Sask NDP MLA Aleana Young says she will ask the legislature to condemn both President Donald Trump’s threat to turn Canada into the fifty-first state and rising support for Western independence led by Alberta Premier Danielle Smith. Young intends to introduce a motion today stating that the Assembly “opposes Donald Trump’s threats to make Canada the 51st state, and further opposes threats of Western separation.” The legislature has set aside 75 minutes for debate, which is part of a wider discussion on “national unity.”During question period on Wednesday, Premier Scott Moe refused to close the door on a future referendum on Saskatchewan’s place in Confederation, saying only that such a vote is “unlikely under the current rules.” .Smith’s United Conservative Party government in Alberta has tabled a bill that would lower thresholds for citizen initiated referendums, a change that could make an independence referendum easier to hold.Young says she will present examples of Moe “following Smith’s lead” on everything from resource autonomy to carbon tax battles, and now referendums.Although the motion is non-binding, Sask NDP says a clear, united statement from the legislature would re-affirm that Saskatchewan stays in Canada.
