Alberta GTFO?
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Premier Smith says Albertans’ desire for leaving Canada has never been higher
Author of the article:Canadian Press
Canadian Press
Published Jun 26, 2025 • 1 minute read
CALGARY — Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says the public desire in her province to quit Canada has never been higher.
Smith says a recent byelection that saw a separatist candidate garner almost 18 per cent of the vote shows Albertans are deeply frustrated and angry with Ottawa.
Smith says she takes that frustration seriously and hopes Prime Minister Mark Carney does as well.
The premier says quelling separatist desire is in Carney’s hands and could be done if he scraps laws that she has said stifle energy production in Alberta.
Smith made the comments today at an unrelated news conference in Calgary alongside federal Internal Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland.
Freeland says Parliament recently passed legislation to speed up projects of national interest and says Albertans should take that as a sign Canada is focused on economic development.
torontosun.com
Author of the article:Canadian Press
Canadian Press
Published Jun 26, 2025 • 1 minute read
CALGARY — Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says the public desire in her province to quit Canada has never been higher.
Smith says a recent byelection that saw a separatist candidate garner almost 18 per cent of the vote shows Albertans are deeply frustrated and angry with Ottawa.
Smith says she takes that frustration seriously and hopes Prime Minister Mark Carney does as well.
The premier says quelling separatist desire is in Carney’s hands and could be done if he scraps laws that she has said stifle energy production in Alberta.
Smith made the comments today at an unrelated news conference in Calgary alongside federal Internal Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland.
Freeland says Parliament recently passed legislation to speed up projects of national interest and says Albertans should take that as a sign Canada is focused on economic development.
Premier Smith says Albertans’ desire for leaving Canada has never been higher
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says the public desire in her province to quit Canada has never been higher.
In light of the poor showing by separatist candidates in recent Alberta byelections, pundits and politicians will be tempted to again dismiss threats of western separatism as over-hyped, and too tiny to be taken seriously, just as they did before and after the April 28 federal election.
(Much of the initial skepticism came after former Leader of the Opposition Preston Manning authored a column arguing that some in central Canada never see western populism coming. He cited separatist sympathies as the newest example)
Prime Minister Mark Carney labelled Manning’s column “dramatic.” Toronto Star columnist David Olive was condescending. Alberta is “giving me a headache,” he wrote. He argued the federal government’s financing of “a $34.2-billion expansion of the Trans Mountain pipeline (TMX)” as a reason Albertans should be grateful. If not, wrote Olive, perhaps it was time for Albertans to “wave goodbye” to Canada.
As a non-separatist, born-and-bred British Columbian, who has also spent a considerable part of his life in Alberta, I can offer this advice: Downplaying western frustrations — and the poll numbers — is a mistake. One reason is because support for western separation in at least two provinces, Alberta and Saskatchewan, is nearing where separatist sentiment was in Quebec in the 1970s.
Mark Milke: Why the West's separatists could be just as big a threat as Quebec's — National Post
It is a mistake to dismiss the movement as too small
Alberta (18 per cent to 36.5 per cent)?
In our new study comparing recent poll numbers from four firms (Angus Reid Institute, Innovative Research Group, Leger, and Mainstreet Research), the range of support in recent months for separation from Canada in some fashion is as follows, from low to high: Manitoba (6 per cent to 12 per cent); B.C. (nine per cent to 20 per cent); Saskatchewan (20 per cent to 33 per cent) and Alberta (18 per cent to 36.5 per cent). Quebec support for separation was in a narrow band between 27 per cent and 30 per cent.
What such polling shows is that, at least at the high end, support for separating from Canada is now higher in Saskatchewan and Alberta than in Quebec. Weird, eh?
Today, with Prime Minister Carney promising a virtual veto to any province over pipelines — and with Quebec politicians already saying “non” — separatist support on the Prairies may become further inflamed. And I can almost guarantee that any whiff of new favours for Quebec will likely drive anti-Ottawa and perhaps pro-separatist sentiment in British Columbia.
