Calgary Sun Letters, Feb. 9, 2026: ‘UCP didn’t run on separation’

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UCP separatists

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In the May 2023 election, only 5,045 Albertans voted for the Alberta Independence Party. As reported in Rick Bell’s Jan. 31 column (‘Separatism Alberta-style on the front-burner’), Premier Smith now alludes to as many as one-million Albertans voting yes for separation. Obviously, this is not a trustworthy number. Who is funding this dangerous and destabilizing rhetoric? My tax dollars should not be going to the breakup of my country. The UCP government had no mandate to hold a referendum on separation and, thereby, got into office under false pretenses. The sooner the separatist UCP party is voted out of office, the better!

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MARILYNN RUSSELL

(Time will tell how widespread the separatist movement is)

Separation petition

I have a thought for all of my fellow Albertans to consider. Whether your political persuasion is left, centre or right. Are you satisfied with Alberta’s current relationship with Ottawa? This is a question irrelevant of separation. Are you happy with our relationship? If you are not then consider this. The petition to enact a referendum on separation is going around. The greater the names gathered the more pressure on Ottawa to change, even if you do not support separation. We all win. Sign it.

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GLENN WILLIAM CUNNINGHAM

(Don’t think there’ll be many non-separatist names on that petition)

Nenshi not the one

After reading Lorne Gunter’s article about NDP Leader Nenshi’s failures to make himself available to advocate on the issues and his poor fundraising, it is clear the NDP leader is not ready for prime time politics. Alberta needs a strong leader of the Opposition as much as it needs a strong premier. Please, Mr. Nenshi, do the NDP and Alberta a favour and resign as leader. The NDP are doomed in the next election if they go into the campaign with you as their leader. Premier Smith will remind everyone in Alberta, especially in Calgary, that you were the Calgary mayor who contributed to the city having the horrific water main problem that has had Calgary rationing water like they are a third-world country. The Conservatives will make Mr. Nenshi wear his legacy of failure like a cow bell around his neck!

CHRIS ROBERTSON

(Think the NDP are going to ride or die with Nenshi)

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Dismantling the franchise

(Re: ‘Hot Topics – Is Nazem Kadri next Flames player to be dealt,’ calgarysun.com) It is looking more and more like a dismantling of an NHL franchise than a re-building of a hockey team. Just take a look at the number of key players who were either dealt away (for next to nothing) or the Flames simply let slip through the cracks in the last two or three years. It is a blatant slap in the faces of the many loyal and faithful Flames fans.

DONALD K. MUNROE

(Some players were dealt to avoid the situation where they lose them for nothing)

Fine won’t help

Well, folks, the talking heads at Silly Hall are at it again in the early stages of 2026. These geniuses have solved the crime of shoplifting in our province. All you people looking for the five-finger discount may think twice now about purloining product with a hefty fine of $250 that these broke people don’t have. Great way to add funds for the city coffers. Good job, councillors Chabot and Wyness … Not!

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KEN UHREN

(Sounds like it’s got some support in the law enforcement and business communities)

Quit complaining

I always find it funny when people complain about too much traffic during their drive or too many crowds during their holiday, not realizing they, too, are making up the traffic and the crowds. Remember when you point your finger at someone else, there are three fingers pointing back at you!

ELIZA FAIRHURST

(True enough)

Thanks for nothing

Thank you, Mark, for giving a one-time GST rebate to help with the cost of food. It will last so much longer than actually doing something to bring those costs down, like you promised. You’re a man of your word.

ROBERT McDOWELL

(A little lasting relief would be appreciated)

Big-picture thinking

For all the people complaining about higher cost of living and stagnating wages and pensions, you need to see the bigger picture. As of 2025, there are only 89 Canadian billionaires, and we need to make sure we get more billionaires or they get more money. The richest 1% of Canadians own more wealth than the bottom 80% combined. We must structure our government and economy to extract more wealth from regular Canadians and pump up the portfolio evaluations of the wealthiest Canadians.

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BRAD SCHELLENBERG

(We’re detecting a touch of sarcasm)

Supreme court control

The Supreme Court has become a disgrace. Ontario and Quebec control the court and the rest of the country can go to h—. Each province and territory makes a unique contribution to our country’s welfare that requires representation on the court. The Supreme Court must be equally representative to all parts of Canada, This means one seat for each province and territory. Perhaps two for Quebec due to that province’s use of the French Code in their dual legal system. Since then, Quebec and Ontario have had their seats increased to three each. Atlantic Canada now represents four provinces and has had its representation reduced to one seat. Western Canada is now represented by two seats (up from zero) for B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and the Northern Territories. Each of these areas is making major contributions to the welfare of Canada.

DICK VARLEY, Okotoks

(There are constant debates on regional representation on the Supreme Court, so who knows?)

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