Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s call for a “reset” with Ottawa after Prime Minister Mark Carney’s minority government victory prompted some Albertans to flood her replies with demands for the province to separate from Canada.
In a post to X on Monday, Smith congratulated Carney but warned that Alberta would not tolerate continued federal hostility.
While extending her congratulations, Smith said that the last decade of Liberal rule made the country “weaker, more divided, and overly dependent on the United States.”
Conversely, she added that Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre’s vision inspired millions to see the unique potential of Canada.
“While Liberals and New Democrats demeaned and demonized Albertans, our values and our industries for political gain, Mr. Poilievre made empowering Albertans and our energy sector a cornerstone of his campaign. His respect and admiration for Albertans could not have been clearer. He is and continues to be a true friend of Alberta,” said Smith.
She noted that the vast majority of Albertans are frustrated that the federal government, which has attacked her province’s economy, has returned to power.
Smith has previously cited various policies that hurt her province’s and the country’s economy, such as Bill C-69, the oil and gas emissions cap, the net-zero car mandate, and the Clean Electricity Regulations.
The vast majority of replies to Smith’s post on X, Facebook, and Instagram saw Albertans calling for separation. The most liked comments on each post shared the same sentiment. Each post saw thousands of replies.
“It’s time to stop with the Stockholm Syndrome, congratulating our abusers and celebrating our captivity in a rigged system. It’s time to fire Ottawa! It’s time to free Alberta! It’s time for the full Firewall! It’s time to establish a rapid pathway to an independent Alberta!” reads the most-liked reply on Smith’s X post.
“It’s time for us to separate. We don’t want to stay tied to a broken system. Alberta deserves independence — not more empty promises from the East. We are not proud under this flag, and we are not united in this country,” reads the most-liked comment on Smith’s post to Facebook. “It’s time we step up, take our future into our own hands, and end the cycle of being wage slaves to Ottawa. Alberta has everything it needs to become the next great superpower of the North. Let’s build it ourselves.”
“Alberta Strong and Independent,” reads the most liked comment on Smith’s post on Instagram.
While almost every reply called on Smith to explore separation, a very small portion of the comments were critical of Poilievre.
Smith said Albertans would no longer tolerate having their resources stymied by Ottawa.
“As premier, I will not allow the status quo to continue,” said Smith.
She previously committed to convening a panel to gauge provincial appetite for a referendum on separation. Alberta could hold a referendum at its next series of municipal elections, set to take place in October 2025.
Former premier Jason Kenney conducted a referendum on Alberta equalization similarly by including a constitutional referendum question on the municipal election ballot.
On Monday, Smith said she would hold a special caucus meeting on Friday to discuss the matter further and issue a statement shortly after.
“As Premier, I will facilitate and lead this discussion and process with the sincere hope of securing a prosperous future for our province within a united Canada that respects our province’s constitutional rights, facilitates rather than blocks the development and export of our abundant resources, and treats us as a valued and respected partner within confederation,” said Smith.
Any province can secede from Canada thanks to Bill C-20, the Clarity Act, which was enacted by the Canadian government in 2000.
To trigger a referendum, Alberta would first need to collect 600,000 signatures—roughly 20 per cent of the province’s population—within 90 days under the Citizens Initiative Act. If successful, a referendum would require a clear, unambiguous question directly addressing secession. Ottawa would then be obligated to negotiate if a “clear majority” voted in favour, as outlined in the Clarity Act.
The Alberta Prosperity Project, which has spearheaded public education efforts on sovereignty, said it is “gearing up for this pivotal piece of the plan by registering and collecting signatures so that, when the official 90-day period starts, we will easily collect the required number of signatures within the time allotted.”
The group said that negotiations would initially be to negotiate sovereignty within Canada.
“However, if this endeavour proves futile, the pursuit of sovereignty without Canada becomes inevitable,” said the Alberta Prosperity Project.