Opinion: It’s fun watching Thomas Lukaszuk squirm

By John Mather, The Lamont Leader and The Tofield Mercury

Thomas Lukaszuk, who led the wildly successful Canadian Forever campaign to oppose Alberta separation has suddenly been made aware that what he asked for was a referendum and what he will probably get is a referendum on Alberta’s separation from Canada.

That’s not what he wanted.

He wanted to stop the separatists in Alberta from getting their own referendum onto the table and put to a public vote.

But now it appears, his simple question, “Do you agree that Alberta should remain in Canada?” may go to a desired referendum.

And as much as he says he wants to put Danielle Smith on the hot seat and have her put it to a vote in the Alberta Legislature, that’s not what his petition said.

As received by Elections Alberta on June 5, 2025, it states:

“Therefore we, as represented by the signatory and applicant below propose a referendum on the following question…”

And that was what was submitted by Thomas Lukaszuk, former deputy premier of Alberta.

Suddenly, someone must have pointed it out to him, something I pointed out weeks ago, that voters might say yes and nip the process in the bud, or they might vote overwhelmingly no and then Thomas is the saviour of the Alberta Separatist movement.

Right now, I’m sure those various separatist factions, for they certainly aren’t united, are smiling and high fiving each other in their respective dens for pushing this forward.

You can bet when a date for a referendum is announced they will pull out all the stops to push for a no vote on Lukaszuk’s referendum question.

And Thomas will have massive amounts of egg on his face.

Oh the shame of it all!

Now I’m sure he will use this collection of signatures to collect a list of names and email addresses, line up campaign organizers and organize for a future run at the leadership of an existing or yet to be formed political party.

I fully believe Lukaszuk has been biding his time to throw his name back into provincial political circles.

In a letter to those who have viewed the Forever Canadian web site, he writes, “There have always been regional disagreements, and there will probably always be.

“However, what sets Canada apart from most nations is the fact that we have strong democratic mechanisms and institutions that allow us to either negotiate or litigate these differences. Threats of secession and weaponizing separatism are not part of our political process or a negotiation tactic. We must reject those who deploy such measures.”

“This is why I decided to mobilize Forever Canadian, a group of my friends from all walks of life, with very diverse political beliefs, to give Canadians living in Alberta an opportunity to reject separatism, show our unconditional love for Canada, and send a clear message to the world that Canada is not divisible.”

Why he never thought that his question could be rejected in a no vote is beyond me.

But now, he’s trying to put Smith into a corner by arguing far and wide to whoever will listen to put it to a vote where the Legislature will vote on this.

Now there may be some with a separatist bent in the UCP membership and even among MLAs. 

By trying to trick Smith into calling for a legislative vote would force her to possibly see a fracturing of her caucus, something, as Lukaszuk knows no politician is going to do.

So he backtracks.

In the left wing Tyee publication he states, “I appreciate the dilemma of her position,” Lukaszuk concluded, “but, let’s be frank, it was Jason Kenney and her who put themselves into this position in the first place. First, they curated this sentiment of criticism within their own party. Then they created legislation for these referenda, and then they even made it easier for separatists to have these referenda. So they have no one else to blame but themselves.”

But it was Thomas who moved ahead, quite gleefully, with his own Forever Canadian petition to beat the separatists at their own game.

But it hasn’t!

“I chose the pathway that’s legislative, that gives her the opportunity to not call a referendum,” he said. “Separatists chose the pathway that forces her to have a referendum. I’m giving her an opportunity to do the right thing.”

“I certainly hope there is no referendum,” he added. “There doesn’t need to be one. Nearly half a million Albertans spoke loud and clear. But if there is one, I’m ready for it. I’m pivoting my campaign from a petition-signature gathering campaign to a referendum campaign, and we’ll be prepared for it, just in case.”

The only problem is that’s not what his petition application said.

It proudly states “referendum.”

You made your bed Thomas. Now you have to lay in it.

Originally published in The Lamont Leader and The Tofield Mercury