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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[–] CapuccinoCoretto@lemmy.world 14 points 2 days ago

“Honestly, I hate this country right now. If I could leave, I would.”

Darling, If I could throw you out, I would.

[–] HellsBelle@sh.itjust.works 23 points 2 days ago

... Cameron Davies is the leader of the Republican Party of Alberta

Jfc. :/

[–] humanspiral@lemmy.ca 4 points 1 day ago

While a critic might argue that’s just swapping one federal government for another, Lorusso argues that’s not the case in the US, where states have powers that Canadian provinces do not.

States don't have the power to secede, so it's a hotel california situation. Health care is not under control of any state. $100k in extra debt per person = $4000+/year in interest. $3000/year per capita military spending, about to increase to $5000/year. Higher interest rates and home building costs, including O&G drilling costs due to tariffs on Canada.

If negotiating secession with Canada, Crown land should stay with Canada or at least form a land bridge within Canada. Canadian policies would charge more for transporting Alberta exports, and reduce their energy use. Alberta secession economic optimism is based on going all in on dead ender energy without any real friends. Don't expect keys to the store open arms invitation to being 51st state, either.

[–] Gmak2442@lemmy.ca 1 points 1 day ago

I think it would be a disaster tout cour.

[–] BurgerBaron@piefed.social 10 points 2 days ago (2 children)

I can imagine a mass exodus too. I live here. I'd rather be homeless and jobless made destitute with a mortgage on a made worthless house than American.

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

I can imagine a mass exodus too

Starting with corporate head offices.

Exactly like what happened to Quebec during their sovereignty campaigns.

Businesses hate instability and unpredictability. And that's exactly what separatist movements cause.

[–] dou9m@lemmy.ca 3 points 2 days ago (1 children)

As an American, I’d be jealous of your homelessness especially when you don’t get imprisoned for said homelessness.

Oops sorry gotta go back to working for pennies at the child labor factory!

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

Maybe not jailed but left outside to die in winter instead.

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[–] CircaV@lemmy.ca 4 points 1 day ago (2 children)

I could care less if a bunch of rednecks want to leave Canada, the problem is it immediately becomes part of the US. They are not saying that part loudly enough.

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[–] Pistcow@lemmy.world 15 points 2 days ago (3 children)

So is like Alberta the Mississippi of Canada?

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[–] LoveCanada@lemmy.ca 2 points 1 day ago (3 children)

What non Albertans need to understand is that "the separatists" in Alberta are two different groups. There are a significant number of Albertans who are upset with the way Alberta has been milked as a cash cow for decades without the corresponding political power like the populous provinces out east. Mostly they want to express their displeasure and if that means some sabre rattling and threats of separation thats fine. It works for Quebec and they just want to follow the same playbook. They would be the mild separatists who may or may not see the value in having Alberta be an independent state within Canada, but they are still a minority.

Then there are the radical separatists who believe that Alberta should separate and join the US. That is a VERY small group of people. If anything Albertans are fiercely independent, with an "I can do it myself" attitude and the last thing the vast majority wants is to jump out of a stable democracy into the shit show that exists down south.

So when you say 'separatists' you have to be clear who you are talking about. MOST of us want a more fair deal for Alberta but we're not pro US and particularly not pro Trump.

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

Any Albertan that wants to be "independent"/ be annexed by the USA can look forward to inheriting a $150k CDN per capita debt.

[–] HeroicBillyBishop@lemmy.ca 8 points 2 days ago

...and for Canada

That's why the shitheads are funding it

[–] shawn1122@sh.itjust.works 8 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

I wonder if they included the cost of armed forces, border and customs agencies, foreign embassies, aviation and environmental regulatory agencies, national pension systems, and federal service staffing in their calculations? Or are they assuming the two behemoths landlocking them would just... let them be...? Both Canada and the US could decimate Alberta economically and I can see the current US administrarion doing it purposefully with the intention of annexing them.

Sometimes I wonder if separatists really just want Alberta to be a part of the US since we all know that's how this would play out in the end.

[–] ILikeBoobies@lemmy.ca 8 points 2 days ago

That's the plan, that's why they meet with US officials.

[–] Karmanopoly@lemmy.world -4 points 1 day ago (5 children)

5 million people who own...

-the 3rd largest oil reserves on Earth -5th most natural gas produced on Earth

  • huge forestry
  • huge mining
  • huge agriculture
  • 1000s of freshwater lakes

They do lack fisheries tho

Yes this place is set up for economic disaster

[–] AnalogHole@lemmy.blahaj.zone 3 points 1 day ago (1 children)

You dont understand economics hey

[–] Karmanopoly@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Everyone is smarter than me I know that

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

5 million now, you can easily put that down to 2 million once the "Canadians" leave. I know I will.

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

If nobody buys from you, then those things are not useful

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