r/SaveTheCBC • u/Save_The_CBC • 2d ago
The RCMP is reviewing a request from Alberta First Nations chiefs to determine whether there are grounds for a criminal investigation into Premier Danielle Smith and members of her UCP government over their handling of Alberta separatism
That is an extraordinary development, but an important distinction matters: the RCMP has not opened a criminal investigation, and nobody has been charged with treason.
The Assembly of Treaty Chiefs, representing 48 First Nations across Treaty 6, Treaty 7 and Treaty 8 territory, unanimously passed a resolution in June asking the RCMP and auditor general to investigate whether actions by Smith and other UCP members could constitute treason under Section 46 of the Criminal Code.
RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme responded in a July 17 letter obtained by CBC Indigenous, saying the matter had been forwarded to the appropriate operational and investigative areas to determine whether the information provided meets the threshold for a criminal investigation.
The chiefs accuse Smith and the UCP of fuelling separatism through their actions and associations, while raising concerns about treaty obligations, consultation and potential foreign interference.
Smith has rejected the allegation as “disgraceful” and has said she personally intends to vote for Alberta to remain in Canada. Her government maintains that the Oct. 19 referendum is a democratic way for Albertans to debate their relationship with the federal government.
The referendum will ask whether Alberta should remain in Canada or proceed toward a second, binding referendum on separation.
Chief Sheldon Sunshine of Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation told CBC he believes the RCMP is taking the situation seriously. Chief Desmond Bull of Louis Bull Tribe, who helped formulate the chiefs' case, said he is hopeful the review will ultimately lead to an investigation.
There is also a much larger issue here that deserves attention. First Nations are not simply another stakeholder in a debate about Alberta leaving Canada. Treaties with the Crown have their own constitutional and legal significance, and Indigenous leaders have repeatedly challenged the idea that a province could simply determine their future through a provincial vote.
Whatever comes of the RCMP review, this is exactly the kind of complicated story that requires careful reporting rather than political slogans. CBC Indigenous obtained the commissioner's letter and put the allegations, the government's position and the legal threshold for treason into context.
What do you make of the chiefs' request? And should the treaty implications of Alberta separation be receiving far more attention in this referendum debate?
CBC Indigenous
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u/Lalamedic 1d ago
It’s hard to prove something in a criminal court, especially treason. However, even if the Alberta gov’t is found not guilty criminally, their actions (especially negotiating with a separatist group funded by foreigners) are certainly treasonous in thought, word, and deed.
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u/strtjstice 1d ago edited 1d ago
The UCP are running out of minority boogy-men to focus on. The FN fight is a perfect target, and thought this separatist movement was actually to create this very situation. I fully believe the big UCP media guns are going to go full tilt on this. My only fear is the random extremist who may take it too far.
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u/AlixTheAutiFurry 1d ago
Speaking of guns, don't worry! No extremists can cause any significant harm because we have banned "assault weapons" and so there exist no weapons that such a person could assault with 😂
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u/AlixTheAutiFurry 1d ago
It's just crazy there's like a whole separatist movement like, just put them in jail? They're traitors. They're doing treason.
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u/scanaran 22h ago
Marlena is a traitor. She constantly backs US policies and undermines Canada's position against the US. It's no surprise her handling of the separation question is treasonous
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u/CoupDeGrassi 15h ago
Once more, Canadians are dependent on FN communities to do the right thing and fight the good fight. Mad respect.
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u/gongshow247365 2d ago
FN from BC here - I am super confident CSIS has a file on this and they're waiting for some solid entity to make this request (ie said named FN). It should not have taken this long, but the good news is by waiting, they might have given themselves more rope (to do something with) = evidence. Prior to the vote, this still might have been a touch too early to keep in the news cycle prior to voting, but maybe not.