Danielle Smith uses the energy MOU has Exhibit A in her argument for remaining in Canada. Pierre Poilievre uses it as Exhibit A in making his case that the federal government is failing Alberta.

Our guests worry that divisions over how to battle separatism could fracture the provincial conservatives and even pose problems for federal conservatives.

Host Kathleen Petty is joined by two people with deep ties to the Conservative movement.

• Ian Brodie is a former chief of staff to Prime Minister Stephen Harper, a political science professor at the University of Calgary, and a senior advisor at New West Public Affairs.
• Sean Speer served as senior economic policy advisor to Prime Minister Stephen Harper and is editor-at-large at The Hub.

Both explore the perils of this debate within the broader Conservative movement.

• Host: Kathleen Petty
• Guests: Ian Brodie, Sean Speer
• Producer: Diane Yanko