05/07/2025

What to Know about Alberta’s Potential Separation from Canada

Some want to vote on secession in 2026

Just over a week ago, Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney won election amid backlash to President Donald Trump’s talk of annexing the country, which would be illegal. But now, a threat to Canada's sovereignty is coming from within.

Danielle Smith, the premier of Alberta, said in a livestream Monday that she would hold a referendum on the province’s separation next year if such a petition amasses the prerequisite support.

"Albertans have always been loyal, proud and generous Canadians—we love Canada," Smith said prior to launching into successive Canadian national governments for introducing "destructive legislation and policies." Smith clarified that the Albertan government will not push a vote on separating from Canada and that she personally does not support separation, but she asserted: "If there is a successful citizen-led referendum petition that is able to gather the requisite number of signatures requesting such a question to be put on a referendum, our government will respect the democratic process and include that question on the 2026 provincial referendum ballot."

Please select this link to read the complete article from TIME.