Separatist sentiment resurfaces in Alberta and Quebec as Ottawa urges unity

A petition proposing Alberta separates from the rest of Canada is gaining momentum as some residents say the government doesn’t support them. Kathy Le reports.

As Prime Minister Mark Carney emphasizes national unity, separatist sentiment is gaining renewed attention in more than one part of the country.

In the small central Alberta town of Innisfail, the quiet of Main Street contrasts sharply with the intensity of opinions surrounding the issue.

Jeff Olson, owner of Innisfail Bowling and Entertainment, says he is fully behind separation, arguing Ottawa has long treated Alberta unfairly.

“The job of the West is to keep the East prosperous. They’ve made that very clear,” Olson said.

“We have taxation without representation. It’s getting to a point where the government is spending more money than it’s taking in and driving down the value of the dollar.”

Separatist sentiment has grown louder in recent weeks as the group Stay Free Alberta circulates a petition calling for a referendum on independence.

The group must collect at least 177,732 valid signatures by May 2 before the question can be verified and brought before the Alberta legislature.

Jeffrey Rath, general counsel for Stay Free Alberta, said an independent province would have the ability to dramatically overhaul its tax system.

“An independent Alberta would be able to function with zero income tax, zero carbon tax and zero capital gains tax,” Rath said, adding he is confident the group will meet the signature threshold and win a referendum.

Polling suggests support for Alberta separatism remains a minority view. A Pollara Strategic Insights poll found 19 per cent of Albertans surveyed would vote to separate, while a Research Co. poll found 31 per cent support the idea of Alberta becoming independent.

Several First Nations groups have launched legal challenges seeking to stop the petition process, arguing it cannot proceed without their consent.

Separatism in Quebec

Hundreds of kilometres away, separatism is also back in focus in Quebec. Delegates at the Parti Québécois convention in Saint-Hyacinthe, Que., rallied supporters around the prospect of Quebec independence as the party leads in some polls ahead of the province’s October election.

The renewed debates come as Carney last week called for national unity following the World Economic Forum.

“There are literally billions of people who aspire to what we have built,” Carney said.

“A pluralistic society that works. A public square that’s loud, diverse and free. An economy that delivers broadly shared prosperity.”

Back in Alberta, the debate is far from settled.

Jesse Faryna, who lives in Innisfail and signed the petition, said a referendum could at least force a broader conversation.

“A referendum would push a more honest discussion about sovereignty and what Alberta is able to do with what we have,” he said.

Cameron Harrison, owner of Athabasca Coffee Roasters — one of two designated petition signing locations — said he remains undecided but believes the discussion itself is important.

“It’s certainly important for people to be able to make up their mind about what they want to do going forward for Canada,” Harrison said.