Alberta Premier Smith punts suggestions she’s stoking separatism talk
By Canadian Press on May 1, 2025.
EDMONTON — Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is deflecting accusations that she’s stoking the fires of separatism, despite her government moving to lower the bar for holding a referendum.
Earlier this week, Smith’s government proposed legislation that would make it easier for citizens to call for a vote to secede from Canada, drawing heated condemnation from Indigenous leaders who warn it would violate treaties.
A vocal set of right-wing supporters are pushing for an Alberta exit following the federal Liberals’ election win Monday.
Smith told reporters Thursday that she won’t presuppose what questions Albertans might bring to a ballot.
“I’m not going to prejudge what citizens are going to do for a petition,” Smith said.
Asked if she would acknowledge that she has opened the door for separatism to gain ground in the province, Smith pointed to recent polling that pegged support at 25 per cent, or 30 per cent with a federal Liberal election win.
“That seems to me that the majority of people are not in favour,” she said.
Smith wants to see citizen-led initiatives on whatever issues Albertans feel strongly about, she said, and the proposed legislation has long been in the works.
“It gives all Albertans an opportunity to play a direct role in the democratic process by inviting them to have a direct say on issues.”
When it comes to her own feelings about the province leaving Confederation, Smith reiterated that she supports a sovereign Alberta within a united Canada.
In March, she threatened a “national unity crisis” if the next prime minister doesn’t acquiesce to a list of her demands within six months.
Smith also talked about forming what she calls a “What’s Next” panel to hear how Albertans want to push back against the status quo in Ottawa.
Earlier this week, United Conservative Party president Rob Smith responded to a comment on social media calling for a path to making Alberta independent or America’s 51st state.
He pointed to the premier’s announcement: “It’s in there.”
“This announcement is giving you the pathway some of you are seeking today,” he said.
As the bill works its way through debate in the legislature, First Nations chiefs are warning against any talk of separatism.
“If they’re not happy living in this country, anybody who wants to separate — the premier included — they can gladly go live in any other country that they wish around the world, but they will not be taking any treaty or inherent lands away with them,” said Assembly of First Nations National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak.
“They can take the dirt that their ancestors brought from their territory with them under their fingernails,” she said.
In a Wednesday letter, Chief Sheldon Sunshine of Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation and Mikisew Cree First Nation Chief Billy-Joe Tuccaro call on the premier to stand down, saying her statements and action violate treaties.
“You are attempting to manufacture a national unity crisis — by enabling a referendum on separation and a fanatical cell of individuals — at the exact moment when Canadians need to unite against Donald Trump’s America,” the Alberta chiefs wrote.
In a second letter, they also ask Prime Minister Mark Carney to “get the province of Alberta in line.”
Piikani Nation Chief Troy Knowlton also says in a letter that it’s understandable many in the West are frustrated their rejection of the federal Liberal party in the election didn’t play out elsewhere. But Alberta doesn’t have the authority to interfere with or negate treaties, he says.
“That frustration has led to several initiatives seemingly designed to give Albertans a path to renegotiation of Confederation or indeed separation,” Knowlton wrote.
Tuesday’s bill, if passed, would change citizen-initiated referendum rules to require a petition signed by 10 per cent of the eligible voters in a previous general election — down from 20 per cent of registered voters. Applicants would also get 120 days, rather than 90, to collect the required 177,000 signatures.
“Some organizers are claiming that they are already gathering signatures at a rate that could reach that threshold,” says Knowlton.
Alberta Indigenous Relations Minister Rick Wilson told reporters that the government respects treaties, and Indigenous people are also welcome to introduce their own referendum petitions.
“A lot of people have a lot of opinions in Alberta, so we have to listen to everybody,” he said.
Opposition NDP Indigenous relations critic Brooks Arcand-Paul said that with other changes in the proposed bill, including the removal of vouching at the polls, the premier also wants to disenfranchise Indigenous voters.
“She’s not putting the flames to bed. She’s not putting any water on these talks of separation,” he said.
NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi has said the premier is stoking anger and fear, playing recklessly with the future of the country, and encouraging any talk of separatism risks driving away business and capital.
It’s clear it never even occurred to the premier that she should check with Indigenous people first, he said.
“We all know this is pandering to her base on separatism. Premier, don’t take citizens for fools.”
— With files from Alessia Passafiume in Ottawa
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 1, 2025.
Lisa Johnson, The Canadian Press
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The Canadian Press appears to have Premier Smith in their gun sights judging by all of the different reports they have released today in the news about her. I would think China or Trump would be the bigger enemy at this time.
I watched a news report in which it was stated “Smith wants provincial sovereignty ‘within a United Canada’.The media wants to blow it out of proportion along with the NDP fearmongers!
Alberta has been abused by Ottawa for several years, killing our economy which was a major contributor to the Canadian economy! Canada is in trouble and Alberta can help, if we were not being bound and overtaxed.
Anyone who believes that first of all there would be enough names collected under the new rules for petition moving for a referendum for the Alberta Pension or for Alberta leaving Confederation really is out of touch with reality or they eating too many ‘majic mushrooms’ and are hallucinating and second, there would still need to be a referendum! Fearmongering!
What the Premier wants is to take back the controls Alberta is supposed to have in the Confederation and if Quebec can be a sovereign province in this Conderation, it sets pecident that Alberta can have provincial sovereignty while remaining within Canada!
Alberta has not been respected by Ottawa and the Premier is standing up for our province. The hype the media and NDP has spewed is more fearmongering!
A recent attempt by a non-partisan group to collect enough signatures on a petition for a referendum for an Alberta Pension failed miserably and would still fail completely under the new legislation! People talk big until it is time to commit and put their name on paper, then they run away!
It is all about appeasing large groups who want change, which is part of our democratic process, a process that allows such discussions and I could give several examples of previous governments allowing such processes! When the NDP forced the supervised consumption sites on us, many were opposed, but few would sign the petition to commit shutting them down!
What the Premier is trying to do is make sure we are not going to see another 4 years of what the last 10 years were like and I for one stand with her! The current legislation made it impossible for ANY referendum to be brought forward by concerned groups!
Unlike Ontario’s bullheaded Ford who taunted Trump and made things worse, our Premier tried to keep the rhetoric low as she used diplomacy in an effort to protect Alberta’s annual $150 billion plus exports to the US!
Although a dream, it would be nice to see professional journalism return to the world, but I am not going to hold my breath!
It appears, that First Nations groups would resist Alberta separation/sovereignty. They would have the ability, and the legal talent, to tie this up in the courts for a very long time….good on them!
We need not suffer illusions that Premier Smith speaks out of the side of her mouth on this topic and many others…..not to be trusted.