There is one other difference between historic Quebec separatist sentiment and what exists now in a province like Alberta: Alberta is wealthy and a “have” province while Quebec is relatively poor (?the way equalization is currently factored?) and a have-not. Some Albertans will be tempted to vote for separation because they feel the province could leave and be even more prosperous; Quebec separatist voters have to ask who would pay their bills.
This dynamic again became obvious, pre-election, when I talked with one Alberta CEO who said that five years ago, separatist talk was all fringe. In contrast, he recounted how at a recent dinner with 20 CEOs, 18 were now willing to vote for separation. They were more than frustrated with how the federal government had been chasing away energy investment and killing projects since 2015, and had long memories that dated back to the National Energy Program. Go figure….
Amid calls for separation, Alberta’s new referendum rules set to formally take effect
Author of the article:The Canadian Press
The Canadian Press
Lisa Johnson
Published Jun 30, 2025 • 3 minute read
EDMONTON — As Canada prepares Tuesday to blow out 158 birthday candles, Alberta plans three days later to formalize rules making it easier to have an independence celebration of its own.
Beginning Friday, Premier Danielle Smith’s United Conservative government is officially lowering the required threshold for citizens to initiate a provincewide referendum, including on separation.
Mitch Sylvestre, CEO of the Alberta Prosperity Project, a non-profit group touring Alberta promoting independence, says he plans to apply to Elections Alberta that same day to start a petition under the new rules.
The group aims to gather 177,000 signatures within 120 days to put the question on a ballot to voters: Do you agree the province of Alberta shall become a sovereign country and cease to be a province of Canada?
“I would not be surprised if that referendum was held right now that we could possibly even win it,” Sylvestre told The Canadian Press.
He said many Albertans are skeptical Prime Minister Mark Carney will be able to restore trust after federal policies for years siphoned Alberta’s resource riches elsewhere.
At the same time, Thomas Lukaszuk, a former Progressive Conservative deputy premier in Alberta, is working to thwart that separatist effort.
Lukaszuk, now out of politics, argues that Alberta’s rules do not allow for two competing petitions on the same issue. “There’s only one petition at a time, so mine precludes theirs,” he said.
Lukaszuk has already applied to start a petition under the existing law, which would require 600,000 signatures. If his application to Elections Alberta is approved, he’s confident that enough Albertans would sign their name to have the provincial government declare its official policy is to remain within Canada.
Sylvestre said he will be submitting papers for the second time on Friday. He said he believes Lukaszuk’s petition effort might delay the push for Alberta independence but believes it will fail to gather so many signatures within the old threshold of 90 days.
Recent polls have suggested that support for separatism in Alberta hasn’t reached majority territory. But, Sylvestre said, interest in holding an independence referendum is growing with each speaking event they organize.
“The more people that hear what the message is, the more people that will be in favour,” he said.
Elections Alberta has said each application is evaluated in the order received but cannot comment on the applications submitted so far.
Legal experts say a vote to sever ties with Canada would toss the country into uncharted waters, potentially prompting complex negotiations among governments and First Nations.
Smith’s government introduced the bill quickly after Carney’s election victory earlier this year but said it would have been proposed regardless of the outcome.
In defending her legislation, Smith said the growing number of Albertans unhappy with Confederation are right to be frustrated, and she wants to see more opportunities for direct democracy. She has long said she wants her province to be sovereign within a united Canada.
That’s a phrase Lukaszuk calls meaningless. “That’s like me saying, ‘I am single within the confines of my marriage,”‘ he said.
Asked earlier this week what her government could do to quell separatist aspirations, Smith said it was Ottawa’s responsibility to reverse policies she said stifle energy production and investment in Alberta.
In recent months, she has called for Carney to abolish several federal policies and programs, including a proposed greenhouse gas emissions cap, net-zero electricity grid regulations and the West Coast tanker ban. “This is really in Ottawa’s hands,” Smith said Thursday.
While Lukaszuk said Smith is entitled to negotiate with the federal government, she shouldn’t use the threat of secession as leverage.
