The Government of Alberta, hours after Mark Carney won the federal election, tabled legislation to make it easier for citizens to organize and win a sovereignty referendum — NDP leader Naheed Nenshi is spreading misinformation about Premier Danielle Smith in response.Alberta's Bill 54, the Election Statutes Amendment Act, introduced Tuesday, lowers the referendum signature threshold from 20% of eligible voters (approximately 600,000) to 10% of voters from the last provincial election (approximately 177,000.) It extends the signature collection period from 90 to 120 days, simplifies citizen-initiated referendum processes, and allows mail-in ballots for constitutional referendums, making it easier for Albertans to propose and trigger referendums.Bill 54, spawned from growing Western alienation, is about far more than a ban on single-use plastics — or plastic straws — as Nenshi suggests in a video posted to social media that attacks Smith. It's about years of Alberta being on the receiving end of abuse and disrespect from Ottawa — particularly under Justin Trudeau — while at the same time having its wealth transferred to Eastern Canada. "Once again, (Smith is) gambling with the future of the country over plastic straws," Nenshi asserted in the video. "I hate paper straws. I think most people do. My country is worth more than plastic straws. You know, maybe it's just the way I was raised. But I believe that a little bit of politeness, a little bit of class, a little bit of grace, can take you a long way.".So-called clean electricity regulations, a de facto production cap, the No More Pipelines Act, and a decade of failed economic policy are evidence of Ottawa's malevolence and incompetence. Nenshi should know this and align himself with Albertans — even if he hates Smith."And what I do know in my long world of negotiating difficult contracts and difficult agreements is the number one way to get someone to agree with you is to start attacking them on a day when they just won an election," Nenshi added sarcastically.He continued, "Of course, that's not going to work. But here's the thing. The premier doesn't want it to work. The premier doesn't want to win, because if she wins, she has nothing. She has only one gear, and her gear is to fight all the time, even though she knows she can't win. And she doesn't want to win."Nenshi has lost the plot on Western alienation — he must educate himself if he wants to lead. His comments indicate he's not prepared, or willing, to stand up for Albertans against very obvious and damaging attacks from Ottawa.These issues reside outside the realm of petty politics. It's sad that he's unable to identify years-old federal hostility and form an appropriate response free of misinformation and hostility.Now is not the time for politeness or grace when it comes to defending Alberta.
