Why Alberta Keeps Clashing With Canada: The Controversy And The Long History Behind It

Last Updated:January 30, 2026, 12:50 IST

The latest dispute, sparked by Alberta separatists approaching US officials, has drawn attention back to the province’s enduring sense of marginalisation within Canada.

Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney meets with British Columbia Premier David Eby and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith on Parliament Hill in Canada. (REUTERS)

The controversy surrounding Alberta’s latest separatist push has drawn unusual attention, after disclosures that officials in the Donald Trump administration met representatives of a group advocating the province’s independence from Canada.

The episode has revived debate about why Alberta has long had a troubled relationship with the Canadian state, why separatist sentiment periodically resurfaces, and how the latest flare-up has intersected with Ottawa’s growing concern about foreign interference in domestic politics.

Alberta’s estrangement from Canada did not emerge overnight. The province depends heavily on oil and gas, but many people there feel that federal rules made in Ottawa make it harder for Alberta to use its resources and grow its economy. They argue that national climate and energy policies, pipeline limits, and the way taxes are collected all end up costing Alberta more than they benefit it.

Because of this, a belief has taken hold among many residents that Canada’s political system does not reflect Alberta’s interests or values. Over the years, these frustrations have grown from economic complaints into a wider feeling of being ignored or misunderstood by the federal government, a feeling that some groups now express as a demand for greater autonomy or even sovereignty.

This long-running discontent forms the backdrop to the present crisis. The latest controversy escalated because the Canadian separatist group Alberta Prosperity Project (APP) attempted to enlist interest in Washington at the very moment when relations between Ottawa and the White House are already strained.

Why Is Alberta In The Middle Of A Separatist Storm Again?

Alberta is Canada’s main oil-and-gas powerhouse, and many people in the province feel that the federal government in Ottawa has never fully recognised or protected its economic interests. Alberta earns huge revenue from energy but is restricted by federal environmental rules, national taxation structures and policy decisions that locals believe drain the province’s wealth while limiting its growth.

This sense of unfairness has existed for decades, but it usually stays in the background. What pushed it forward again was the 2025 Liberal election victory. For many Albertans who already felt disconnected from Ottawa, this result signalled that the country would continue moving in a direction they do not support. According to US-based news outlet Politico, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has repeatedly argued that previous federal policies “relentlessly" attacked the province’s oil-based economy, fuelling what she calls “legitimate grievances."

The anger, however, would still have remained mostly emotional if not for one change: Alberta now has a legal tool that allows citizens to force a vote on major constitutional questions. Under the province’s Citizen Initiative Act, residents can trigger a referendum if they gather enough signatures. The Alberta Prosperity Project is trying to activate this mechanism by collecting around 178,000 signatures.

What Is The Alberta Prosperity Project, And How Did It Gain Influence?

The APP defines itself as an educational and advocacy organisation dedicated to promoting Alberta’s “prosperity, self-determination, and independence." Its mission is to build public support for greater sovereignty, either within Canada or as a fully independent state.

The group has articulated an extensive roadmap: drafting an Alberta constitution, reviewing legal avenues for enhanced autonomy or secession, and advocating for Alberta-controlled systems across areas such as pensions, policing, energy management, immigration and border control. It also supports the creation of an Alberta Pension Plan and an Alberta Police Force, which it argues would strengthen provincial autonomy irrespective of whether separation eventually occurs.

The APP’s organisers have positioned a referendum as the centrepiece of their strategy. The group is gathering signatures under Alberta’s initiative rules to compel a province-wide vote on sovereignty.

Although the group claims to be preparing for every possible future outcome, Canadian law is unambiguous: a province cannot unilaterally leave the federation. Even a successful referendum would only mandate negotiations, as required by the Supreme Court’s ruling in the Quebec Secession Reference and the subsequent Clarity Act.

Why Have Alberta–Ottawa Relations Been Strained For Decades?

Alberta’s grievances are not new. The province’s longstanding frustration is that Ottawa benefits disproportionately from Alberta’s resource wealth while simultaneously imposing policies that restrict its economic potential. Many Albertans feel the federal system does not reflect their contributions and limits their autonomy over natural resources, a sentiment that deepens whenever oil markets are volatile or federal environmental rules tighten.

