On Treason by Patrick Lennox

Reviewed by Timothy Niedermann

In by-gone times this book might have been characterized as a bit of a polemic. These days are different, alas. “A wake-up call” might be the most accurate description of On Treason now, for, though author Patrick Lennox’s tone often borders on alarmist, there is good reason for it—as he amply and convincingly demonstrates.

The impulse for writing this book was this year’s October 19 Alberta referendum on whether that province should separate from Canada to become an independent state. Somewhat bizarrely, thanks to the procedural rules the separatists tried their best not to follow but, in the end, had to conform to, this is, in fact, a referendum on whether to hold such a referendum.

Lennox, a former criminal intelligence manager for the RCMP’s Federal Policing Program in Alberta, worked for over ten years with the Canadian security and intelligence community, focussing on preventing foreign interference in Canadian politics. So he has a good deal of expertise in analyzing the forces that attempt to subvert political institutions. And, while his subject in On Treason is the phenomenon of Alberta separatism, he also provides a detailed overview of how foreign governments and individuals have surreptitiously attempted to influence federal Canadian policy.

The book is divided into three sections. The first serves as an introduction to the issues at hand. It begins with a look at the nature of democracy and the contradictions inherent in living in a tolerant liberal society. Lennox then discusses what referendums are and what justifies a referendum on separation—and what doesn’t—comparing and contrasting Alberta’s separatist movement with Quebec’s two failed referendums. He presents this in a constitutional context notably underscoring the role played by Canada’s legal obligations under its First Nation treaties, which cover almost the entirety of Alberta. Finally, he defines what “treason” means for a democratic society. Lennox is well aware, however, that this is a very charged word and that it should not be used lightly. He therefore is very thorough in presenting what reason is and what it isn’t.

The second section then examines the diverse origins of Alberta separatism, its transformation into a political movement and then into a political party—the Wild Rose Party—and the eventual merger of that party with the Alberta Conservative Party to become what is now the UCP. It goes into the personalities behind the separatist movement, including its financiers, and analyzes the numerous blunders and subterfuges that the separatists have committed to get to where they are today. Lennox details the many ways in which the separatists and their financial backers—notably people in the oil industry—have ignored both the dictates of the Canadian constitution and the legal requirements of political procedure. He pointedly calls out Alberta premier Danielle Smith on her enabling role in all this.

And, although Lennox does not make a direct comparison of Alberta with the US state of Texas, there seem to be a lot of similarities. Texas is oil-rich and, largely because of that, stridently independent, wanting to keep the federal government as far away as possible. It even went to the length of establishing its own electricity grid, unconnected with the rest of the US. But when weather-related events brought that grid to near collapse, where did Texas turn for help? To the US federal government. Oil arrogance has its limitations.

The third section presents both the tensions of the present as well as the likely path forward. Astoundingly, the Alberta separatists have actively solicited support from the Trump administration. That given, Lennox likens Alberta to the Donbas region of Ukraine, with the United States under the Trump government acting for all the world like Russia under Putin.

While Lennox does not believe that the separatists will win even this initial referendum, he brings a number of alarming issues to light. The fragility of liberal democracy and the self-centred and rather short-sighted motivations of those behind Alberta separatism are of course his main themes, but he also explores in detail a danger that is on the increase everywhere in the world, and that is the use of misinformation and disinformation in social media to gain power and influence.

But is Alberta’s separatist movement treasonous? After much analysis, in the end Lennox says yes.

This is an important book, and not just for Albertans—or even Canadians for that matter. The forces playing out in Alberta are present around the world, and the citizens of the world must be on guard against them.

On Treason is published by Biblioasis.