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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[–] Bubbaonthebeach@lemmy.ca 3 points 2 months 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.

[–] Rentlar@lemmy.ca 2 points 2 months ago

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

[–] Yuccagnocchiyaki@lemmy.world 2 points 2 months 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

[–] LoveCanada@lemmy.ca 1 points 2 months 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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[–] Gmak2442@lemmy.ca 1 points 2 months ago

I think it would be a disaster tout cour.

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