I have lived in Alberta for my entire 74 years living in both Edmonton, Calgary and for the last 25 years in small town Central Alberta and I feel I can say that while there may be a small vocal group talking about becoming a US state, there is absolutely ZERO interest in this idea from the remaining 95% plus of the Alberta population. The upcoming AB referendum vote will clearly not get a majority but a 25-35% vote for separation will indicate there is still an large group of dissatisfied AB citizens with our current relationship within Canada.
While the ROC claims it can understand our concerns and wants us to stay it has yet to offer anything to work towards resolving our issues. Our issues are just not economic we also have equal concerns with governance issues like seat allocations, judicial matters, tramping down our desires to experiment with health care and our general package of values - ROC is progressive while AB (& Sask) are conservative. Just look at our federal voting preferences. We are as different & distinct within Canada as Quebec.
This was a good post, and I enjoyed reading what you shared.
As a small quibble, Ontario is far more like Alberta than you know. The smaller, rural communities are very conservative, and Conservative. It is only in the larger cities that progressivism takes hold. We simply have more people in those larger cities, compared to rural districts, compared to Alberta and Saskatchewan.
Secondly, you are correct that this Country requires a Constitutional makeover. That apathy has hurt the West, and Canada as a whole. There is absolutely no appetite nor stomach to begin such a process.
A lot of people I’m talking with have ordered advance ballots and have already sent them back. There’s been more political talk about this referendum than anything I’ve seen in a while and people are largely talking about voting to stay in Canada aside from the few family members I have who have been separatists for decades. I really hope this can be closed and the topic be put to rest with no future referendum lingering over our heads or court battles.
If the separatists win the vote it’s going to mean some hard decisions about whether my family starts looking at leaving Alberta. I won’t stay indefinitely while property values and employment opportunities decrease and I’m not sure how quickly those things might emerge.
It won't put it to bed unfortunately. They will lose this round. If they get their shit together and form a separatist party I imagine they will reach a lot of people who vote conservative but want nothing to do with its infatuation with MAGA crap as of late. Finding their own Rene Levesque couldn't hurt.
I don’t worry about them forming their own party. It’s not popular enough for them to get elected - they’d already tried. But that’s at least a democratic way to go about things. The trips to the US and speaking on behalf of Albertans in the absence of being elected to represent us isn’t cool in my books and makes me believe that they wouldn’t be democratic if there was a separatist vote that won in the future.
They will all lose their collective minds when NDP wins though next year if the referendum comes out in their favor. Because that’s how this will go. UCP may already be unelectable. That’s the funny part about all this to me is they essentially have shot themselves in the foot for who actually gets elected in the next provincial election.
Separatism was a fart in the breeze 40 years ago. Not worth taking seriously. But times/generations have changed. Justin Trudeau I believe permanently destroyed Alberta's relationship with Ottawa. With likely 20-25% of the population suppporting Alberta independence here in 2026, that is called a movement. And movements tend to grow. (Sometimes they fizzle of course.)
I also believe that Danielle Smith has been taking on far too much crap because she is a woman.
I grew up hearing about freight rates. Then we got rail reform in the "80's and free trade ended the National Policy of 1879. We got the National Energy Program in 1982. I still think this was the most egregious piece of legislation passed in Canada. But Mulroney repealed it in 1985. Then we got Justin Trudeau and his hippy dippy ideas, one of the biggest being ending Alberta's oil industry. He represented a larger idea in the world that we needed to attack hydrocarbons in order to reach net zero. But that idea has now been revised and Mark Carney, the first Liberal PM who grew up in Alberta, is pushing forward new pipelines and has dropped Justin Trudeau's rhetoric and many of his ideas. So where are we now? we are moving ahead on increasing oil and gas production which will help the whole country. The Laurentian elite has treated us badly at times but we have always been able to force real reform. We will move ahead with low taxes and a welcoming attitude to new investment and Alberta will keep increasing its relative importance in the Confederation. I think that's all we can hope for under any scenario and its a future that I would be happy with.
I have targeted this submission in an above comment but I would like to broaden the topic of separation out in this missive with two points -one a general comment the other a question for all readers of this to ponder & reply.
