Chantal Hebert

I wasn't planning to add a lot of experience to it, but who knew?

I understand Mr. Kenney's point.

I do think though that it's a bit, it's not early to for, and when he says that, I can't help but think Jason Kenney, former premier of Alberta, former Stephen Harper minister is saying, you guys in general at the federal level need to defend federalism.

I'm assuming that first and foremost, he has to mean his own federal leader.

who is an MP from Alberta and who has been very silent compared to his usual capacity to prosecute just about any issue.

There has not been the same amount of zeal on the part of Mr. Poitier or his caucus because Mr. Poitier also is the leader of the party federally that has the most seats by far in Alberta.

So one would presume that

and I say this from the Quebec experience, that the first defenders of federalism in Alberta would be Alberta MPs and Alberta voices.

That is the logic.

I'm sure Jason Kenney did not mean...

for Minister Mélanie Joly or for the finance minister who is also from Quebec to suddenly spend their time in Alberta arguing for federalism when there are so many able voices with democratic legitimacy by virtue of being elected to plead that case.

All of that being said, when it comes to the federal government, I think it's a bit early for the federal government to suddenly have what used to be called an operation unity.

Why?

Because a lot of things are in flux in Alberta that are Alberta matters.

What has happened, for instance, to the electoral list of Alberta that was accessed by groups that shouldn't have

with people's names and addresses made public by groups that are associated with the separation camp.

That is a serious internal matter that is not related directly to the defense of federalism.

But it means, one, that there is doubt as to the integrity of the petition calling for this referendum.

Two, there is ongoing litigation in Alberta by First Nation groups from Alberta challenging the constitutional legitimacy of holding a referendum on separation under the current terms of engagement.

So the process is basically stalled by the courts.