It was a slow week on the separatism front, but then, at the last minute, Albertans got something new to be confused about. The government announced Friday it is creating a panel to assess the costs of separation. This was expected after Premier Danielle Smith spoke about $400-billion costs, big prices for provincial police, border security, and other factors.
Panel Composition and Reactions
Her comments were welcome to firm federalists, but not to separatists who believe she is rigging the game and that their facts will not be considered. Now there is a panel guiding the University of Calgary's School of Public Policy, which will absorb the panel's learnings, then produce a report that will be further assessed by the panel.
Martha Hall Findlay, the director of the School of Public Policy, quickly stated: "While the panel will offer input, the school will retain full and independent control over the final report." However, what happens next remains unclear. Dr. Jack Mintz, panel leader and no stranger to the policy school, said: "After the report is completed, the advisory panel will review the findings and deliver an independent written assessment." Obviously, the panel might not agree with everything in the report. Then the kicker: "This approach will allow for further and potentially differing views to be shared, ensuring Albertans are equipped with all the facts." At the very end, it appears, separatists will get their say and perhaps influence the final review. The facts will become yet another collection of opinions.
Panel Members and Their Stances
As for the panel, it is carefully constructed not to offend separatists. Mintz is a longtime conservative adviser and ardent critic of Ottawa policy. Ted Morton, former Alberta finance minister and PC leadership candidate, is a fierce and ardent foe of Canada's structure and policies. Morton was one of six who signed the 2001 firewall letter, which was fiercely controversial at the time but now reads like another day around the water cooler in Smith's office. A 2020 book, co-edited by Morton, Mintz, and Tom Flanagan, said: "None of us favour separation as a first option. But we also see it as a viable last resort if all else fails."
The other panellists are Adam Legge, president of the Business Council of Alberta; Alex Pourbaix, Cenovus board chair; and Janice McKinnon, former Saskatchewan finance minister. Earlier, McKinnon's report on UCP government finances launched cost-cutting and propelled private medicine.
I have great regard for the School of Public Policy, almost unique in its contribution to quality research on national issues. The school will do this job seriously and professionally. But the process—a panel studying a study that will then be reviewed by the panel—leaves many Albertans puzzled about the true intent and outcome.
