It’s like one of the old Hardy Boys books. The Mystery of The Carney-Smith Showdown.

It all starts when the news comes Tuesday morning.

Prime Minister Mark Carney is at the microphone in Ottawa.

A newshound asks the question.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is in Ottawa on Friday to speak at a conservative gabfest.

Does Carney have plans to meet with Smith and discuss the elephant in the room, the upcoming October referendum vote on whether Alberta should remain in Canada or leave and become its own country?

Then there’s pipelines.

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So what about the Smith-Carney showdown?

Carney says he has plans to meet with the Alberta premier when she is in Ottawa. They’re having a meeting later this week. It’s being settled. It’s been arranged. He looks forward to seeing her.

When the newshound asks if the Alberta referendum vote is on the agenda of the meeting, Carney moves on to the next question.

Back in Edmonton, there is no meeting with Carney. They haven’t been told of a meeting though press outlets write of the much-anticipated meeting.

There could be a meeting. There might be a meeting.........

© Calgary Herald