Former Liberal prime minister Jean Chrétien is taking a swing at Alberta’s simmering separatist movement and says Premier Danielle Smith “cannot double-talk all the time” about Ottawa depending on her interests.
“Now she wants the federal government to intervene in B.C. to help Alberta, but don’t do anything in Alberta to help the rest of Canada,” Chrétien said in an interview with CBC’s The House airing Saturday morning.
“Come on, you cannot double-talk all the time like that,” Chrétien told host Catherine Cullen.
Chrétien spoke with Cullen two weeks ago, shortly after a dust-up between Smith and B.C. Premier David Eby over Alberta’s plan to submit a pipeline proposal to the federal Major Projects Office (MPO) sometime next spring.
Smith says her province needs to be the proponent because private industry isn't willing to commit the necessary capital for a pipeline given existing federal regulations like the 2019 restrictions on oil tankers in B.C.'s northern waters.
WATCH | The separatist movement in Alberta:The push to separate Alberta from the rest of Canada got a big boost this weekend. Thousands turned out for a rally in Edmonton to raise awareness of the movement and a referendum question that would ask citizens if Alberta should be a sovereign country. Sam Samson spoke with some who would vote yes and why.Alberta has called on the federal government to ditch the tanker ban, alongside its proposed emissions cap and clean electricity regulations. Last month, the province also said it plans to introduce legislation allowing it to ignore international agreements signed by Ottawa.
Eby has consistently opposed Alberta’s idea, arguing the proposal is “not a real project” and threatens infrastructure projects his government is pursuing with support from local First Nations.
Smith frames Alberta’s pipeline proposal as “a test of whether Canada works as a country” since other provinces and territories get to export their key products around the world while her province faces restrictions.
Chrétien dismissed Smith’s argument, saying the province is landlocked and “they never sold as much oil as they do today, and they’re complaining as if they were bankrupt.”
“You know, you’re not alone in a country. You live with other provinces, we’re all Canadians, and the values of Canada says we’re able to share,” the former prime minister said.
A forecast released back in June by S&P Global Commodity Insights said oilsands production is on pace to reach an all-time high this year as production in northern Alberta is expected to grow by five per cent in 2025 compared to last year.
WATCH | Pipeline tensions mount between Alberta and B.C.:Tensions have ramped up between B.C. and Alberta over the idea of an oil pipeline to B.C.'s North Coast, with Danielle Smith accusing David Eby of being “un-Canadian” and Eby slamming Smith for advancing what he calls a fictional pipeline. Katie DeRosa has more on a battle that's pitting western provinces against each other.As for whether Alberta could separate from Canada, the province has not said whether it plans to actually initiate a referendum even as competing groups duel over a possible referendum question.
Chrétien said Alberta separatists “should all read the Clarity Act” — which came into effect under his government and sets the rules for any provinces or territories looking to secede from Canada.
Under the act, provinces or territories that want to leave need to craft a referendum question. The House of Commons has the power to nix the question if it feels the language will not clearly capture the will of the people. Ottawa also has to consult with all political parties in the region.
“It’s not just like posting a letter…. It is very complicated now. The question has to be approved by the Parliament of Canada. It has to be a clear majority,” Chrétien added.
During the interview, Chrétien also discussed U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade war with Canada and whether free trade between the two countries is in jeopardy.
Chrétien, who finalized the implementation of the North American Free Trade Agreement, said he was proud he excluded Canada’s water from the agreement which will become “extremely important” for future generations of Canadians.
WATCH | Chrétien warns Trump is a threat to democracy:When asked by CBC's Catherine Cullen if he believes Donald Trump is a threat to democracy, former prime minister Jean Chrétien stated that the current U.S. administration "seems to run away from values" that previously defined the United States.When asked whether Trump wants that water, Chrétien said “of course he wants it. He wants everything that is good in Canada.” However, he noted “ambition is one thing, but it’s not available [for] free. You will have to negotiate.”
Chrétien also noted “we never had a real free trade agreement” since the Americans signed NAFTA but were “not respecting it during my time.”
“When it was suiting them, they would use the free trade treaty to justify their move. But when it was an embarrassment for them, they didn’t pay attention to it.”
U.S. President Donald Trump renegotiated the NAFTA trade deal during his first term. That new deal, CUSMA, comes up for review next year. (Manuel Balce Ceneta/The Associated Press)Chrétien also warned that Trump is a threat to democracy because the U.S. president "does not care much about the rule of law," and that "could cause a lot of problems south of the border."
"Western society is built on the rule of law," he noted. "When there is no more rule of law, it’s blackmail on a daily basis, and it’s not working."
When asked whether world leaders should be more vocal about Trump’s behaviour, Chrétien said Canada needs to fight for its values but noted there are challenges since the country needs to sell its materials.
"It’s complicated — and the world will be different — and we’ll have to adjust," Chrétien said.