All Things AB Separatism (split fm Liberal Minority Government 2025 - ???)

[Jarnhamar]

Here's a broad question.

If 84% of the electorate participated and 92% of voters approved independence in a referendum, should the rest of Canada support that and wish them well?

 

[suffolkowner]

I was 15. I was in Eastern Ontario.

I remember Canadian flags everywhere and the My Canada Includes Quebec movement. Big rallies to show our wish for them to stay.

I also remember we some anger towards separatists in Quebec. But not like I am seeing towards separatists in Alberta. And I remember the anger being more... I don't know the term... Educated, or informed maybe. There was was validity to the grievance.

What I see towards the movement in Alberta seems to be more based on pre-existing on political biases and beliefs and a rooted in central Canadian discard and disdain for issues and grievances from outside Ont and Quebec.

the Quebec separatist movement burnt me out i dont have the energy or interest in it anymore. Whether Quebec or Alberta. Go, stay, whatever

 

[Halifax Tar]

Here's a broad question.

If 84% of the electorate participated and 92% of voters approved independence in a referendum, should the rest of Canada support that and wish them well?

Just like Quebec it's not that easy. There will be negotiations and debts to be paid.

Not to mention it will probably unravel the whole country.

 

[MilEME09]

This has been realized. Albertans know when a CPC government takes over, there is little improvement just a pause until the Natural Governing Party is back.

Thats what I mean though, we had a PM whos riding was in calgary and yet AB was content with status quo. If it were me I would of still been hammering the government

 

[Remius]

I was 15. I was in Eastern Ontario.

I was a bit older.

I remember Canadian flags everywhere and the My Canada Includes Quebec movement. Big rallies to show our wish for them to stay.

The charm offensive of 95. I was there in Montreal. It was more for a united Canada than a love of Quebec.

I also remember we some anger towards separatists in Quebec. But not like I am seeing towards separatists in Alberta. And I remember the anger being more... I don't know the term... Educated, or informed maybe. There was was validity to the grievance.

I’ve been spit on by angry Anglos. in the NCR. And told to speak Canadian. I went to a rally to save my school because angry Anglos didn’t think we should have one when by law they had one extra seat on the school board (a vestige from the law 17 days). And don’t get me started on the brawls in Gatineau between Franco’s and Anglos. And the Association for the preservation of English in Canada that came out of Carleton place. A border line hate group in my mind.

As a francophone outside Quebec we bore the brunt of ignorant Anglos who failed to realize that most of us were federalists. Because they were angry and they wanted to exact revenge on the only people they could.

So yes, very much revisionist on your part.

What I see towards the movement in Alberta seems to be more based on pre-existing on political biases and beliefs and a rooted in central Canadian discard and disdain for issues and grievances from outside Ont and Quebec.

I see a seperatist movement detached from reality like most of those movements.

 

[Remius]

Just like Quebec it's not that easy. There will be negotiations and debts to be paid.

Not to mention it will probably unravel the whole country.

They said the same thing about Brexit. So far no unravelling and négociations led to severance of most benefits.

The UK’s economy is in the tank, their immigration is worse than it was and the US has them by the balls in any trade deal they try to make. And all the Brexiters are all pretty quiet now…

 

[brihard]

Here's a broad question.

If 84% of the electorate participated and 92% of voters approved independence in a referendum, should the rest of Canada support that and wish them well?

From a standpoint of them as a people having a right to self determination? Sure, generally yes. When we get into more complex issues like treaty rights, citizenship, debts and social benefit entitlements and such, the practicalities will rapidly get complicated. The path to ‘final lines on a map’ would be complex. There seems to be an assumption that Alberta, a country, would physically match Alberta the province. That may not be the case.

 

[QV]

Alberta might be close to: “fuck it we’ll take our chances.”

Every contemptuous attack incrementally nudges it in this direction.

 

[Jarnhamar]

Just like Quebec it's not that easy. There will be negotiations and debts to be paid.

Not to mention it will probably unravel the whole country.

Agreed.

Canada has committed $20 billion to a country that went through this in the 90', and suffering an invasion for it now.

There's a lot.of reasons why it's not the same but also some similarities. Interesting that Canadians are calling Albertans who want to separate traitors while pledging support for Ukraine that asserted their independence.

 

[Jarnhamar]

From a standpoint of them as a people having a right to self determination? Sure, generally yes. When we get into more complex issues like treaty rights, citizenship, debts and social benefit entitlements and such, the practicalities will rapidly get complicated. The path to ‘final lines on a map’ would be complex. There seems to be an assumption that Alberta, a country, would physically match Alberta the province. That may not be the case.

Good points. Would you go so far as to support the use of force to prevent them (or Quebec)from separating and taking Canadian material and resources with them?

 

[brihard]

Good points. Would you go so far as to support the use of force to prevent them (or Quebec)from separating and taking Canadian material and resources with them?

Too vague a question to meaningfully answer. We’d need really specific circumstances and a record of relevant court decisions to assess something like that.

 

[suffolkowner]

A couple of pipelines later an Alberta the disadvantaged drones on. Not exactly positive reinforcement for the construction of anymore

 

[MilEME09]

A couple of pipelines later an Alberta the disadvantaged drones on. Not exactly positive reinforcement for the construction of anymore

Complaining is the AB government way, there is a lot of problems in AB within its own control, however even the anger of those issues is being focused on ottawa.

 

[Jarnhamar]

Too vague a question to meaningfully answer. We’d need really specific circumstances and a record of relevant court decisions to assess something like that.

What about worse case scenario.

84% of Alberta votes, 92% in favor of separating. Canadian court says no way hoser. Alberta responds get bent eh and installs armed border guards at BC and Sask border crossings. Albertan Armed Forces go on high alert. Alberta says take the North West territories or US route to by pass them if we don't like it.

