"It's time for Alberta to look out for itself!"

As the Canadian federal election approaches, an unexpected voice has resurfaced: separatism in Alberta.

The sentiment of division in Alberta is rising, and this time it's not just social media complaints or small gatherings of a few hundred people. There are now signs of real organization, with even divisions appearing within the ruling party of the province.

Recent polls show that if a referendum were held tomorrow, one-quarter of Albertans would vote in favor of secession from Canada! What exactly is causing such unrest among the residents of this energy giant province? Where will Alberta's future head?

Last month, during the early days of the federal election campaign, renowned lawyer Jeff Rath publicly called for a secession referendum at a press conference in Calgary, urging Alberta to quickly break free from federal government control.

He once supported on Fox News that Alberta should become the 51st state of the United States, making bold statements. What drew more attention was that members of the ruling United Conservative Party (UCP) in the province also came out in support.

Of particular note is Mitch Sylvestre, a highly influential leader within the grassroots of the UCP.

Not only is he the chairman of the Alberta Prosperity Project, but he was also a key figure in the "Take Back Alberta" organization, which successfully overturned former Premier Jason Kenney in 2022.

Mitch直言："Now is the time for Alberta to think about itself!" He stated that if the federal government continues to ignore Alberta's demands, Alberta could use a referendum on independence as leverage to force the federal government to grant it special treatment similar to Quebec.

Mitch is not alone. Another conservative activist, David Parker, has also begun actively promoting the separatist movement, even going so far as to say that if the Liberal Party led by Mark Carney is re-elected, the independence movement in Alberta will immediately reach its peak as soon as the presidential votes are counted.

David noted that this time is different from the brief surge of the "Western Exit" (Wexit) movement in 2019, which quickly faded after Trudeau's re-election. At that time, apart from Facebook groups and a few hundred street rallies, it ultimately fizzled out.

Today, the situation is quite different. The independence camp has more experienced and organized leaders, so the movement will be larger and more influential.

But how does reality stack up? According to a recent poll by the Angus Reid Institute, currently around 25% of Albertans support provincial independence, though still a minority, this number has surprised and unsettled many Canadians.

The study shows that supporters of division are mostly older men living in rural areas, most working in the oil and gas industry.

This group has felt their economic interests and social dignity eroded in recent years. "Federal government policies have made their work no longer honorable, even portraying them as the culprits of environmental problems," explained Jared Wesley, a political scholar at the University of Alberta.

However, Jared also pointed out that those who are truly willing to take action as staunch separatists are a minority. Many are simply venting their dissatisfaction through such extreme expressions.

He found that when asked in-depth about practical issues after secession—such as taxation, military matters, and export channels—their support significantly decreases.

John Butler, an Edmonton resident interviewed on the street, said, "Saying we want to separate, but actually haven't thought it through. If Alberta really becomes independent, what about the export channels? Should we join the United States? That would be even worse. It's better to stay in Canada."

Even so, Danielle Smith, the premier of Alberta, admitted that the dissatisfaction of the province's people towards the federal government has grown stronger: "Over the past decade, the Liberal Party's federal policies have made Albertans very unhappy. We need to see changes after the election. If the federal government continues to ignore our demands, we will reassess the situation at that time."

As the federal election approaches, while Alberta is still a long way from actual secession, there is no denying that the level of organization and politicization of this trend has clearly increased.

What will the future hold for Alberta? It may depend on the outcome of this federal election.

Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7495119167830376994/

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