Alberta minister skirts questions about separation vote, says it's an important topic

Alberta MLA Devin Dreeshen arrives at the United Conservative caucus to determine next steps after leader Jason Kenney announced he is stepping down, in Calgary, Alta., Thursday, May 19, 2022.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

A senior member of Premier Danielle Smith’s government skirted questions again Tuesday about how he’ll vote in Alberta’s referendum on whether the province should remain in Canada.

Devin Dreeshen, talking to reporters at an unrelated news conference, was asked repeatedly whether he would vote on Oct. 19 for Alberta to stay or to hold a second, binding referendum on quitting Canada.

He said it’s important Albertans have their voices heard.

“The October referendum vote is something for all Albertans. It’s not a vote in the legislature,” said Dreeshen, who is Smith’s transportation minister.

“There’s a tremendous amount of people wanting to have this referendum, and I’m glad that it’s being put forward to Albertans.”

Asked why he has refused to say how he’ll vote, Dreeshen repeated that he’s glad Albertans will have a chance to cast a ballot.

He also said he’s proud the government is battling a judge’s decision to throw out a citizen petition calling for a separation vote.

Dreeshen has previously declined to say how he’ll vote in the referendum.

At an unrelated news conference last month, Dreeshen downplayed the importance of his singular vote and said he wants to see more pressure put on Ottawa to take action to foster national unity.

His comments are at odds with Smith and other members of her cabinet, who have pledged they’ll vote to stay in Canada and urged their constituents to do the same.

“Now is not the time to give up on Canada. It is time to double down and help Canada reach its incredible potential,” Searle Turton, the children’s services minister, wrote in a public letter last month.

Smith has said she doesn’t police the personal views of legislature members but that the official position of her United Conservative Party and government is that Alberta should remain in Confederation.

Opposition NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi said Dreeshen’s silence speaks volumes.

“Many other UCP MLAs and ministers are also ducking the question,” Nenshi said in a statement.

“It’s clear that there are separatists in the UCP government.”

He added, “Danielle Smith put this national unity crisis question forward. She must come clean with Albertans, right now, about how many of her MLAs are separatists.”

Another UCP legislature member who hasn’t toed the line established by Smith is backbencher Jason Stephan.

Earlier this year, Stephan encouraged all Albertans to sign the petition calling for a separatist vote. More recently, he said Smith’s energy deal with Ottawa, which includes a proposed Alberta oil pipeline to the B.C. coast, isn’t good enough for Alberta.

Smith has hailed the deal as necessary to tamp down the separatist cause and prove Canada can work.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 21, 2026.

Jack Farrell, The Canadian Press