Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has joined Mark Carney in urging Canadians to stay together ahead of a vote she called. This is a distinctive form of national unity: the person who installed the exit is standing beside it, recommending the room.
AP reports that Smith called the vote under pressure from separatists in her party, despite opposing independence. On Friday she appeared with the prime minister in Red Deer to argue against separation. The ribbon-cutting has developed an unusual safety briefing.
Monday’s vote is not a direct decision to leave Canada. It asks whether Alberta should remain a province or instruct the government to begin the legal process toward a future separation referendum. Even the breakup has a preliminary stage at which everyone can begin worrying before the main worry is formally booked.
Carney and Smith still disagree on other ballot questions. Nobody should mistake this appearance for a comprehensive political romance. They are opposing separation together, not endorsing each other’s remaining positions.
The peace terms are modest: keep the country, resume the argument.