Alberta premier ‘cannot double-talk’ about Ottawa depending on her interests: Chrétien

Former Liberal prime minister Jean Chrétien is taking a swing at Alberta’s simmering separatist movement and says Premier Danielle Smith “cannot double-talk all the time” about Ottawa depending on her interests.

“Now she wants the federal government to intervene in B.C. to help Alberta, but don’t do anything in Alberta to help the rest of Canada,” Chrétien said in an interview with CBC’s The House airing Saturday morning.

“Come on, you cannot double-talk all the time like that,” Chrétien told host Catherine Cullen.

Chrétien spoke with Cullen two weeks ago, shortly after a dust-up between Smith and B.C. Premier David Eby over Alberta’s plan to submit a pipeline proposal to the federal Major Projects Office (MPO) sometime next spring.

Smith says her province needs to be the proponent because private industry isn't willing to commit the necessary capital for a pipeline given existing federal regulations like the 2019 restrictions on oil tankers in B.C.'s northern waters.

Alberta has called on the federal government to ditch the tanker ban, alongside its proposed emissions cap and clean electricity regulations. Last month, the province also said it plans to introduce legislation allowing it to ignore international agreements signed by Ottawa.

Eby has consistently opposed Alberta’s idea, arguing the proposal is “not a real project” and threatens infrastructure projects his government is pursuing with support from local First Nations. 

Smith frames Alberta’s pipeline proposal as “a test of whether Canada works as a country” since other provinces and territories get to export their key products around the world while her province faces restrictions.

Chrétien dismissed Smith’s argument, saying the province is landlocked and “they never sold as much oil as they do today, and they’re complaining as if they were bankrupt.” 

“You know, you’re not alone in a country. You live with other provinces, we’re all Canadians, and the values of Canada says we’re able to share,” the former prime minister said.

A forecast released back in June by S&P Global Commodity Insights said oilsands production is on pace to reach an all-time high this year as production in northern Alberta is expected to grow by five per cent in 2025 compared to last year.

As for whether Alberta could separate from Canada, the province has not said whether it plans to actually initiate a referendum even as competing groups duel over a possible referendum question.

Chrétien said Alberta separatists “should all read the Clarity Act” — which came into effect under his government and sets the rules for any provinces or territories looking to secede from Canada.

Under the act, provinces or territories that want to leave need to craft a referendum question. The House of Commons has the power to nix the question if it feels the language will not clearly capture the will of the people. Ottawa also has to consult with all political parties in the region.