General Comment- Alberta has been made out to be an outlier by even considering separation but lets look around the globe. Czechoslovakia amicably split in 2 about 20 years ago, the UK split from the European Union by a majority vote (we can debate why it hasn't been as successful as hoped in another post) but now both Scotland & Wales are seriously talking about leaving the UK and becoming separate, Ireland is seriously talking about becoming one, Catalonia has been trying to separate from Spain for years and now the Basque Region is also having discussions, also there are more than 15 other region in Europe in various level of talks regarding greater autonomy, oh yea isn't Quebec still taking about this - do you see a trend. People are mad at the status quo and want change everywhere.
My question to ponder & comment. Alberta biggest lever that is not talked about by both sides is what happens to British Columbia if Alberta leaves. Think about it and I'd love to hear your comments?
While you don’t have to agree with everything or indeed anything published by the Heritage Foundation their very existence would not be possible in the as totalitarian as possible Canadian broadcast environment. The so called hate speech controllers and bureaucrats in Canada would have hounded them out of existence a long time ago if they were Canadian.
So any Canadian interested in the free exchange of ideas should be grateful that their southern neighbors are spending their resources to make this forum possible. I remember a Canadian border guard seizing my copy of “black panther news” in the 1960s as “seditious literature” ( they also did it for gay literature in those days). Since nothing ever changes in burrocracy I’m sure that somewhere in the bowels of Ottawa pencil necked government paid elbozos are busily figuring out ways of blocking online publications to maintain “Peace, Order and Good Government” . After all if Iran and China can block the Internet, Canada should be able to do it also.
This would absolutely not create a new National Energy Program. Depending on who is running the Alberta government, it would declare independence the next day.
Again, I do not consider myself an expert, but o could find little connection between the views of Dr. St. Onge- strong libertarian- and Donald Trump.
While E.J. Antoni III was a nominee for the Department of Labour, Donald Trump withdrew the nomination. Dr. Antoni’s ideas are, well, kind of out there.
Therefore, one could reasonably assume that neither of these economists is particularly influential with respect to government policy.
Boogeymen chased away; no more goblins under the bed.
“Historically, The Heritage Foundation was the premier traditional, establishment conservative think tank. However, under its current leadership, the organization has pivoted to embrace "new conservative" populism and national conservatism.
Rather than fitting neatly into just one category, Heritage currently functions as an institutional bridge between the two eras of American conservatism.” (AI)
Okay; Professor Leach first conjures up his boogeyman and then proceeds to define a relationship and an influence that does not actually exist.
Because Donald Trump is influenced by Project 2025 and some of its recommendations, that does not immediately or logically segue into the notion that his administration is adopting every idea. The notions expressed by the two authors are just that: the ideas of two authors in a think tank.
If Donald Trump or another Administration were to desire to acquire Alberta as a resource colony, there are far easier and less expensive ways to achieve that goal.
Are we suggesting or assuming that an independent Alberta would retain no sovereignty?
Are American States resource colonies to the federal government or the executive branch? Does Texas, Oklahoma and Pennsylvania not benefit from resource extraction and exploitation?
“• Economic Benefits: Oil and gas revenues account for roughly 7.6% of Texas's GDP and 5.7% of its total state and local revenue. The state produced over 42% of national crude oil and a quarter of U.S. natural gas.
• State Windfalls: Texas collects roughly 10.1% of all production value through severance and property taxes. It uses about 20% of this money to fund statewide public education permanent funds and its "Rainy Day" emergency reserves.”
I am by no means an expert, but it appears Texas is pretty pleased with the arrangement.
I get it that The Line is a platform devoted to a particular cause: that is Matt and Jen’s right.
But imagining goblins are under the bed or in the closet is not the same as being actually being besieged with evil.
I truly hope Albertans decide to remain in Canada, but, with every day that passes, I understand better why they may not.
Just like Canada wants Alberta only to drain Albertan resources for its own ends. Or just suppress them in the cause of global climate.
The question is whether Alberta has more leverage and ability to play off Canada against the US as an independent state or a province.