He said the UCP’s referendum legislation is dangerous and could open a Pandora’s box of ballot questions, including some that may backfire on Smith’s government.
torontosun.com
Author of the article:The Canadian Press
The Canadian Press
Lisa Johnson
Published Jun 30, 2025 • 3 minute read
EDMONTON — As Canada prepares Tuesday to blow out 158 birthday candles, Alberta plans three days later to formalize rules making it easier to have an independence celebration of its own.
Beginning Friday, Premier Danielle Smith’s United Conservative government is officially lowering the required threshold for citizens to initiate a provincewide referendum, including on separation.
Mitch Sylvestre, CEO of the Alberta Prosperity Project, a non-profit group touring Alberta promoting independence, says he plans to apply to Elections Alberta that same day to start a petition under the new rules.
The group aims to gather 177,000 signatures within 120 days to put the question on a ballot to voters: Do you agree the province of Alberta shall become a sovereign country and cease to be a province of Canada?
“I would not be surprised if that referendum was held right now that we could possibly even win it,” Sylvestre told The Canadian Press.
He said many Albertans are skeptical Prime Minister Mark Carney will be able to restore trust after federal policies for years siphoned Alberta’s resource riches elsewhere.
At the same time, Thomas Lukaszuk, a former Progressive Conservative deputy premier in Alberta, is working to thwart that separatist effort.
Lukaszuk, now out of politics, argues that Alberta’s rules do not allow for two competing petitions on the same issue. “There’s only one petition at a time, so mine precludes theirs,” he said.
Lukaszuk has already applied to start a petition under the existing law, which would require 600,000 signatures. If his application to Elections Alberta is approved, he’s confident that enough Albertans would sign their name to have the provincial government declare its official policy is to remain within Canada.
Sylvestre said he will be submitting papers for the second time on Friday. He said he believes Lukaszuk’s petition effort might delay the push for Alberta independence but believes it will fail to gather so many signatures within the old threshold of 90 days.
Recent polls have suggested that support for separatism in Alberta hasn’t reached majority territory. But, Sylvestre said, interest in holding an independence referendum is growing with each speaking event they organize.
“The more people that hear what the message is, the more people that will be in favour,” he said.
Elections Alberta has said each application is evaluated in the order received but cannot comment on the applications submitted so far.
Legal experts say a vote to sever ties with Canada would toss the country into uncharted waters, potentially prompting complex negotiations among governments and First Nations.
Smith’s government introduced the bill quickly after Carney’s election victory earlier this year but said it would have been proposed regardless of the outcome.
In defending her legislation, Smith said the growing number of Albertans unhappy with Confederation are right to be frustrated, and she wants to see more opportunities for direct democracy. She has long said she wants her province to be sovereign within a united Canada.
That’s a phrase Lukaszuk calls meaningless. “That’s like me saying, ‘I am single within the confines of my marriage,”‘ he said.
Asked earlier this week what her government could do to quell separatist aspirations, Smith said it was Ottawa’s responsibility to reverse policies she said stifle energy production and investment in Alberta.
In recent months, she has called for Carney to abolish several federal policies and programs, including a proposed greenhouse gas emissions cap, net-zero electricity grid regulations and the West Coast tanker ban. “This is really in Ottawa’s hands,” Smith said Thursday.
While Lukaszuk said Smith is entitled to negotiate with the federal government, she shouldn’t use the threat of secession as leverage.
He said the UCP’s referendum legislation is dangerous and could open a Pandora’s box of ballot questions, including some that may backfire on Smith’s government.
Amid calls for separation, Alberta’s new referendum rules set to formally take effect
Premier Danielle Smith's UCP government is officially lowering the required threshold for citizens to initiate a provincewide referendum.
It's all good. The red and white men and women of Westernesse have a plan to link the Port of Prince Ruprecht to the Port of Churchill with a highway, rail, pipes and big wires.Amid calls for separation, Alberta’s new referendum rules set to formally take effect
Author of the article:The Canadian Press
The Canadian Press
Lisa Johnson
Published Jun 30, 2025 • 3 minute read
EDMONTON — As Canada prepares Tuesday to blow out 158 birthday candles, Alberta plans three days later to formalize rules making it easier to have an independence celebration of its own.
