I am perfectly comfortable disclosing my bias on the upcoming Alberta referendum: I am strongly, passionately Canadian (did you guess?). And I view the other nine questions on the ballot with extreme trepidation.

The Government of Alberta has purchased an ad in today’s paper (see page 7), promoting a Yes vote on their nine constitution and immigration questions. These questions vary among being illogical, discriminatory, unenforceable, mean-spirited, and/or simplistic. They are presented as “common sense” options, but they omit tons of important background information.

Some of the nine questions amount to nothing more than an opinion poll — something the government could commission at any time, at considerably less public expense.

The language of the ad falls back on the meaningless and contradictory slogan of “a sovereign Alberta within a united Canada.” (I’ll say it again: we can argue for greater autonomy, but you can’t be a sovereign entity within a sovereign entity.)

A referendum is meant to give government the people’s guidance on a specific course of action. It needs to be clear and thoughtful. It is a serious undertaking, and should always be conducted in good faith.

The tactic of false consultation has been common in Alberta ever since Jason Kenney united the PCs and the Wildrose with smiles and promises, and with his fingers crossed behind his back.

Remember Kenney’s parade of foregone-conclusion “blue ribbon panels” to give the government cover for its potentially controversial actions? It’s been a signature UCP move ever since, except the “consultation” has become even less sincere.

It’s clear the intent of this whole exercise is not to decide, but to divide. If Albertans soundly rejected the notion of separation, the government would still use the other nine questions to rationalize its quiet withdrawal from Canada—to soft-peddle the “sovereign Alberta within a united Canada” wheeze.

It’s like we aspire to be the hole in the donut, if I may be cartoonishly Canadian about it.

I attended Thomas Lukaszuk’s “Forever Canadian” stop in Cold Lake on Sunday. His key message to all Albertans, regardless of their stance, is to vote. On that score he couldn’t be more right.

Albertans are proud Canadians, and the numbers aren’t close. The bigger the turnout, the more decisive, and accurate, the result will be. But complacency will distort the outcome and give oxygen to the separatists, who are highly motivated to cast their ballots.

I don’t pretend I can tell you what to think or how to vote, that’s not my place. You can take my opinions or leave them.

But I urge you to read all of the referendum questions. Read the rationale behind them, read the criticism of them, think about them, and decide for yourself. We have an opportunity to keep building this country we’ve been given, or to start dismantling it.

As always: vote as you please in October, but please — please! — vote.

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