I have lived in Alberta for my entire 74 years living in both Edmonton, Calgary and for the last 25 years in small town Central Alberta and I feel I can say that while there may be a small vocal group talking about becoming a US state, there is absolutely ZERO interest in this idea from the remaining 95% plus of the Alberta population. The upcoming AB referendum vote will clearly not get a majority but a 25-35% vote for separation will indicate there is still an large group of dissatisfied AB citizens with our current relationship within Canada.
While the ROC claims it can understand our concerns and wants us to stay it has yet to offer anything to work towards resolving our issues. Our issues are just not economic we also have equal concerns with governance issues like seat allocations, judicial matters, tramping down our desires to experiment with health care and our general package of values - ROC is progressive while AB (& Sask) are conservative. Just look at our federal voting preferences. We are as different & distinct within Canada as Quebec.
This was a good post, and I enjoyed reading what you shared.
As a small quibble, Ontario is far more like Alberta than you know. The smaller, rural communities are very conservative, and Conservative. It is only in the larger cities that progressivism takes hold. We simply have more people in those larger cities, compared to rural districts, compared to Alberta and Saskatchewan.
Secondly, you are correct that this Country requires a Constitutional makeover. That apathy has hurt the West, and Canada as a whole. There is absolutely no appetite nor stomach to begin such a process.
Good post, sir.
If only 35% vote to have a future referendum, why would Canada bother to address their concerns?
good point - but this attitude clearly illustrates why Albertans are pissed off.
Not pissed off enough.
Watch now as the Liberals deal with another separatist matter in Quebec. The contrast will be SPECTACULAR!
You make a good point.
A lot of people I’m talking with have ordered advance ballots and have already sent them back. There’s been more political talk about this referendum than anything I’ve seen in a while and people are largely talking about voting to stay in Canada aside from the few family members I have who have been separatists for decades. I really hope this can be closed and the topic be put to rest with no future referendum lingering over our heads or court battles.
If the separatists win the vote it’s going to mean some hard decisions about whether my family starts looking at leaving Alberta. I won’t stay indefinitely while property values and employment opportunities decrease and I’m not sure how quickly those things might emerge.
It won't put it to bed unfortunately. They will lose this round. If they get their shit together and form a separatist party I imagine they will reach a lot of people who vote conservative but want nothing to do with its infatuation with MAGA crap as of late. Finding their own Rene Levesque couldn't hurt.
I don’t worry about them forming their own party. It’s not popular enough for them to get elected - they’d already tried. But that’s at least a democratic way to go about things. The trips to the US and speaking on behalf of Albertans in the absence of being elected to represent us isn’t cool in my books and makes me believe that they wouldn’t be democratic if there was a separatist vote that won in the future.
They will all lose their collective minds when NDP wins though next year if the referendum comes out in their favor. Because that’s how this will go. UCP may already be unelectable. That’s the funny part about all this to me is they essentially have shot themselves in the foot for who actually gets elected in the next provincial election.
Separatism was a fart in the breeze 40 years ago. Not worth taking seriously. But times/generations have changed. Justin Trudeau I believe permanently destroyed Alberta's relationship with Ottawa. With likely 20-25% of the population suppporting Alberta independence here in 2026, that is called a movement. And movements tend to grow. (Sometimes they fizzle of course.)
I also believe that Danielle Smith has been taking on far too much crap because she is a woman.
I grew up hearing about freight rates. Then we got rail reform in the "80's and free trade ended the National Policy of 1879. We got the National Energy Program in 1982. I still think this was the most egregious piece of legislation passed in Canada. But Mulroney repealed it in 1985. Then we got Justin Trudeau and his hippy dippy ideas, one of the biggest being ending Alberta's oil industry. He represented a larger idea in the world that we needed to attack hydrocarbons in order to reach net zero. But that idea has now been revised and Mark Carney, the first Liberal PM who grew up in Alberta, is pushing forward new pipelines and has dropped Justin Trudeau's rhetoric and many of his ideas. So where are we now? we are moving ahead on increasing oil and gas production which will help the whole country. The Laurentian elite has treated us badly at times but we have always been able to force real reform. We will move ahead with low taxes and a welcoming attitude to new investment and Alberta will keep increasing its relative importance in the Confederation. I think that's all we can hope for under any scenario and its a future that I would be happy with.
Respectfully, which reform? How did we get to this place?
