province of Canada?”
