Bell: Danielle Smith's message for Alberta separatists on eve of the referendum

She has something to say to the separatists if they do not win in the referendum vote.

“You have to accept the judgment of the people,” says the premier, in a fireside chat at the Canada Strong and Free conference in Calgary, where your scribbler pitches the questions.

“A political party that doesn’t align to the majority of citizens doesn’t stay a political party for very long.

“You have to look at the wisdom of the people. It has to be your guiding principle. It has to be if you’re going to be a democratic party in a democratic government.”

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She feels those issues with Ottawa can be resolved and if they are dealt with then separatist sentiment will decline.

Smith points out many of the Alberta separatist activists came to the independence cause recently “based on the fear the next ten years would be like the last ten years.”

Smith mentions the departure of the former prime minister, his green guru and the NDP propping up the Liberals and what that means to her.

“The existential threat Trudeau, Guilbeault and the NDP posed is now gone.

“Our message is getting through and our policies are working and we just have to keep on doing that and I think we’ll be able to change the country and lock it in.”

Where some see storm clouds ahead for the party she leads, Smith sounds like she believes an Alberta blue sky will prevail with better days ahead under the maple leaf.

She sounds confident the conservative movement in Alberta she calls “a beautiful boisterous family” will remain united as the UCP heads into the provincial election this time next year.