Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said that Albertans aren’t asking for special treatment — just freedom.
“I will not permit the status quo to continue,” said Smith. “We are proud Canadians, but our loyalty must not be mistaken for submission. Alberta will stand strong and free. We will be the leaders we were born to be. We will work with the new federal government where possible, but never at the cost of our own prosperity or principles. This is Alberta’s moment to stand up, speak out and build a future that reflects the courage, ambition and strength of our people.”
Smith made her comments at an event where she shared the stage with Alberta Prosperity Project CEO Mitch Sylvestre.
While Smith hasn’t endorsed a referendum, Sylvestre’s Alberta Prosperity Project surpassed 240,000 signatures on Monday, above the 177,000 signatures that will be required once the Alberta UCP’s newest legislation is passed.
The meeting between Smith and Sylvestre occurred on the same day the Alberta Prosperity Project revealed its separation referendum question:
“Do you agree that the province of Alberta shall become a Sovereign Country and cease to be a province of Canada?”
Smith said that she disagreed with those opposed to a referendum question, arguing that the democratic process should occur if the legal threshold is met.
However, Smith doubled down on the fact that she would prefer Alberta remain in Canada, as she still sees a path forward for a strong and sovereign Alberta.
She reiterated her pledge for freedom, beyond the province’s motto. However, she said the freedom has been under attack for years.
“The federal policies have blocked pipelines, capped our industries, driven away hundreds of billions of dollars of investment, and these decisions have cost us jobs and opportunity and the future that we owe to our children and grandchildren,” said Smith. “Ottawa’s overreach, from carbon taxes to net-zero mandates, has not only hurt Alberta, but it’s weakened Canada’s place in the world.”
Ottawa’s attack on Alberta goes further back than the last decade of Liberal rule. Smith cited the first Trudeau, Pierre Elliott Trudeau, and explained the key difference between him and his son. She said Pierre wanted to steal Alberta’s wealth, while Justin wanted to destroy it.
Smith said that while the media was so focused on the supposed existential threat to Canada’s economy posed by U.S. President Donald Trump, that’s exactly how Albertans feel about Ottawa, which continuously attacks the province’s natural resources and economy.
Sylvestre said that the vast majority of Canadians pay between 45 per cent and 60 per cent of their gross income to taxes. If Alberta were to separate, he said that residents would save 20 to 30 per cent on their paycheque immediately.
As for Carney, Smith said there are two versions: one who was a pragmatic, trustworthy person who worked as the Bank of Canada governor under Stephen Harper. However, the other version is what Carney became following his departure: a “green extremist.”
However, she said that Canadians may be at the end of the line with the green agenda, now finally focused on prioritizing economic projects, big and small.
Smith said Carney has a small window—six months—to prove to Canadians he is going in a different direction.
In that time, she hopes that various issues will be addressed and rectified. Among them are targeting law-abiding gun owners instead of real criminals, a revolving door justice system, equalization payments, and more.
Irrespective of the federal government’s direction on its war waged on legal firearm owners, Smith said the Alberta Bill of Rights might let her provincial government overrule the federal government and protect law-abiding gun owners in Alberta. However, she has put the issue to her department of justice for further investigation.
Smith said Carney’s change of leadership could change the government’s direction, despite it generally being all of the “same cabinet ministers who made the same terrible policies.”
Smith responded separately to the recent cabinet appointments.
“This is a step in the wrong direction. I will continue to do everything in my power to negotiate a fair deal for Alberta with the new Prime Minister,” she said.