Bell: 'Don't vote angry' — Danielle Smith's message to Albertans on separatism

She speaks out to Albertans about the Oct. 19 referendum where voters will decide whether or not to go down the road to a vote on Alberta leaving Canada.

She also has something to say to those wanting to remain in Canada, something they can say to those they encounter who are choosing separatism because they are peeved off.

“Sometimes Albertans will overcorrect when they’re mad,” says the premier.

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“Sometimes they get a surprise outcome on the basis of just voting angry. I don’t want a surprise outcome on Oct. 19.”

Smith says it is important for Albertans to talk about why people in this province feel the way they do about how Ottawa has treated us.

Smith says she is working hard to keep Alberta conservatives together while many UCP supporters tell pollsters they want to vote to go down the path leading to a Yes or No vote on Alberta independence.

When the premier meets people wanting to go down the independence route, there are three responses to the question why.

There are those who think a big vote against the remain-in-Canada option will give Smith some leverage against Ottawa. Smith rejects this option.

The premier considers a very large number to be those individuals “who are just mad and want some way of expressing it.”

Smith is in Calgary on Tuesday with Jason Nixon, her government’s budget boss who represents Albertans in the Sundre area, a part of the province that is about as old-school heartland Albertan as you can get.

The premier says this battle to keep conservatives together is no doubt her greatest challenge.