‘Didn’t sign’ Alberta separatist petition: Stephen Harper

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Former prime minister Stephen Harper said he didn’t sign a petition seeking a referendum on Alberta leaving Canada.

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Harper said it while speaking with former prime minister Jean Chretien at an event at the Royal Canadian Geographical Society in Ottawa, where the two former leaders discussed Arctic sovereignty, rising nationalism, U.S. President Donald Trump’s disruption of the global order and ascendant separatist movements.

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Chretien was discussing the 1995 Quebec referendum, adding he didn’t understand what was going on in Alberta at the moment.

Harper replied, “I didn’t sign the petition.” Chretien then asked, “Any Tories did?” to which Harper replied, “I’m told not.” After the exchange, Chretien said, “Canada will remain united, don’t worry.”

Trump bringing us all together: Harper

Harper touched on Quebec provincial politics. The Parti Quebecois’ resurgence has political observers anticipating that a referendum is likely in the future.

Harper said it will be interesting to see how Quebec politics evolves this year and noted that he ran into a very prominent longtime separatist — whom he would not publicly name — a few months ago and chatted with them about what Trump is doing to international affairs.

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Harper said he remarked, “This is the reason we have to stick together.” He said the separatist then lowered his voice and replied, “I think you’re right.”

Canada’s sovereignty has come to the fore since Trump took office. The president has openly mused about annexing Canada for more than a year now as he batters the country with tariffs. He has referred to Canada as the “51st state” and to current Prime Minister Mark Carney and former PM Justin Trudeau as governors.

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‘End of the American empire:’ Chretien

Chretien said there is a major shift in geopolitics that will likely lead to the decline of American dominance in the world, but that Canadians should rest assured that their country is in a good position despite what he believes to be an inevitable global shift.

“We’re living in a very important time in the world. It’s a big shift. It’s probably what I would call the end of the American empire and it has to come. All the empires change. Now, you know, it’s accelerating, but we’re in a very good position,” Chretien said.

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In the meantime, separatist movements are on the rise in Alberta and Quebec. A leader of Alberta’s separatist movement said recently that some members of Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s United Conservative Party caucus have signed the petition pushing for a vote on separation.

Harper is in Ottawa this week for the unveiling of his official portrait on Parliament Hill on Tuesday and to mark two decades since the modern Conservative party was elected to government for the first time. The geographic society awarded Harper a gold medal, its highest honour, for his long, distinguished career in public service.

— With files from The Canadian Press.

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