Quebec is counting on keeping the hydro election power plants.
The ONLY way Qubec would be able to keep them is if the entire Canadian confederation fell appart.
see: http://www.unitednorthamerica.org
I think this article is trying to head off a total separation for a "separation lite". Quebec being the Puerto Rico or Guam of Canada.
Either way, Alberta should consider joining the USA and become more vocal about the possibility.
Alberta will never join the United States. Those cowboys are smart enough to realize that trading a Federal government in Ottawa for a Federal government in Washington D.C. is a terrible idea.