Rob Russo

I would say it's not unusual, is what I would say.

I think it's clear that Donald Trump would be the first foreign leader to recognize an independent Alberta citizen.

If Albertans ever voted 51% to 49%, let's say, in favor of independence, he would be apprised of the requirements of the Clarity Act, one of which is in order for a legitimate unilateral declaration of independence to be seen as legitimate, there has to be foreign recognition.

He would know that and he would do it.

So would he interfere that way?

Yes.

Let's go backwards.

Has he already sort of stumbled and interfered in the debate?

Sure he has.

Scott Besant has made that mistake.

But, you know, there has been our history is replete with foreign interference.

And sometimes we ask for it.

All of us were around in 1995.

I have no doubt that Jean Chrétien solicited Bill Clinton's help ahead of the 1995 referendum.

And when Warren Christopher was asked the day or two before the referendum in 1995 whether or not Quebec could automatically exceed the North American Free Trade Agreement, he made it clear that that would not be the case, that they would have to negotiate their way in.

And implicit in all of that was all of this protection for the French language would be under threat and all.

So, like, this is par for the course.

Sometimes we like it and sometimes we don't.

We certainly don't like it in this instance.

My invitation has been lost in the mail the last couple of years, believe it or not.