HANNAFORD: Citizenship, passports, OAS... independence is what you negotiate

And so, one-time university professor and gay activist Dr. Kristopher Wells starts paying dividends to the people who appointed him to the Senate. Writing on X yesterday, he ‘assured’ Alberta independence seekers, ‘No Canadian passport, no citizenship, no pension, and no future if you want to leave Canada.’ That would be the Liberal line, and Senator Wells owes his comfortable ride to age 75 to the generosity of the Liberal Party. Of course he would say whatever they want him to say. .Senator disputes claim Albertans can keep Canadian passport upon Western independence.In this opinion, he is at one with former Alberta premier Jason Kenney. Kenney at least has the credibility of having first organized the governing United Conservative Party, then led it to an election victory and governed for three years. (Pity the equalization referendum never led anywhere, but he earned his right to an opinion fair and square.)But Kenney also has the not-undeserved reputation for being the smartest guy in the room more often than not… which is why it was disappointing to see him using the same Liberal talking points as Wells, also on X:‘By definition, an independent Alberta equals no more Canadian citizenship, no more Canadian passports, entitlement benefits like OAS and CPP would be subject to negotiation, with Ottawa dictating terms.’ .No. Not necessarily. The operative word is ‘negotiation.’It is of course a mistake for those seeking independence for Alberta to suppose that any negotiation following a clear majority on a clear question, as defined by the Clarity Act, would be amicable. On the contrary, the federal government is only too aware that without Alberta’s financial contribution to the rest of Canada, the entire edifice would collapse. Quebec, no longer assured of ongoing largesse from the rest of Canada, would likely follow suit…. Therefore, whatever one can imagine in terms of trickery, bad faith, manipulation of the judicial system, character assassination, disinformation and fear-based propaganda should be expected.However amicable or not, the law is clear. If the Act’s conditions are met, the federal government is obliged to negotiate. And as long as we’re dealing with matters of law, Mr. Kenney is wrong about one thing: If you paid into the Canada Pension Plan, you are legally due to receive it. This is true whether you have retired now to Costa Rica, or find yourself living one day in an independent Alberta. .That is not true of Old Age Security, or of the Guaranteed Income Supplement. These are entitlements, issued at the pleasure of the government. This would indeed be up for negotiation.Also negotiable is citizenship. From the federalist point of view, it would make little sense to threaten people who wish to remain Canadian with loss of citizenship; they’re already on your side. How many independence-minded Albertans would want to hedge their bets by retaining a Canadian passport, merits further study. At the Western Standard, we hear from a few who only want one, and that Albertan.But having as we do a prime minister who until recently had not two passports but three, the onus is really on the federalist side to say why having more than one passport is unacceptable. In fact, according to Mr. Carney, many Members of Parliament have multiple passports..As for citizenship, regardless of whether one holds a Canadian passport, there is Canadian precedent for retaining citizenship through changes of sovereignty. In 1931, the Statute of Westminster recognized that for practical purposes Canada was an autonomous entity within the British Empire. However, Canadians continued to be British citizens. It was not until 1946 when the Dominion government passed the Canadian Citizenship Act, that Canadians became 'citizens of Canada.'In other words, like residual entitlement and passports, and everything else related to an independent Alberta, citizenship becomes another matter of negotiation.Finally, Senator Wells’ comment about an independent Alberta having ‘no future’ is a matter of speculation. What is not speculative is that without meaningful change, the future of Alberta is going to look very much like its past. The difference today is that a powerful constituency has arisen that is no longer prepared to pay richly for the right to be the objects of Eastern condescension.And when the time comes, they will be ready to negotiate. And don't forget, in the great constitutional gamble that awaits... oil is trumps.

HANNAFORD: Citizenship, passports, OAS... independence is what you negotiate

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