These tensions have also taken cultural and political forms. According to CNN, many separatists view Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s centre-left politics as incompatible with Alberta’s more conservative values. The result is a cyclical pattern in which moments of political or economic stress amplify separatist sentiment, even though the majority of Albertans consistently reject leaving Canada.

What Exactly Happened Between APP And Trump Officials?

APP representatives travelled multiple times to Washington to meet US officials. APP legal counsel Jeffrey Rath said the group met “very senior level" officials, including members of the US State Department, and suggested that the discussions aligned with a broader enthusiasm in Washington for Alberta’s cause.

Rath also claimed that the APP is seeking a $500-billion credit facility from the United States, to be activated if Alberta were to vote for independence. In his words, access to such credit would ensure that “Canada won’t be able to threaten us."

US officials have pushed back firmly. The White House told Politico that meetings with civil-society groups are routine and that “no support or commitments were conveyed." Treasury officials have similarly denied involvement, despite comments from Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent describing Alberta as a “natural partner" for the United States and suggesting that “people want sovereignty."

The optics of these exchanges have nonetheless been politically explosive. At a time when bilateral relations are already strained by trade disputes and charged rhetoric, the perception of US engagement with a Canadian separatist group has forced Ottawa to address the issue openly.

How Has Ottawa Reacted?

Canadian PM Mark Carney has been unequivocal: Washington must respect Canada’s sovereignty.

“We expect the U.S. administration to respect Canadian sovereignty," Carney told reporters in Ottawa on Thursday, stressing a message of unity alongside Canada’s premiers. “I’m always clear in my conversation with President Trump to that effect, and then move on to what we can do together."

Carney’s sensitivity also reflects the broader diplomatic climate. Trump recently accused Canada of foreign meddling after an Ontario government ad campaign aired in the United States, and he has openly floated notions of annexing Canada in rhetorical exchanges.

Where Do Alberta’s Leaders Stand?

Premier Danielle Smith has tried to walk a narrow line. She has repeatedly said that she supports a “strong and sovereign Alberta within a united Canada," and she has indicated that separatist grievances should not be dismissed outright. Yet she has also stated clearly that the US must not interfere in Alberta’s democratic process and has said she will raise the matter with the province’s representative in Washington.

Other provincial leaders are far more critical. British Columbia Premier David Eby called the separatists’ outreach to the US “treason," arguing that it is unacceptable to seek foreign assistance to “break up this country." Ontario Premier Doug Ford has similarly condemned the meetings, warning that negotiating with Americans on matters of Canadian unity crosses a red line.

Do Albertans Really Want Independence?

Polls suggest the answer is largely no. An Ipsos survey found that about 28 per cent of Albertans support independence, a figure similar to support for Quebec sovereignty (31 per cent). But when respondents were asked to consider the costs — economic, social and psychological — that committed support was cut in half.

For now, most Albertans prefer reforms within Canada rather than separation. Separatist groups remain small and their influence grows mainly during periods of political tension or economic uncertainty.

Labour leaders and policy analysts have raised concerns that the APP’s push may be receiving amplification from external actors. Gil McGowan, president of the Alberta Federation of Labour, described the situation as a case of “foreign interference."

“It doesn’t feel organic, we are being targeted by the Maga crowd," he said.

What Happens If Alberta Actually Tries To Leave Canada?

Canadian constitutional law leaves little ambiguity. Provinces cannot secede unilaterally. A referendum, if successfully triggered by the APP’s petition, would not itself create a sovereign Alberta. Instead, a “clear majority" vote would compel negotiations involving Ottawa and all provinces under the Clarity Act.

Those negotiations would be complex. Issues ranging from debt, pensions and currency to energy management, Indigenous treaty rights, defence, border arrangements and mobility would have to be addressed.

APP has published extensive proposals about how these matters could be handled, but these remain aspirational. Any real transition would depend on constitutional amendments and multi-party negotiations, not unilateral action.

For now, the APP remains in the signature-gathering stage, and no referendum has been called.

News explainers Why Alberta Keeps Clashing With Canada: The Controversy And The Long History Behind It

Read More