Alberta Premier Smith opens Pandora’s box with referendum question she may not control

Sadly, the lesson from the Brexit referendum is that once political leaders trigger unnecessary referendums, expected and unexpected dangers might become too difficult to manage, or impossible to suppress.
Former Conservative MP Damien Kurek, left, and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, pictured at the Conservative Party convention in Calgary in January 2026.

OTTAWA—Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, by presenting a confusing and contradictory referendum question, has opened up a Pandora’s box of dangers that could result in undermining the economic and social stability of her province and the country, and even risks her leader...

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