Braid: Politicians set aside old grievances to campaign for Canada

As the gates begin to close, the referendum battle becomes startlingly non-partisan.

Politicians of all stripes stumble over themselves to declare loyalty to Canada.

Former NDP premier Rachel Notley pens a plea against the immigration questions, along with former PC premiers Ed Stelmach and Alison Redford.

Notley does a panel with former UCP premier Jason Kenney. Once sworn political enemies, they agree on voting yes to Canada.

Now it’s Friday morning, three days before the final vote.

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre pitches a united Canada to the Strong and Free group. The silence falls just short of booing, but he hangs in bravely.

The topper comes later Friday at the Red Hart Brewing Company in Red Deer.

This event is wildly, happily pro-Canada, with Maple Leaf flags on the walls.

Prime Minister Mark Carney is ready to speak in this packed space.

It’s quickly clear that the Liberal PM is surrounded by the cream of Alberta conservative politics, from Progressive Conservative to UCP.

Iris Evans stands right next to Carney, smiling joyously at the PM.

The amazing Evans held six major cabinet jobs in the PC governments of Ralph Klein and Ed Stelmach.

At the event, Stelmach himself is standing back a bit in his usual modest fashion.

Monte Solberg, former minister in Stephen Harper’s government, is there as a key organizer.

The crew boasts five mayors, including Calgary’s Jeromy Farkas, all set to vote yes to Canada.

Carney praises them all.

He remembers working on the financial crisis with Evans. He praises Stelmach’s devotion to rural Albertans. He says Solberg was a model of intellectual curiosity.

These conservative leaders have fought mighty battles with Liberal Ottawa. On Friday, they are united and fiercely loyal to Canada.

But who do ardent federalists really, really want to be in this Red Deer room?

Premier Danielle Smith, that’s who. And there she stands, off to Carney’s left, waiting for the microphone.

This is a tight spot for Smith. The conservatives around her mostly do not like her immigration questions. She’s is not in a UCP safe space.

Carney ends with a flourish — “we as a country are just getting started” — and then hands Smith the mic. She gets right into it.

“I think it is a pretty exciting day to be standing here with the prime minister and with people who have a bunch of different backgrounds,” Smith said.

“As you know, we don’t always agree on everything. We often disagree quite publicly on several things.

“But today we can all agree that on Question 10, we are voting for Option 1 to remain in Canada.”

The final words are delivered forcefully. She draws a big cheer.

The premier says she’ll deliver the same message later in the day, to the Strong and Free audience that froze out Poilievre.

She describes her talks with Carney; how she was “suspicious” at first but came to realize he is sincere.

She outlines the deals struck with Ottawa and praises the feds for collaborating on new judicial appointments.

The premier adds: “I think this is the beginning of an incredible new relationship.”

This can never end without a dart, of course.

Smith hands the PM a sheet promoting the other nine questions, and says other premiers agree with her on immigration.

Then the Carney show heads to Edmonton for a big closing event that might match the astonishing turnout in Calgary on Thursday night.

The referendum debate finally boils down to its essence — do you want to stay in Canada, or not?

Politicians of all stripes have set aside their differences to say yes.

That includes the premier.

The immigration and constitutional questions are irrelevant for now, just white noise.

They will be her cross to bear, later.

Don Braid’s column appears regularly in the Herald

X: @DonBraid