{
  "id": 8527807,
  "title": "‘Why walk away?’: Emotional Danielle Smith speaks against separation at online forum",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/19/why-walk-away-emotional-danielle-smith-speaks-against-separation-at-8527807",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-19T19:51:22.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "CityNews",
    "slug": "citynews",
    "url": "https://toronto.citynews.ca/2026/09/19/danielle-smith-speaks-against-separation/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Premier Danielle Smith choked back tears as she described the historic injustices faced by Albertans under federal government rule. She opened a virtual forum co-hosted by Preston Manning and Gordon Campbell, discussing Alberta's future within Canada. Smith was set to hold a referendum on October 19th, which would ask whether Alberta should remain in Canada or pursue a separate legal process to break away. Speaking about the reasons for a sovereign Alberta to stay within a united Canada, Smith noted the anger and hurt felt by many Albertans. She recounted stories of farmers pressured by those who never made a living off the land, young families struggling to afford homes, and parents alarmed by rising grocery and utility bills. Manning praised Smith's emotional response to the issue, reminding listeners that Abraham Lincoln preferred the term \"public sentiment\" over \"public opinion.\" Smith stated that enough Albertans now view separation as a legitimate response to federal interference, and it's time to put the issue to a vote. Critics argue she is inflating these grievances to appease hardline separatists in her United Conservative party. Smith noted that Western frustration with Ottawa is not new and that for the past decade, it felt like Ottawa was trying to stifle the province's economy. While polls suggest the \"remain in Canada\" vote will win, Smith said the number of those voting for separation is still \"too high for comfort.\" However, she expressed optimism about Alberta's future relationship with Ottawa, citing battles over Bill C69, caps on oil-and-gas production, and clean-energy electricity regulations. \"I support Alberta remaining in Canada… I also believe Albertans deserve a say. The fight to make Canada work for Alberta is working. When Alberta stood up and refused to back down, the country started listening,\" she said. Smith also credited Prime Minister Mark Carney for acting constructively with Alberta, including working on an Alberta-Ottawa energy agreement and a new West Coast pipeline. \"Why walk away from the table when we're finally winning at it? And to those who have always wanted to stay — staying should not mean settling. A future federal government could undo all this progress that we've made with a stroke of a pen.\"",
  "summary": "An emotional Premier Danielle Smith held back tears Saturday as she recounted a long list of historic indignities Albertans have suffered at the hands of the federal government. Smith was the opening speaker at a virtual assembly discussing Alberta’s future in Canada, an event co-hosted by former Opposition leader and conservative elder statesman Preston Manning […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Global News",
        "title": "‘Why walk away?’: Emotional Danielle Smith speaks against separation at online forum",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/19/why-walk-away-emotional-danielle-smith-speaks-against-separation-at",
        "published": "2026-09-19T19:59:56.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}