this post was submitted on 28 Apr 2026
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The motivations that have contributed to the separatist movement and Alberta’s sense of grievance in recent years are not especially discrete; it’s more like a nebulous Venn diagram. Simple politics have pushed some people toward separatism. Indeed, the paucity of separatist talk during the time when Stephen Harper was prime minister suggests there’s a significant political component to the idea; when Liberals are in power, people feel more inclined to talk about leaving. Culture also plays a role. When Angus Reid pollsters talked to separatists in February 2026, 86.5 percent said they thought Canada forced Alberta to take in too many immigrants, and 96 percent believed that an independent Alberta would better protect personal freedoms.

But ... separatists tend to find the economic arguments particularly seductive. Angus Reid polling shows 96 percent of respondents who want an independent Alberta believe they would be free from economically damaging federal government policies. Separatist leaders promise the elimination of the personal income tax while creating a new provincial sales tax of 5 percent. They also claim Alberta would save $75 billion from no longer paying federal taxes.

Not all separatists promise immediate prosperity, but the argument remains persuasive. Cameron Davies is the leader of the Republican Party of Alberta. “I don’t paint an immediate rosy, utopian picture of what independence looks like,” he says. “Will it be difficult? Yes. Will it be immediate sunshine and rainbows? Probably not. But will it be worth it? Five, ten, fifteen years down the road for your kids and your grandkids? One hundred percent yes.”

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[–] Yuccagnocchiyaki@lemmy.world 2 points 12 hours ago

Learn from us in the United States and remove these cancerous traitors from your country NOW. Preserve your education and REGULATE BUSINESS AND TECH.

If you fail to do this. You too will have concentration camps and data centers all over your country and fascist traitors in charge

[–] Bubbaonthebeach@lemmy.ca 11 points 1 day ago (2 children)

Alberta screwed themselves when they rejected national energy program that would have cost them some provincial control in exchange for building Canadian energy self sufficiency. They would have pipelines crisscrossing Canada and refineries to boot to get 'their' oil to. However they were hoodwinked by US corporate interest into rejecting the NEP and they have been taken advantage of by those same corporate interests ever since. Along with that the Alberta government has spend every waking moment blaming Ottawa. No AB sales tax to even out cyclical O&G revenues? Ottawa's fault, somehow. Not enough environmental deposits to clean up after the O&G company has taken all the profits it wants and offshored them? Ottawa's fault. No refineries? US extraction companies want to refine in US and close Canadian sites, Ottawa's fault. Petro Canada. Short sightedly sold by Conservatives. Was Ottawa's fault but at the behest of Alberta.

[–] tigeruppercut@lemmy.zip 4 points 18 hours ago

Sounds like Texas with their stupid separate energy grid that crashes all the fucking time and causes old people to die. Maybe they can both secede at the same time and start their own country.

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[–] DiabolicalBird@lemmy.ca 9 points 1 day ago (4 children)

So, if Alberta reaches the promised land of glorious independence or whatever, how exactly do they plan on trading outside their borders without being taxed to oblivion by one of two much larger bordering nations any time we try to get resources in or out?

[–] Karmanopoly@lemmy.world 1 points 15 hours ago* (last edited 14 hours ago) (2 children)

Howndoes any landlocked countries do it?

San Marino seems pretty prosperous

[–] GrackleBirb@lemmy.ca 2 points 13 hours ago

San Marino is completely dependent on Italy. People go to Italy for specialist appointments, to shop as the stores in San Marino don't have much selection - they go to Italy to attend university etc. Not a great example. (Andorra is a bit better of an example but they also heavily rely on Spain and less so France)

[–] DiabolicalBird@lemmy.ca 1 points 13 hours ago

Alberta separating would rely entirely on the good will of Canada or the US, one of which we'd have just ripped a chunk out of their country and been a huge pain in the ass... and the other has voiced interest in annexing us and has been threatening their supposed allies across the board. Walking headfirst into that doesn't seem smarter than trying to figure things out within from Canada.

[–] Riverside@reddthat.com 1 points 19 hours ago (1 children)

I don't even live in the American continent, but just to play devil's advocate: Alberta shouldn't become independent because if it does, it will be sanctioned into economic collapse? Doesn't sound like the most fair argument IMO.

[–] DiabolicalBird@lemmy.ca 1 points 14 hours ago (1 children)

It's not necessarily "will" but going independant relies entirely on the good will of the two countries that would border Alberta. One of which we've been antagonizing for years (Canada) and the other has been threatening its "allies" left right and center. Having to renegotiate every trade deal we have after seceding puts Alberta in a fairly precarious position because of this. Fairness isn't really a factor.

[–] Riverside@reddthat.com 1 points 13 hours ago

In my experience as a Spaniard (and our own independence themes with Catalonia and Euskal Herria) antagonizing the pro-independence by threatening them with economic sanctions upon independence usually doesn't have good political results. Nothing quenched the pro-independence more than a progressive-ish government that didn't antagonize them.