Beginning Friday, Premier Danielle Smith’s United Conservative government is officially lowering the required threshold for citizens to initiate a provincewide referendum, including on separation.
Mitch Sylvestre, CEO of the Alberta Prosperity Project, a non-profit group touring Alberta promoting independence, says he plans to apply to Elections Alberta that same day to start a petition under the new rules.
The group aims to gather 177,000 signatures within 120 days to put the question on a ballot to voters: Do you agree the province of Alberta shall become a sovereign country and cease to be a province of Canada?
“I would not be surprised if that referendum was held right now that we could possibly even win it,” Sylvestre told The Canadian Press.
He said many Albertans are skeptical Prime Minister Mark Carney will be able to restore trust after federal policies for years siphoned Alberta’s resource riches elsewhere.
At the same time, Thomas Lukaszuk, a former Progressive Conservative deputy premier in Alberta, is working to thwart that separatist effort.
Lukaszuk, now out of politics, argues that Alberta’s rules do not allow for two competing petitions on the same issue. “There’s only one petition at a time, so mine precludes theirs,” he said.
Lukaszuk has already applied to start a petition under the existing law, which would require 600,000 signatures. If his application to Elections Alberta is approved, he’s confident that enough Albertans would sign their name to have the provincial government declare its official policy is to remain within Canada.
Sylvestre said he will be submitting papers for the second time on Friday. He said he believes Lukaszuk’s petition effort might delay the push for Alberta independence but believes it will fail to gather so many signatures within the old threshold of 90 days.
Recent polls have suggested that support for separatism in Alberta hasn’t reached majority territory. But, Sylvestre said, interest in holding an independence referendum is growing with each speaking event they organize.
“The more people that hear what the message is, the more people that will be in favour,” he said.
Elections Alberta has said each application is evaluated in the order received but cannot comment on the applications submitted so far.
Legal experts say a vote to sever ties with Canada would toss the country into uncharted waters, potentially prompting complex negotiations among governments and First Nations.
Smith’s government introduced the bill quickly after Carney’s election victory earlier this year but said it would have been proposed regardless of the outcome.
In defending her legislation, Smith said the growing number of Albertans unhappy with Confederation are right to be frustrated, and she wants to see more opportunities for direct democracy. She has long said she wants her province to be sovereign within a united Canada.
That’s a phrase Lukaszuk calls meaningless. “That’s like me saying, ‘I am single within the confines of my marriage,”‘ he said.
Asked earlier this week what her government could do to quell separatist aspirations, Smith said it was Ottawa’s responsibility to reverse policies she said stifle energy production and investment in Alberta.
In recent months, she has called for Carney to abolish several federal policies and programs, including a proposed greenhouse gas emissions cap, net-zero electricity grid regulations and the West Coast tanker ban. “This is really in Ottawa’s hands,” Smith said Thursday.
While Lukaszuk said Smith is entitled to negotiate with the federal government, she shouldn’t use the threat of secession as leverage.
He said the UCP’s referendum legislation is dangerous and could open a Pandora’s box of ballot questions, including some that may backfire on Smith’s government.
Amid calls for separation, Alberta’s new referendum rules set to formally take effect
Premier Danielle Smith's UCP government is officially lowering the required threshold for citizens to initiate a provincewide referendum.
BC, YT, AB, SK and MB are all on board.
It's about time!Amid calls for separation, Alberta’s new referendum rules set to formally take effect
Author of the article:The Canadian Press
The Canadian Press
Lisa Johnson
Published Jun 30, 2025 • 3 minute read
EDMONTON — As Canada prepares Tuesday to blow out 158 birthday candles, Alberta plans three days later to formalize rules making it easier to have an independence celebration of its own.
