Alberta independence group releases its ‘transition plan’ to become a country
Federalist says plan like showing up for dinner after divorce
An independence group has released a “transition plan,” sketching out what it sees as a roadmap should Albertans vote in the future to become a sovereign nation.
asserted
Albertans → release → future
The Alberta Transition Council released the 214-page report on Thursday, laying out a series of proposals tied to how life in Alberta might look in the event of a future “yes” vote on independence.
uncertain
life → release → independence
The report also touches on a range of regulations and institutions the group identifies that would need to transition to Alberta’s control through negotiation, including with Ottawa.
asserted
that → touch → Ottawa
Those proposals vary in scope, from the continuity of social programs to air traffic control to the implementation of a new constitution and the relationship with First Nations.
asserted
proposals → vary → Nations
Lawyer Keith Wilson, who leads the Alberta Transition Council and is also a leader with the independence group Let Alberta Decide, says the aim is to outline how Alberta’s exit from Canada could run smoothly.
uncertain
exit → lead → Canada
“What we need to remember is we’re not starting from scratch, right?
asserted
we → need → scratch
Those people who work at the airports, we’re not going to blow up the airport.
asserted
we → work → airport
It’s still there,” Wilson said.
asserted
Wilson → ’ → ?
“All we’re doing is changing the payroll.”
asserted
we → do → payroll
But one critic argued any transition planning is far off and the plan is “unrealistic” about what are certain to be complex negotiations.
asserted
what → argue → ?
“Many of those issues would take many, many years, potentially, to be fully discussed and possibly never come to a conclusion
uncertain
Many → take → conclusion
,” said Errol Mendes, a professor of constitutional and international law at the University of Ottawa.
asserted
Mendes → say → Ottawa
Not all in Alberta's control, report says
Albertans go to the polls on Oct. 19 to vote on whether Alberta should stay with Canada, or hold a second, binding referendum to separate.
asserted
Alberta → say → referendum
Polling suggests a minority of Albertans presently support the idea of secession.
uncertain
minority → suggest → secession
The guiding idea, according to the group, is to not approach the transition as the creation of a country “from scratch.”
uncertain
idea → guide → scratch
“Alberta independence would not eliminate Alberta’s relationship with the rest of Canada,” the report reads.
asserted
report → eliminate → Canada
“It would change the legal and governmental framework within which that relationship operates.”
asserted
relationship → change → which
At the same time, the report acknowledges not all of this is in Alberta’s control.
asserted
all → acknowledge → control
Debt, mobility, energy infrastructure, pensions, borders, and assets are among the areas where negotiation would be needed with Canada, First Nations and others.
asserted
negotiation → need → Canada
Outcomes cannot be known or guaranteed, the report states.
asserted
report → know → ?
The document claims 45 Albertans in fields including banking and currency, law, international trade, First Nations and policing contributed to the preparation and review of the package.
uncertain
Albertans → claim → package
However, the identities of those individuals were not made public.
asserted
identities → make → individuals
Wilson said confidentiality was put in place to ensure contributors don’t face “cancel culture" or harassment.
asserted
contributors → say → culture
“The report will speak for itself.
asserted
report → speak → itself
And Canadians, and many people in the world, are growing leery of the ‘experts say’ stuff anyway,” Wilson told CBC News.
asserted
Wilson → grow → News
“People will be able to evaluate it.
asserted
People → evaluate → it
“Each one of us have our own level of life experience that we’ll be able to hone in on — something we’re very familiar with — and say, ‘Hey, do the base facts seem accurate?
asserted
facts → have → that
Does this analysis make sense?’”
asserted
analysis → make → sense
The document is one of several released recently that explore the various ways Alberta separating from Canada could impact people’s daily lives.
uncertain
separating → release → lives
Alberta separation too costly with too many uncertainties, warns Calgary think-tank
A president, open-carry gun laws, elected judges: Group floats vision for an independent Alberta
From currency to mortgages to military
In the introductory section of the paper, a series of questions is posed.
asserted
series → warn → questions
“How will laws continue?
asserted
laws → continue → ?
How will courts operate?
asserted
courts → operate → ?
How will salaries and pensions continue to be paid?
asserted
salaries → continue → ?
How will money continue to move through banks?
asserted
money → continue → banks
How will airplanes continue to fly?”
The group offers some ideas.
asserted
group → continue → ideas
On day one of independence, the group suggests using the Canadian dollar “because it minimizes contract, pricing and consumer disruption.”
uncertain
it → suggest → disruption
“Other possibilities — including use of the U.S. dollar, dual-currency arrangements or a future Alberta currency — remain longer-term or contingency choices,” the report reads.
asserted
report → include → dollar
In many cases, a full resolution isn’t offered yet.
asserted
resolution → offer → cases
On pensions, the group proposes to keep pension payments going for now, leaving the negotiations over future plans for pensions and asset transfers for later.
asserted
group → propose → pensions
What would happen to mortgages in the event of a separation vote has been a big question in the run-up to the referendum.
asserted
happen → happen → referendum
…and 30 more, not listed.
The Aporia