Goofy fantasy senario but the CAF also just did fantasy senario planning against US invasion if I'm not mistaken.

 

[Halifax Tar]

They said the same thing about Brexit. So far no unravelling and négociations led to severance of most benefits.

The UK’s economy is in the tank, their immigration is worse than it was and the US has them by the balls in any trade deal they try to make. And all the Brexiters are all pretty quiet now…

I think we agree but I think you may have assumed a wrong intent from me.

There is difference in leaving an alliance, for lack of better word, and succeeding from a country.

It's not as easy as majority vote. Lots will have to be settled and negotiated.

If Alberta thinks a 50+1 means they can just walk away, I think they're mistaken.

 

[rmc_wannabe]

I was 15. I was in Eastern Ontario.

I remember Canadian flags everywhere and the My Canada Includes Quebec movement. Big rallies to show our wish for them to stay.

I also remember some anger towards separatists in Quebec. But not like I am seeing towards separatists in Alberta. And I remember the anger being more... I don't know the term... Educated, or informed maybe. There was was validity to the grievance.

What I see towards the movement in Alberta seems to be more based on pre-existing on political biases and beliefs and a rooted in central Canadian discard and disdain for issues and grievances from outside Ont and Quebec.

Your last paragraph hits the nail on the head quite well. Time and context matter greatly in the comparison between Alberta and Quebec.

I think a lot of the disdain folks, rightly or wrongly, put towards Alberta is due to the grievances and gripes being drowned out by the GOP support; and alt-right wagon hitching, the separatists have moved towards.

In 2026: after the 51st state rhetoric, Tarriff Wars, and a new "not-Trudeau" Liberal PM (who would have a lot of common ground with Preston Manning and Ralph Klein); the Alberta separation idea sounds a lot like whinging about not having any bread, while holding a ham under the arm.

I love Alberta. I spent 6 years of my life there and enjoyed it fondly, both for the location and the people I met there. Its with that love, I also think at face value the anger and frustration they are feeling can and should be dealt with in discussions with Ottawa; not by threatening to take their ball and go..... into another room in the shared house.

 

[RangerRay]

Albertans Westerners are constantly talked down to, reduced to stereo types, and used as a political foil by political leaders.

Trudeau senior was dismissive of Albertan Western grievances at best, and contemptuous at worse.

Chretien wasn't much better, neither was Trudeau the lesser.


Laurentien elite have a history of talking down to Alberta the West and Albertans Westerners.

That on top of feeling like they're being taken advantage of and seeing the kid gloves (paid for by Alberta) that Quebec gets treated with seems like a good recipe to be fed up.

Some Albertans need to get over themselves. All the western provinces have been getting bent over the barrel by Ottawa. They ain’t special. Most of us just realize it’s better to be a part of something bigger, but not subsumed by an even bigger colossus.

Growing up in BC, since Ottawa chose to ignore our existence, we just chose to ignore their existence.

The Alberta separatists seem to rather be a landlocked petro-state who now have to also pay for the trappings of statehood and destroyed savings of their people, or become Oklahoma without voting rights. Both of those options sound pretty shitty to me.

 

[Jarnhamar]

Some Albertans need to get over themselves. All the western provinces have been getting bent over the barrel by Ottawa. They ain’t special. Most of us just realize it’s better to be a part of something bigger, but not subsumed by an even bigger colossus.

Growing up in BC, since Ottawa chose to ignore our existence, we just chose to ignore their existence.

The Alberta separatists seem to rather be a landlocked petro-state who now have to also pay for the trappings of statehood and destroyed savings of their people, or become Oklahoma without voting rights. Both of those options sound pretty shitty to me.

Alberta has been systematically treated as a fiscal engine and political write off at the same time. No other province has had its core industry so directly targeted by federal policy while still being expected to bankroll the federation. You people (heh) in BC “ignoring Ottawa” worked because BC’s economy and political priorities generally aligned with federal direction. Alberta doesn’t have that luxury.

Just accept being part of something bigger rings a but hollow when that something bigger routinely overrides provincial jurisdiction, redistributes Alberta’s wealth indefinitely, and dismisses its concerns as morally suspect.

Don't get me wrong, we'll need to crush their silly notions of independence with our mighty army and airforce (navy will have to sit this one) but we might be able to avoid that (and save the crown some field pay).

 

[lenaitch]

Albertans are constantly talked down to, reduced to stereo types, and used as a political foil by political leaders.

I imagine Maritimers and Newfoundlanders would like a chat.

 

[Halifax Tar]

Your last paragraph hits the nail on the head quite well. Time and context matter greatly in the comparison between Alberta and Quebec.

I think a lot of the disdain folks, rightly or wrongly, put towards Alberta is due to the grievances and gripes being drowned out by the GOP support; and alt-right wagon hitching, the separatists have moved towards.

In 2026: after the 51st state rhetoric, Tarriff Wars, and a new "not-Trudeau" Liberal PM (who would have a lot of common ground with Preston Manning and Ralph Klein); the Alberta separation idea sounds a lot like whinging about not having any bread, while holding a ham under the arm.

I love Alberta. I spent 6 years of my life there and enjoyed it fondly, both for the location and the people I met there. Its with that love, I also think at face value the anger and frustration they are feeling can and should be dealt with in discussions with Ottawa; not by threatening to take their ball and go..... into another room in the shared house.

I agree it shouldn't be through a referendum.

I truly think the biggest threat to our Nation is the an imbalance of power that exists between Ont and Que and the rest of Canada.

I've been thinking a lot about a term @Remius used and introduced me too the tyrany of the majority.