Hundreds gather in Alberta town to discuss referendum complexities with political scientist

By Johnnie Bachusky

Lori Williams packed an audience at Innisfail Library/Learning Centre for a non-partisan presentation on the 10 ballots Albertans face in the upcoming referendum

INNISFAIL – A referendum forum facilitated by a Calgary university professor was held in Innisfail last week before a packed mixed audience of passionate pro-Canada supporters and those believing Alberta must become independent.

However, that passion never once hinted of hostility.

Instead, it was an evening for 150 attendees to listen intently to a calm and measured academic offering credible and well researched facts to an audience hungry for more information to guide them to make the best decision for themselves and their families during the Oct. 19 referendum.

The Innisfail Library/Learning Centre’s Community Room was packed on Sept. 28 with 150 citizens looking for answers to their questions.

The evening was organized by Engaging In Democracy – Innisfail and billed as a free non-partisan community information event.

It featured a detailed presentation from Lori Williams, an associate political science professor at Calgary’s Mount Royal University, on the 10 ballots, including one on separation and nine unrelated ones, being put to Albertans on Oct. 19.

Williams’ Innisfail presentation, which followed several other similar ones in Central Alberta, was designed to offer citizens an analysis on the referendum process and putting it into a broader context of democracy.

Her presentation was also crafted to offer a better understanding of the provincial government’s referendum process and thresholds, public disinformation, special ballots, advanced polls, and a bit on each of the other nine different ballots, such as ones on the constitution, immigration, judicial appointments and senate reform.

However, Williams, conceded there were many “nuances and complexities” to each one, and that it would be beneficial to do more research leading up to the referendum.

Williams made it clear from the start she wanted to hear from all sides of the discussion, noting in recent years there has been significant trust challenges.

“We all have something to say, or something legitimate, or something to contribute as fellow citizens, and I take that really seriously,” Williams told the audience. “What has happened is there’s been an emergence of a particularly strong thread of seeing elites, however you define those, as being corrupt and not worthy of trust.

“I think a lot of trust in science was significantly damaged during COVID, and then of course the restrictions on peoples’ freedoms really rubbed most,” she added. “I’m absolutely interested in the conversation about why that may or may not be a legitimate argument,” she continued. “We tend in this context to caricature the people with whom we disagree.

“If they’re seen as threatening, sometimes we call them stupid or evil or dangerous or some combination of all of the above, and we actually dehumanize one another when we do that.”

Williams’ presentation attracted a diverse audience of citizens.

Most were from Innisfail and the surrounding area.

Others came from all parts of Central Alberta with a wide range of views, from committed Albertans satisfied with the status quo on most of the 10 referendum ballots and others fully believing Alberta should remain in Canada or Albertans fully invested on the province becoming an independent nation.

Following her presentation Williams noted the Innisfail audience was “more diverse” than others she’s heard, noting attendees from all sides of the political spectrum advanced a “very respectful set of questions and concerns.

“I think a lot of information was shared tonight,” said Williams. “Some of which was new to me, some of it which would have been new to the audience, and it was quite helpful.”

Cindy Messaros, a member of the event’s organizing committee, praised both the audience and facilitator.

“I thought the information was very thorough, and the audience was engaged,” said Messaros. “Most people who got their tickets were here, and that showed really great community engagement.”

Messaros added audience questions were advanced in “good faith”, which added to the overall civility of the event.

“I think that points to the fact the information coming out was being absorbed, because if it wasn’t there would have been maybe some hostility, or there would have been more energy going into the questions, and I didn’t see that so much,” said Messaros.

Red Deer’s Buzz Vander Vliet, who attended three earlier referendum forums, gave a thumb’s up to Williams, emphasizing she delivered a “solid presentation” that gave the audience the needed facts without involving partisanship.

“I’m glad the whole thing went respectfully and quietly,” said Vander Vliet, conceding he did not learn anything new. “There are some details that come out, and you’ll always pick up new details. But other than that, it’s been a similar story all along.”

Mary Flemming, a well-known local separatist who attended the presentation, held a similar view, noting there was not any new persuasive information brought forward.

“She (Williams) put up (social media) posts of sources to be careful of, and believe me, I’ve never gone on any of those,” said Flemming, adding she felt Williams was a “little biased” with her presentation facts.

“I’ve studied it, followed it, read it, thought about it, and it (presentation) didn’t give me any extra information.”

However, Innisfail mayor Jean Barclay said referendum issues are complex and many attendees might have been challenged to go through all the questions and “take all the information in.

“I hope people will go home and think about it, and go onto some of the sites that Lori has recommended and do more research because, as she kept saying, ‘there’s a lot of nuances and complexities to all the questions,” said Barclay, who was also impressed with the demeanor of the audience.

“We need to get to a point where we can have civil disagreements,” she said. “It’s okay to have different opinions, and diversity is one of our strengths.”