Alberta Premier Danielle Smith pitches unity campaign as separatists target her leadership
'She seems to have forgotten who elected her,' said separatist lawyer Jeffrey Rath who said momentum is building with the UCP to oust the premier from her leadership
Author of the article:Matthew Black
Published May 22, 2026 • Last updated 17 hours ago • 4 minute read
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith speaks at a press conference at McDougall Centre in Calgary on the referendum question asking whether or not Alberta should separate from Canada. Friday, May 22, 2026.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith speaks at a press conference at McDougall Centre in Calgary on the referendum question asking whether or not Alberta should separate from Canada. Friday, May 22, 2026. Photo by Dean Pilling /Postmedia
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith defended her decision Friday to hold a vote on whether the province should begin the process of separating from Canada, while separatists warned the move could trigger a revolt within her governing United Conservative Party (UCP).
On Thursday evening, Smith took to the airwaves in a televised address indicating that a tenth question on separation will be added to the referendums already scheduled for Oct. 19 of this year.
That question asks if Alberta should begin the process required to hold a future legally-binding separation vote, and reads: “Should Alberta remain a province of Canada or should the government of Alberta commence the legal process required under the Canadian Constitution to hold a binding provincial referendum on whether or not Alberta should separate from Canada?’”
On Friday, Smith repeated her earlier position that more than 700,000 Albertans signed two rival petitions calling for Alberta to either remain a part of or to secede from Canada, and that the issue had reached a point where those views should be put to a public vote.
“We cannot kick this can down the road. We need to get direction from all Albertans on this matter now, not three years from now,” she said.
“Now is the time for Albertans to decide whether we want to spend the time, expense and effort pursuing separation or whether Albertans want to remain in Canada.”
When asked by reporters, she said she intended to campaign throughout the summer on the side of those calling on Alberta to remain a part of Canada, citing the recent progress towards improving the province’s relationship with the federal government under the leadership of Prime Minister Mark Carney.
“I have seen enough from the directional change that we have with the new prime minister. He’s prepared to work with us, he’s prepared to give Albertans hope again,” she said, adding she plans to have town halls and meetings over the summer about why Albertans should vote to remain in Canada.
“I’m prepared to work to give Albertans hope again, but we need to question the results, so that we can end that uncertainty.”
‘It’s cynical. It’s despicable. It’s low’
Separatist organizers, however, are accusing Smith of defusing the independence movement while denying its supporters the referendum question they wanted.
Alberta Prosperity Project lawyer Jeffrey Rath told Postmedia in an interview Friday that he wasn’t surprised by Smith’s Thursday night address and that she has angered people on both sides of the issue equally.
“It’s cynical. It’s despicable. It’s low. It’s underhanded, and it’s morally bankrupt,” he said. “Danielle Smith has lost the moral authority to continue to lead the UCP. She knows that a supermajority of her base wanted an independence referendum.”
Rath has been the co-counsel for separatist petitioner Mitch Sylvestre, who claims to have gathered more than 300,000 signatures in support of a referendum question asking if Alberta should cease being a province of Canada.
That signature count remains unverified due to a court ruling earlier this month that effectively quashed Sylvestre’s petition. Rath said Friday he had already appealed and will be in court later next month to present an application seeking a stay of the ruling.
Rath said his group is pursuing a two-track strategy, the first of which involves developing what he described as a “wholesome referendum campaign.”
The other track seeks to sign up new members to the UCP with an eye on building support to remove Smith at a special general meeting.
“She seems to have forgotten who elected her,” he said. “Her base will certainly remove her as leader if she continues to insult them.”
He claims to have the support of “16 or 17” out of 87 constituency associations for a special general meeting, though the party’s rules state support from one-third of constituency members is needed to organize such a meeting.
“It’s going to be interesting to see how many more this ridiculous division of (Smith’s) is going to push over the edge,” Rath said.
‘You also have to govern for all the people’
When asked by reporters, Smith dismissed concerns over her job security, saying she was more interested in what Albertans as a whole have to say.
“When you are a party leader, yes, that’s one aspect, but you also have to govern for all the people, and this is an issue that, in my opinion … doesn’t get decided on an (annual general meeting) convention floor by a few delegates, this gets decided by Albertans,” she said.
“Any movement has a diversity of voices in it, a breadth of voices, and this is the opportunity for those who have different opinions to debate it out in public and to vote.”
Smith said the referendum results would guide her government’s next steps and repeated that the issue should be decided by voters, not party activists.
“The fact of the matter is that this is a question that has to go to Albertans.”
mblack@postmedia.com
Smith defended Alberta's separation process vote plan Friday as separatists warn she could be ousted her from the UCP leadership position.
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