One of the key themes of the Alberta referendum this week was sending a message. Now we will have to see which message was received.
If art is in the eye of the beholder, then messaging is in the ear of receiver. Alberta separatists believe this week’s referendum was a starter, not an end point even though those on the other side of the argument believe Alberta’s definitive rejection of the separation option was final.
Those are quite different assessments of the same result leading to the question: what did the rest of Canada or the world for that matter hear?
Is the rejection going to be interpreted in Central Canada and Ottawa as ‘Alberta is happy with Canada as we know it” or is Central Canada going to say: we’re willing to make some changes to the way we do things because 25-percent of Albertans are unhappy? Will they, for example, say let’s reform the Senate or rewrite the way equalization is calculated at a time when Quebec – the largest recipient so equalization – has just elected its own separatist-minded government?
— For more than 50 years, Paul Martin has specialized in coverage of the business and political scenes. His career has spanned radio, television and print and electronic media.
