Photo Credit: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh via Coast Reporter
On Oct. 21, Elections Alberta announced the final results of the Alberta Sovereignty Referendum. Alberta’s future was decided with a landslide win for “remain in Canada.” 75.1 per cent of Albertans voted to remain, while 24.9 per cent voted to take steps towards leaving Canada.
While the referendum is over, separatists are still active and the dispute remains intense. One look into the debate shows you countless forums of angry separatists, united in their slander of Ottawa. Though their appeal to the government was ultimately to no avail, it begs the question: what caused this generational grudge, and what does it mean to the people?
Western Alienation
The Alberta separatist movement is fueled by the concept of Western alienation. The term refers to the notion that Canadian federal policies prioritize Central Canada (Quebec and Ontario) while overlooking the needs of Western Canada (Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba).
The phenomenon is rooted in Canada’s formation. Quebec and Ontario were among the first provinces of the country. The first national census in 1871 revealed that eight in ten Canadians lived in the two provinces. Because Quebec and Ontario housed the majority of the population, the foundation for “Western alienation” was laid.
A “National” Policy
Federal policies later complicated this phenomenon. Western separatists have expressed discontent with the imbalance created by the national policies of Pierre Trudeau and Justin Trudeau, such as the carbon tax and other climate policies, claiming that they are regional policies instead of national legislation. Western separatists claim that Canada puts them at a disadvantage for the benefit of Central Canadians.
An example of this phenomenon is Pierre Trudeau's National Energy Policy (NEP), which he introduced in 1980. The federal demand for Western provinces to share oil revenue with Ottawa angered the region, especially Alberta. The policy, along with the 1970 recession, caused an 8.7 per cent increase in unemployment and a 150 per cent rise in bankruptcy in Alberta. The effects have cultivated a grudge against Ottawa that is still held today, maturing into what is known as the Alberta separatist movement. Now, Alberta separatist Dr. Michael Wagner, who holds a PhD in political science, stated that Pierre Trudeau was effectively “the father of Alberta Separatism.”
The Separatist Movement Today
Today, Alberta has the Alberta Sovereignty within a United Canada Act. Passed on Nov. 29, 2022, this provincial sovereignty act gives Albertans the chance to propose a resolution to a federal act. According to the provincial government, with its sovereignty act in place, Alberta can now “address federal policies that are unconstitutional, violate Albertans’ Charter rights or that affect or interfere with our provincial constitutional rights.”
In Saskatchewan, a similar provincial sovereignty act was also established in 2023, harbouring similar goals. Combined, they are the only two provinces with a provincial sovereignty act that seeks protection for the region’s rights.
The Alberta Sovereignty Referendum
Following the demands of separatists, a tenth question was added to the provincial referendum happening on Oct. 19. The new question asked if Alberta should “remain a province of Canada” or “hold a binding provincial referendum on whether or not Alberta should separate from Canada.”
Prime Minister Mark Carney spoke on the issue in Edmonton, stating he believed this to be the worst time for a referendum. He said the referendum was foolish and gambled with the province’s future “just to send a message,” according to the Edmonton Journal.
A Waste of Resources?
Abacus Data has reported that 22 per cent of Albertans want the provincial government to fight for more autonomy while 63 per cent would rather the government focus on issues like healthcare and jobs.
The past 2023 provincial election reportedly cost taxpayers $37 million, and the 2026 referendum is projected to have even higher costs due to new rules requiring that ballots be counted within 48 hours. Many Albertans are opposing the vote for this reason, believing that the government should have diverted its funds to improve healthcare and housing.
"Every single dollar spent on this referendum is a dollar that isn't being spent addressing the issues that Albertans care about every single day," said Alberta opposition NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi, according to CBC News.
Indigenous Stance
Albertan separatists’call for independence is easier said than done. Aside from obvious issues like currency and citizenship, the outcome of the Alberta independence debate could have significant impacts for First Nations. If Alberta were to separate, treaty agreements and relationships would be violated, leaving Indigenous Peoples at risk of losing their ancestral lands and treaty rights under a new government.
The First Nations of the region are affected by Treaty 6. Signed with the Crown in 1876, the treaty now represents something larger. As the Confederacy of Treaty No. 6 First Nations states, “Treaty No. 6 represents a continuing relationship with the Crown and Canada. The decisions being made in this referendum matter to Treaty people, our Nations and future generations.”
On Jul. 16, the Annual General Assembly of the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) passed an emergency resolution opposing the Alberta separatist movement. The resolution was put forward by Sunchild First Nation and Confederacy of Treaty No. 6 First Nations Grand Chief Joey Pete and Proxy Chief Matthew Coon Come, of the Cree Nation of Nemaska, Quebec.
A statement from the AFN said that any attempt for Alberta to separate from Canada would “directly affect First Nations’ rights, lands, territories, and future, and therefore cannot proceed.” The AFN also states “that no province has the legal authority to alter, diminish, or extinguish Treaty Rights or the constitutional relationship between First Nations and the Crown.”
A core part of the separatist debate that impacts Indigenous people involves the town of Banff, a tourist paradise and sacred First Nations site. For centuries, the Tunnel Mountains that surround the town have been known as Sacred Guardian Buffalo Mountain to the Stoney Nakoda Nations.
The mountains and surrounding hot springs have been long-standing landmarks for prayer, a sacred location and irreplaceable part of their tradition. Now, the Stoney Nakoda Nations also stand firm in their opposition to the Alberta separatist movement. As the Nation’s elder Alice Kaquitts told CBC News in an interview, “We didn't sign a treaty with Alberta to give up this land."