The Oct 19 referendum voting edges closer. Mostly dormant now, this weird provincial project will explode on the Alberta scene after Labour Day.

Most of the 10 questions are detailed and complex, except for one on separatism, which comes in two parts but somehow finds itself on top of the ballot, despite being that last one in the door.

Voters check the box on two options:

“Alberta should remain in province of Canada.”

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“The Government of Alberta should commence the legal process required under the Canadian Constitution to hold a binding provincial referendum on whether or not Alberta should separate from Canada.”

It’s unclear whether a voter who says YES to the first part then moves on to vote NO on the second, or simply goes home, ignoring the following nine questions.

Or vice versa. Or whatever. Very little about any of this has been clear from the start.

Five of the following nine questions are an opinion survey of issues that might be policies the UCP can use to win the 2027 election.

The public’s view could have been tested with an opinion survey funded by the UCP, rather than through a wildly expensive public referendum.

But Premier Danielle Smith wanted a full-blown vote with polling stations........

© Calgary Herald