Beginning Friday, Premier Danielle Smith’s United Conservative government is officially lowering the required threshold for citizens to initiate a provincewide referendum, including on separation.
Mitch Sylvestre, CEO of the Alberta Prosperity Project, a non-profit group touring Alberta promoting independence, says he plans to apply to Elections Alberta that same day to start a petition under the new rules.
The group aims to gather 177,000 signatures within 120 days to put the question on a ballot to voters: Do you agree the province of Alberta shall become a sovereign country and cease to be a province of Canada?
“I would not be surprised if that referendum was held right now that we could possibly even win it,” Sylvestre told The Canadian Press.
He said many Albertans are skeptical Prime Minister Mark Carney will be able to restore trust after federal policies for years siphoned Alberta’s resource riches elsewhere.
At the same time, Thomas Lukaszuk, a former Progressive Conservative deputy premier in Alberta, is working to thwart that separatist effort.
Lukaszuk, now out of politics, argues that Alberta’s rules do not allow for two competing petitions on the same issue. “There’s only one petition at a time, so mine precludes theirs,” he said.
Lukaszuk has already applied to start a petition under the existing law, which would require 600,000 signatures. If his application to Elections Alberta is approved, he’s confident that enough Albertans would sign their name to have the provincial government declare its official policy is to remain within Canada.
Sylvestre said he will be submitting papers for the second time on Friday. He said he believes Lukaszuk’s petition effort might delay the push for Alberta independence but believes it will fail to gather so many signatures within the old threshold of 90 days.
Recent polls have suggested that support for separatism in Alberta hasn’t reached majority territory. But, Sylvestre said, interest in holding an independence referendum is growing with each speaking event they organize.
“The more people that hear what the message is, the more people that will be in favour,” he said.
Elections Alberta has said each application is evaluated in the order received but cannot comment on the applications submitted so far.
Legal experts say a vote to sever ties with Canada would toss the country into uncharted waters, potentially prompting complex negotiations among governments and First Nations.
Smith’s government introduced the bill quickly after Carney’s election victory earlier this year but said it would have been proposed regardless of the outcome.
In defending her legislation, Smith said the growing number of Albertans unhappy with Confederation are right to be frustrated, and she wants to see more opportunities for direct democracy. She has long said she wants her province to be sovereign within a united Canada.
That’s a phrase Lukaszuk calls meaningless. “That’s like me saying, ‘I am single within the confines of my marriage,”‘ he said.
Asked earlier this week what her government could do to quell separatist aspirations, Smith said it was Ottawa’s responsibility to reverse policies she said stifle energy production and investment in Alberta.
In recent months, she has called for Carney to abolish several federal policies and programs, including a proposed greenhouse gas emissions cap, net-zero electricity grid regulations and the West Coast tanker ban. “This is really in Ottawa’s hands,” Smith said Thursday.
While Lukaszuk said Smith is entitled to negotiate with the federal government, she shouldn’t use the threat of secession as leverage.
He said the UCP’s referendum legislation is dangerous and could open a Pandora’s box of ballot questions, including some that may backfire on Smith’s government.
Amid calls for separation, Alberta’s new referendum rules set to formally take effect
Premier Danielle Smith's UCP government is officially lowering the required threshold for citizens to initiate a provincewide referendum.
And it seems Lukaszuk doesn't want direct democracy, especially with the current 600,000 threshold which was one reason why the Calgary mayor wasn't recalled despite the fact she's destroying the city. That's why the demand for a lower threshold was needed. Let the people decide 'cuz more than likely they'll vote to stay in Canada but it will allow people to tell governments exactly where they stand. At least they'll know they've had their say even if they lose.Amid calls for separation, Alberta’s new referendum rules set to formally take effect
Author of the article:The Canadian Press
The Canadian Press
Lisa Johnson
Published Jun 30, 2025 • 3 minute read
EDMONTON — As Canada prepares Tuesday to blow out 158 birthday candles, Alberta plans three days later to formalize rules making it easier to have an independence celebration of its own.
