Danielle Smith went to Quebec this past weekend to talk to the nonpartisan, federalist, free-enterprise Quebec Liberty Network.

When I heard news of this plan I thought, “Hmmm – Quebec. What on earth for?” Between the separatist-socialists, socialist-federalists and socialist-socialists, Quebec is the most hostile place in Canada to Wildrose values like free markets and free speech. It’s as repressive and conformist as a giant university campus. Why take this risk?

But I was worried for nothing. While the usual Montreal  left-wing rent-a-mob ranted around outside, inside the convention hall her speech to 450 Quebecers ended with thunderous applause. It was, I’m told, the most enthusiastic reaction to any speech she has ever delivered anywhere.

And in Quebec, of all places.

What did she say that this francophone audience so thoroughly appreciated? Was it the usual rhapsody about bilingualism, biculturalism and here-let-me-pay?

No, quite the opposite.

She said:

• Stop looking to Ottawa for answers.
• Stop electing separatist MPs.
• Stop depending on equalization.
• Stop slagging the Alberta industry that keeps you “healthy, wealthy, moving and warm.”
• Albertans contribute more to Quebec and the receiving provinces than we spend on our own health care, thank you and you’re welcome.
• Start pulling your own weight as a province the way you did before Trudeau & Co. screwed up our economy and federal system persuading you to stay. It isn’t working for us and it isn’t working for you.

Now if you read the speech, you’ll notice she said all this graciously, as befits a guest speaker. But this was the message.

Why has no Alberta premier ever gone to Quebec and spelled it out like this in plain language?

With militant separatism again on the rise – and it is – it’s time to get real. We can’t afford another round of referendum blackmail like the last two.

And from the way Danielle’s audience reacted, there are people in Quebec who think so too.