EDITORIAL: Time to take Alberta separatism seriously

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A new Leger survey suggests it’s foolish to dismiss separatist sentiment in Alberta for two reasons. 

First, it found Albertans almost evenly split on the issue. 

In response to the question: 

“To what extent would you support or oppose the province of Alberta becoming a country independent of Canada?” 47% were in favour compared to 48% opposed, with those in support higher than in many previous polls. 

Second, while 62% of Canadians nationally are opposed to Alberta separating compared to 26% in favour, 55% said they “understand why Alberta might want to become an independent country” compared to 37% who said they didn’t understand. 

The survey of 1,537 Canadian adults taken from May 16-18 found more people in every province, among both men and women and in every age group, saying they understood why Alberta might want to become an independent country, than those who said they didn’t understand. 

These numbers refute the erroneous perception that support for separation is a view held by only a small minority in Alberta and that Canadians are unsympathetic to what’s driving it. 

It also indicates that mocking Alberta Premier Danielle Smith for introducing a bill lowering the bar for citizens seeking to trigger province-wide referendums on issues such as separation, won’t make the controversy disappear. 

To do that, the legitimate concerns of Albertans need to be addressed. 

In that vein, Canada’s newly appointed natural resources minister, Tim Hodgson, struck some of the right notes in a recent speech to the Calgary Chamber of Commerce. 

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On the future of Alberta’s oil and gas sector, he said: 

“Canada will remain a reliable global supplier — not just today, but for decades to come. The real challenge is not whether we produce, but whether we can get the best products to market before someone else does. 

“We need infrastructure that gets our energy to tidewater and to trusted allies — diversifying beyond the U.S. 

“We will invest in carbon capture, methane reduction, and other technologies to ensure Canadian oil and gas is not only produced responsibly, but is the most competitive in the world.” 

While Hodgson is stating the obvious, it’s rare to see it coming from a federal Liberal cabinet minister. 

The question is whether it will be backed up by action.