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Carson Jerema: Danielle Smith's Captain Canada moment

There will be a referendum, but the premier made an impassioned plea for the country

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EDMONTON — Finally. In a televised address Thursday night, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith made an emotional, impassioned plea for Canada, and outlined how Alberta can achieve its goals without separating. It was optimistic, yet grounded in reality. It was emotional, but not maudlin, critical of Ottawa, but not rage filled. It is exactly what Albertans needed to hear from the premier. It might be something of a contradiction that Smith delivered a triumphantly pro-Canada speech, while also announcing plans to have a referendum related to separation, but it says something that the premier spoke more highly of Canada than any number of politicians whose patriotism is not in question.

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Smith started by outlining what makes Canada unique. She distinguished this country from the U.S., but not in the way an Ontario Liberal might. Whereas our neighbours to the south “centralizes the majority of power and decision-making in its federal government,” she said, Canada “chose a decentralized federation composed of very unique and diverse provinces left to govern themselves in almost all matters.”

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