Fact check: Canada has no say in a provincial referendum on independence

Subhead:The Supreme Court ruled that a clear majority of the population of the province expressing a desire to secede would confer “democratic legitimacy” on the initiative.# In a post on X lecturing Albertans , former Jason Kenney staffer Howard Anglin stated, “Democracy also requires that all Canadians have a say when a fraction of the electorate in one part of the country tries to break Confederation.” This old canard was often used in the 1990s claiming that a national referendum should be held to determine the future of Quebec rather than allowing the province to vote upon its own destiny. In his posting, Anglin also said, “Democracy is not a free floating concept. It operates within existing institutions and social constructs.” Canada’s existing institutions don’t support Anglin’s assertations. The Clarity Act and the Supreme Court of Canada’s 1998 Reference re Seccession of Quebec chart the legal path for a province to democratically vote to secede and the input of the rest of the country is not required.

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