Alberta separatists intensify efforts to leave Canada following meeting with Trump officials

Separatists are launching a petition drive in Alberta to trigger an independence vote. The western province has complained for years that the rest of Canada is holding back its economy. Volunteer canvassers hope to collect 177,000 signatures by May 2, or 10% of registered voters in the province, which is the required threshold to launch a citizen led referendum on separation from Canada. The campaign is unlikely to lead to an independent 'Alberta', but it does challenge Prime Minister Mark Carney in his efforts to present a united Canadian face in response to President Donald Trumps tariffs and threats to annex Canada. On a Thursday morning, residents of High River, located in the foothills Rocky Mountains stopped at a strip mall to sign the petition for independence. Some people expressed admiration for Trump but most wanted Alberta to become its own nation.

Alberta, a politically conservative province which produces the majority of Canada's gas and oil, is a long-standing resentment for Ottawa's liberal governments who have repeatedly hamstrung industry profitability through onerous environmental regulations. Jeff Rath is the fiery spokesman of the Alberta Prosperity Project, a group that advocates independence. He says the separatist movement has gained momentum. He confirmed that he and others activists met with U.S. State Department officials in Washington, D.C. in January in order to gauge how the U.S. government would react to an independent Alberta. Rath confirmed that he and other activists met with U.S. State Department?officials in Washington, D.C. in January to get a sense of how the U.S. administration would respond to an independent Alberta.

Rath stated that the only thing he was interested in was a free, independent Alberta. He did not want to be a state. White House officials said that U.S. officials met regularly with civil societies groups and that no commitments or support were given to any one group. An official at the U.S. State Department confirmed that staff level meetings were held without any principals present, but there would be no further meetings.

Carney said that he expects the U.S. to "respect Canadian sovereignty" when asked about reports that Trump Administration officials met with separatists in Alberta seeking independence.

One in five Albertans support independence

Canada is a major oil exporter and the fourth largest oil producer in the world. Alberta is the largest producer of Canadian oil, and its tax revenues are a major source of revenue for provincial governments. Darell Seib, a High River resident, said that he believed Alberta is different from the rest Canada because it is conservative politically and has a rodeo culture and a ranching tradition.

He said, "People are independent and entrepreneurial. We work hard." "We're different. "We need more of our government closer to home." Separatists also expressed their resentment at the fact that the rest the country does not appreciate Alberta's contributions to Canada's economic growth. The data shows that the province contributed nearly as much to Canada’s economic growth as Ontario, the most populous province in the country.

Separatists who spoke with us declined to give their names for fear of being criticized by neighbors. Recent polling indicates that the majority of Albertans do not support separatist sentiment, with 71% wanting to stay in Canada. Leger's polling conducted this month found that nearly one fifth of Albertans support the idea that Alberta should become an independent nation. Rath refused to say how many separatists had signed. If the petition is approved, a referendum may be held by October.

There are obstacles to any attempt at separation.

The government of Premier Danielle Smith in Alberta made several changes to the law last year that make it easier for separatists, such as reducing the number required signatures. Smith stated in a press release that her government "supports a sovereign and strong Alberta within a united Canada" but that citizen-initiated referendums allow people to express different views. She stated that she and Carney have been working together to resolve?frictions' between Alberta and federal government.

A referendum could be held on this issue in the fall, since electoral officials?in Alberta have also certified an independent petition by an ex-deputy Premier declaring that Alberta remains a province of Canada.

Duane BRATT, professor of political science at Mount Royal University Calgary said: "It is absolutely bonkers."

"Smith might say that she is not a separatist but she has gone to great lengths to facilitate a referendum on separatism."

Adrienne Davidson is an assistant professor at McMaster University. She said that there are still many obstacles to overcome before Alberta can become independent, such as the lack of a threshold for federal secession negotiations. Academics say that a decades-long separatist campaign in Quebec, a French-speaking province, could produce a mandate to hold a third referendum on independence after the October provincial election. This would complicate the situation for Carney, and may accelerate sovereignty calls in Alberta. Separatist Parti Quebecois is leading polls, and has pledged to hold a referendum in 2030 if they win the October election.

Carney tried to deter the separatist movement in Alberta by making concessions. He signed an agreement with Smith, which was announced in November, to relax certain climate regulations and to encourage the construction of a pipeline from the West Coast to Alberta.

Gabriel Brunet is a spokesperson for Dominic LeBlanc. Canada's Minister for Intergovernmental Affairs, Dominic LeBlanc. Brunet said that Alberta was an "essential partner" for Ottawa.

Brunet stated in a press release that "Canada's New Government is committed to renewing the Canada and Alberta relationship based upon common objectives and mutual respect." Reporting by Amanda Stephenson, High River and Calgary; Editing by Caroline Stauffer, Deepa Babington and Caroline Stauffer

(source: Reuters)