[–] ElegantBeef@lemmy.ca 6 points 1 day ago (2 children)

If you believe the APP's website they want to use the UN's 'Law of the Sea', but they also don't want to be a part of the UN cause they do not share values. So seemingly they think they can, they think they can.

[–] Canconda@lemmy.ca 4 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Highly believable that a bunch of Albertans want to use Maritime law in a land locked province.

[–] ElegantBeef@lemmy.ca 3 points 1 day ago (1 children)

That convention does guarantee access to trade corridors for landlocked nations, though as the separatists do not want to join the UN I'd be interested in seeing how they think they'd benefit.

[–] Canconda@lemmy.ca 2 points 1 day ago

Even if they do join the UN. I just looked it up and transit states retain the right to ensure none of their interests are infringed upon. So basically AB will have even less leverage than they do now.

[–] DiabolicalBird@lemmy.ca 2 points 1 day ago

Ah yes, wanting all of the benefits without any commitment or obligation on their part. Sounds like Albertan logic to me!

[–] Canconda@lemmy.ca 2 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (2 children)

their borders

Teeny Tiny problem... The Government of Alberta doesn't own the land that comprises Alberta. That belongs to the federal government as per multiple treaties with the First Nations.

So like, if the Albertan government leaves Canada they'll probably be reduced to the municipal boundaries of Edmonton or something ridiculous.

[–] DiabolicalBird@lemmy.ca 1 points 1 day ago

See, a problem I'm noticing is everyone seems to assume everyone will make deals in good faith. I don't think the fact that the land isn't owned by Alberta is as much of a "gotcha" as people seem to believe... do you honestly believe that a government that has been using every excuse it can to bypass democracy lately will respect that?

Canada would have to be willing to enforce their ownership of the land. I'm not saying it'd be a good or smart decision on Alberta's part, but I do think they're arrogant enough to try. Particularly if the US sticks its nose in to back Alberta.

The whole thing will be a fucking nightmare if it gets pushed through...

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[–] noxypaws@pawb.social 5 points 1 day ago (3 children)

trade Alberta for Washington, Oregon, and California

[–] Tiger666@lemmy.ca 3 points 12 hours ago

Some sane people live in Alberta, so no we wont be doing that.

[–] Glytch@lemmy.world 4 points 1 day ago

And Minnesota! I'd much rather be Canadian

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[–] Godort@lemmy.ca 85 points 2 days ago (8 children)

Call me a conspiracy theorist, but it really feels like the separation thing is mostly a guise so that the US can step in and "save" the struggling and destitute Alberta.

[–] phoenixz@lemmy.ca 30 points 2 days ago

You mean that they can simply annex it without first ng a shot.

This is basically just a civil type of invasion of the province

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[–] Track_Shovel@slrpnk.net 30 points 2 days ago (16 children)

In 2021, the Canadian Taxpayers Federation pegged Albertans’ contribution to equalization as $650 per capita.

Lol. Lmao even.

Let's risk a very unclear future, sold to us by utopian libertarians over $650 per person.

I'm Albertan. I'm also quite Liberal, so kind of rare in these parts.

Anyway, I just can't wrap my head around the logic of the separatist have. Cut off ALL federal programs. Make your own programs, which is more than likely going to be blindingly more expensive due inefficiencies in starting from scratch. Cut all income tax (are you stupid?). Institute PST, something that is political sepukku in Alberta. Oh. And don't forget to base your economy on a marginal product, with no access to foreign markets, whose commodity prices are controlled by a cartel.

Get the fuck out, and come back to me with some valid logic

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[–] Bubbaonthebeach@lemmy.ca 2 points 1 day ago

You would think that after the fiasco of Brexit Albertans would know better. Albertans would still be subject to their own governments damaging economic policies even if they could divorce from the federal ones. Most of their economic problems are self inflicted. That will only get worse. It is clear that their Premier and cabinet and advisors are already on the payroll of American billionaires. How any Albertan thinks that will make life or income better for them is astonishing. They harken back to some good ol days that never existed, while falling for Koch brothers (or whomever) marketing their takeover. They wouldn't become the next Alaska, they would become the next Puerto Rico, if that lucky. And like Quebec before them, they don't understand that the current provincial borders won't be the ones that would exist if they managed to secede.
Personally I'd be willing to work on a trade group: all the Albertans (and the few from BC, Sask, & Man) who want to secede could be swapped for an equal number of Americans who wanted to come North.

[–] melsaskca@lemmy.ca 5 points 1 day ago

I think, if you don't like where you live, you should move, but you can't take your land with you. I also think, if you don't care about separation but push the agenda just to entangle yourself with powerful cabals above and beyond your reach, should be a special kind of treason.

[–] ryper@lemmy.ca 24 points 2 days ago (10 children)

The thing that really gets me is, Alberta doesn't like how hard it is to build a pipeline that would run into other provinces, and how in the world is being a separate country supposed to help with that? Do they think building across an international border will be easier than building across an interprovincial one?

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[–] thisorthatorwhatever@lemmy.world 28 points 2 days ago (2 children)

Carney needs to start a loud public investigation into foreign money. Expose these jerks.

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