Alberta Referendum Committee Achieves Separation From Order of Operations
A legislative committee meeting on the Alberta referendum petition descended into chaos this week, which observers noted was either a procedural failure or a working demonstration of the petition's actual thesis.
The committee, tasked with reviewing the mechanics of a possible separation vote, reportedly could not agree on the mechanics of running a committee. Members spoke over each other, the chair lost the room, and at one point a point of order was raised about whether the previous point of order had ever been resolved. It had not. It is believed to be still out there, drifting somewhere over Red Deer.
Supporters of the petition said the chaos proved Ottawa was meddling, despite Ottawa not being in the room, in the building, or in the province. Opponents said the chaos proved the petitioners were unserious, a charge the petitioners rebutted by interrupting them. A neutral procedural clerk, asked to clarify the rules, briefly considered her career choices.
Premier Danielle Smith's office declined to comment on the meeting itself but issued a statement noting that Albertans deserve a fair, orderly process, ideally one that begins shortly after this one ends. The committee is scheduled to reconvene next week, assuming members can agree on what time next week is.
A spokesperson for the legislature confirmed that Hansard transcribers had been offered counselling, which they declined on the grounds that the session also could not be called to order.