Make no mistake, if Albertans are asked to vote on independence on Oct. 19, it will be a direct consequence of deliberate actions undertaken by Premier Danielle Smith and her government.

After all, they were the ones who decided to lower the threshold for a citizens’ initiative petition in the immediate aftermath of the last federal election. And they were also the ones who tweaked their own rules to allow separatists to be inoculated against both a competing petition beating them to the punch and a court decision finding their question to be unconstitutional.

Even if a vote for separation is unlikely to succeed (unlikely, but not impossible), it’s not a risk-free gambit, either. For as much as her government can be faulted for letting the horse out of the barn, perhaps now the premier is belatedly coming to recognize these threats.

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Let’s hope it’s not too little, too late.

There is, of course, the cloud of uncertainty this debate has created, and the extent to which it’s sucking up all the oxygen in the room and crowding out other important conversations. That’s not good for Alberta’s brand.

For example, a recent survey by the Alberta Chambers of Commerce found significant worry among its members about the effect of this discourse. More than half of respondents identified separation as their most pressing concern. A majority also expressed concern that this debate is affecting the provincial economy, with 93 per cent describing that effect as negative.

As Calgary Chamber CEO Deborah Yedlin put it: “This talk of separation brings more uncertainty here at a time when we do have opportunity. It’s not constructive.”

And then there’s the threat posed by foreign interference in this process. There have been warnings issued along those lines, and we’ve seen both the outreach by separatist groups to American officials and a stated interest by some U.S. figures to see Alberta separatism succeed.

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That should cause us to pay close attention.

There are signs, though, that Smith’s approach to all of this has started to shift. Hopefully, that indicates not just an awareness of the problems this is creating, but also an acknowledgement of the responsibility she bears as premier.

For one thing, the premier has shown more of a willingness to take a side and to make it clear that she’s “fighting for Canada.”

We have also learned that Smith is taking steps to allow for security briefings on the foreign interference threat. She told the legislature last week that she is “going through the process to be able to get a higher clearance . . . because I would like to know if there is any foreign interference happening in our province.”

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There was also an interesting moment last week while the premier was testifying before a legislative committee. While she defended the legislative and procedural changes that have brought us to this point, the premier also made it clear that her government still has some say over the next steps. Even if the petition succeeds, Smith says it’s still “up to government to then put these forward on a ballot and, depending on what the outcome is, to make sure that they’re implemented in a constitutional way.”

Given what we’ve already heard from the courts on this matter — and may yet still hear — it’s significant to hear the premier frame it that way. Mind you, that still potentially allows for the awkward scenario of an unconstitutional question proceeding, and the government disregarding the result.

It’s been argued — fairly, I’d say — that internal party and leadership considerations have been the primary driver of Smith’s response to the separatist push.

At the end of the day, however, she is still Alberta’s premier, and carries the responsibilities that come with that title.

Rob Breakenridge is a Calgary-based podcaster and writer. He can be found at robbreakenridge.ca and reached at rob.breakenridge@gmail.com

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