Beginning Friday, Premier Danielle Smith’s United Conservative government is officially lowering the required threshold for citizens to initiate a provincewide referendum, including on separation.
Mitch Sylvestre, CEO of the Alberta Prosperity Project, a non-profit group touring Alberta promoting independence, says he plans to apply to Elections Alberta that same day to start a petition under the new rules.
The group aims to gather 177,000 signatures within 120 days to put the question on a ballot to voters: Do you agree the province of Alberta shall become a sovereign country and cease to be a province of Canada?
“I would not be surprised if that referendum was held right now that we could possibly even win it,” Sylvestre told The Canadian Press.
He said many Albertans are skeptical Prime Minister Mark Carney will be able to restore trust after federal policies for years siphoned Alberta’s resource riches elsewhere.
At the same time, Thomas Lukaszuk, a former Progressive Conservative deputy premier in Alberta, is working to thwart that separatist effort.
Lukaszuk, now out of politics, argues that Alberta’s rules do not allow for two competing petitions on the same issue. “There’s only one petition at a time, so mine precludes theirs,” he said.
Lukaszuk has already applied to start a petition under the existing law, which would require 600,000 signatures. If his application to Elections Alberta is approved, he’s confident that enough Albertans would sign their name to have the provincial government declare its official policy is to remain within Canada.
Sylvestre said he will be submitting papers for the second time on Friday. He said he believes Lukaszuk’s petition effort might delay the push for Alberta independence but believes it will fail to gather so many signatures within the old threshold of 90 days.
Recent polls have suggested that support for separatism in Alberta hasn’t reached majority territory. But, Sylvestre said, interest in holding an independence referendum is growing with each speaking event they organize.
“The more people that hear what the message is, the more people that will be in favour,” he said.
Elections Alberta has said each application is evaluated in the order received but cannot comment on the applications submitted so far.
Legal experts say a vote to sever ties with Canada would toss the country into uncharted waters, potentially prompting complex negotiations among governments and First Nations.
Smith’s government introduced the bill quickly after Carney’s election victory earlier this year but said it would have been proposed regardless of the outcome.
In defending her legislation, Smith said the growing number of Albertans unhappy with Confederation are right to be frustrated, and she wants to see more opportunities for direct democracy. She has long said she wants her province to be sovereign within a united Canada.
That’s a phrase Lukaszuk calls meaningless. “That’s like me saying, ‘I am single within the confines of my marriage,”‘ he said.
Asked earlier this week what her government could do to quell separatist aspirations, Smith said it was Ottawa’s responsibility to reverse policies she said stifle energy production and investment in Alberta.
In recent months, she has called for Carney to abolish several federal policies and programs, including a proposed greenhouse gas emissions cap, net-zero electricity grid regulations and the West Coast tanker ban. “This is really in Ottawa’s hands,” Smith said Thursday.
While Lukaszuk said Smith is entitled to negotiate with the federal government, she shouldn’t use the threat of secession as leverage.
He said the UCP’s referendum legislation is dangerous and could open a Pandora’s box of ballot questions, including some that may backfire on Smith’s government.
Amid calls for separation, Alberta’s new referendum rules set to formally take effect
Premier Danielle Smith's UCP government is officially lowering the required threshold for citizens to initiate a provincewide referendum.
There are a significant number in BC as well, once you get outside the Lower Mainland. Basically, the closer you get to where oil and gas are produced, the higher the interest in separation.As a non-separatist, born-and-bred British Columbian, who has also spent a considerable part of his life in Alberta, I can offer this advice: Downplaying western frustrations — and the poll numbers — is a mistake. One reason is because support for western separation in at least two provinces, Alberta and Saskatchewan, is nearing where separatist sentiment was in Quebec in the 1970s.
Mark Milke: Why the West's separatists could be just as big a threat as Quebec's — National Post
It is a mistake to dismiss the movement as too smallapple.news
Over the years there have been several half assed attempts to separate Vancouver Island from the rest of BC as well. Again, it is mainly about taxation and government overreach.
This retard need only look in the mirror to see why the west wants to separate.
