It is referendum day in Alberta. Ten questions, including one about whether the province should remain part of Canada.

I’m all in favor of the democratic process, but this referendum seems to me to be set to create more problems than it solves.

Governments, once elected, are supposed to provide leadership. Campaign on a set of policies and then implement them. Maybe run some focus groups if you are unsure about a particular issue.

Spending the money on a province-wide referendum has me asking what the point of having politicians is. Why not just have civil servants (or AI) draft the legislation and then put it to the people. Do we need politicians?

Looking at the different referendum questions, one things stands out to me: We are a cranky people. Something isn’t right, and we think it must be someone else’s fault, so let’s look for someone to blame for the way we are feeling.

It isn’t just about whether Alberta is better off remaining in the Canadian federation. There are questions on immigration, which at first glance seem unconstitutional to me, There are questions on how Canadian institutions are structured, which to me seem to be designed solely to challenge the authority of the federal government to enforce the constitution.

Alberta’s premier and her government know that the whole process is meaningless. The immigration questions are beyond teh scope of provincial authority, even if the people vote for them.

The structural questions are a different matter. If the Government of Alberta believed these changes were a good thing, they could initiate the constitutional amending process. It doesn’t require a referendum.

I will not presume to think what is going through Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s head. She has put herself firmly on the “no’ side of the debate. But wouldn’t it have been true leadership to just not give in to those who are seeking to divide society?

If you aren’t happy with the way things are, then blame immigrants. Or blame Ottawa. Blame the Muslims or the Jews. Just find someone to point a finger at.

All the polls are pointing to a victory for the “no” side on the immigration and structural questions. That probably won’t settle any of the issues though.

Despite Quebec having twice rejected separation from Canada, the new Parti Quebecois government there has promised yet another separation referendum. Voting no doesn’t make a difference if the government wants a yes.

I suspect the same thing is true in Alberta. The provincial government wants a better deal with Ottawa. That makes them like every other provincial and territorial government in Canada. They think the referendum results will give them some extra leverage.

I doubt that. From here it looks like the government has, by holding this referendum, has added to the fracturing of Alberta’s public discourse. That isn’t what government is supposed to do.

But it is too late for that. So today we just wait for the referendum results, understanding that once the votes are counted, it won’t really be over.