I have targeted this submission in an above comment but I would like to broaden the topic of separation out in this missive with two points -one a general comment the other a question for all readers of this to ponder & reply.
General Comment- Alberta has been made out to be an outlier by even considering separation but lets look around the globe. Czechoslovakia amicably split in 2 about 20 years ago, the UK split from the European Union by a majority vote (we can debate why it hasn't been as successful as hoped in another post) but now both Scotland & Wales are seriously talking about leaving the UK and becoming separate, Ireland is seriously talking about becoming one, Catalonia has been trying to separate from Spain for years and now the Basque Region is also having discussions, also there are more than 15 other region in Europe in various level of talks regarding greater autonomy, oh yea isn't Quebec still taking about this - do you see a trend. People are mad at the status quo and want change everywhere.
My question to ponder & comment. Alberta biggest lever that is not talked about by both sides is what happens to British Columbia if Alberta leaves. Think about it and I'd love to hear your comments?
While you don’t have to agree with everything or indeed anything published by the Heritage Foundation their very existence would not be possible in the as totalitarian as possible Canadian broadcast environment. The so called hate speech controllers and bureaucrats in Canada would have hounded them out of existence a long time ago if they were Canadian.
So any Canadian interested in the free exchange of ideas should be grateful that their southern neighbors are spending their resources to make this forum possible. I remember a Canadian border guard seizing my copy of “black panther news” in the 1960s as “seditious literature” ( they also did it for gay literature in those days). Since nothing ever changes in burrocracy I’m sure that somewhere in the bowels of Ottawa pencil necked government paid elbozos are busily figuring out ways of blocking online publications to maintain “Peace, Order and Good Government” . After all if Iran and China can block the Internet, Canada should be able to do it also.
>>it would be foolish to assume that the United States would want Alberta for any reason other than to drain its resources for its own ends<<
Because this has been absolutely happening to Alberta from the ROC for decades. At least back to 1905.
This would absolutely not create a new National Energy Program. Depending on who is running the Alberta government, it would declare independence the next day.
Again, I do not consider myself an expert, but o could find little connection between the views of Dr. St. Onge- strong libertarian- and Donald Trump.
While E.J. Antoni III was a nominee for the Department of Labour, Donald Trump withdrew the nomination. Dr. Antoni’s ideas are, well, kind of out there.
Therefore, one could reasonably assume that neither of these economists is particularly influential with respect to government policy.
Boogeymen chased away; no more goblins under the bed.
“Historically, The Heritage Foundation was the premier traditional, establishment conservative think tank. However, under its current leadership, the organization has pivoted to embrace "new conservative" populism and national conservatism.
Rather than fitting neatly into just one category, Heritage currently functions as an institutional bridge between the two eras of American conservatism.” (AI)
Okay; Professor Leach first conjures up his boogeyman and then proceeds to define a relationship and an influence that does not actually exist.
Because Donald Trump is influenced by Project 2025 and some of its recommendations, that does not immediately or logically segue into the notion that his administration is adopting every idea. The notions expressed by the two authors are just that: the ideas of two authors in a think tank.
If Donald Trump or another Administration were to desire to acquire Alberta as a resource colony, there are far easier and less expensive ways to achieve that goal.
Are we suggesting or assuming that an independent Alberta would retain no sovereignty?
Are American States resource colonies to the federal government or the executive branch? Does Texas, Oklahoma and Pennsylvania not benefit from resource extraction and exploitation?
“• Economic Benefits: Oil and gas revenues account for roughly 7.6% of Texas's GDP and 5.7% of its total state and local revenue. The state produced over 42% of national crude oil and a quarter of U.S. natural gas.
• State Windfalls: Texas collects roughly 10.1% of all production value through severance and property taxes. It uses about 20% of this money to fund statewide public education permanent funds and its "Rainy Day" emergency reserves.”
I am by no means an expert, but it appears Texas is pretty pleased with the arrangement.
I get it that The Line is a platform devoted to a particular cause: that is Matt and Jen’s right.
But imagining goblins are under the bed or in the closet is not the same as being actually being besieged with evil.
I truly hope Albertans decide to remain in Canada, but, with every day that passes, I understand better why they may not.