Separatism and energy: Alberta's Danielle Smith to meet with counterpart in Quebec this week

Separatism and energy: Alberta's Danielle Smith to meet with counterpart in Quebec this week

East-west energy corridor on the agenda for upcoming meeting

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is planning to meet with her counterpart in Quebec City this week, with separatism and energy possible topics of discussion.

Speaking at an unrelated news conference in Calgary, Smith was asked about her upcoming visit with Quebec Premier Christine Frechette and expectations to talk about an east-west energy corridor.

The two premiers are also expected to speak about trade, investment and provincial autonomy, with meetings on Tuesday and Wednesday.

"I have told the previous premier every time I met with them that I talked to them about developing their own substantial natural gas resources, so that they can become energy self-sufficient from the United States and also develop export capacity for Europe," Smith said Monday.

"I know that Madame Frechette had talked about the potential for renewing that conversation."

In the past, Smith has encouraged Quebec to develop its energy sector to bring in more revenue in an effort to lift more weight in the nation's equalization program.

The federally funded program gives money to provinces with lower revenues — including Quebec, Manitoba and the Atlantic provinces — so they can offer similar levels of services and tax rates as revenue-rich ones — including Alberta and Saskatchewan.

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"So if Quebecers want to be strong and sovereign within a united Canada, starting by developing their own resources is number 1," Smith said before a speech in Montreal last fall.

"I'd love to see Quebec develop a new revenue source so that they can reduce the amount of equalization they get," she added.

A looming referendum on separation

Equalization payments have been a sticking point for separatists in Alberta, who feel they're being cheated by politicians gathered in Eastern Canada, where provinces most benefit from the program.

On Oct. 19, Alberta is set to pose several referendum questions to voters, including one on separation. It will ask Albertans if they want to remain in Canada or begin the legal process toward a binding referendum on leaving confederation.

Asked about the cost of separation, Smith said Monday that an independent Alberta could face almost $400 billion in transitional costs and about $25 billion to $50 billion in annual costs.

"All of our trade agreements would have to be renegotiated," she said.

"You don't get grandfathered in on those, and so that'll have a disruption in the economy. Presumably, we'd have tariffs on all of goods that are being traded immediately."

Quebec has long fostered movements advocating to separate from Canada, so secession may also be a topic between Smith and Frechette, as well as more provincial independence from the federal government.

"I know that I've been inspired by Quebec on a number of different fronts in passing legislation, like the Provincial Priorities Act, and others, based on legislation that I saw Quebec had," Smith said.

Smith added that she doesn't plan to meet with Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, leader of the Parti Quebecois, while in Quebec. The PQ seeks provincial secession in Quebec.

Smith said while she and Frechette wish for Alberta and Quebec to remain in Canada as separatism flares in their provinces, both have shared interests in deepening their independence.

"I think that we can have a strong partnership between Quebec and Alberta, not only on how we repair the country so it gets back to the way it was initially intended to run, but also on an energy corridor," Smith said.

Smith is also expected to meet with Quebec-based companies and industry associations.