Alberta Premier Danielle Smith addresses reporters at a press event held in Edmonton on Tuesday, May 6, 2025. The Canadian Press
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said people in the province are more upset with Ottawa than ever before. She believes the push to separate from Canada is growing fast. Speaking to reporters in Calgary on Thursday, Smith said many Albertans feel ignored and mistreated by the federal government.
She pointed to a byelection in the Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills riding as proof. A separatist candidate there received nearly 18% of the vote, which she called a major sign of rising support for separation.
Smith Says Ottawa Must Act
Smith said this feeling of frustration isn’t new. Back in 1982, a separatist candidate in the same area won with over 40% of the vote. But after Prime Minister Brian Mulroney cancelled the unpopular National Energy Program, separatist support quickly disappeared.
She believes the same can happen now. “This is really in Ottawa’s hands,” she said.
Smith blames new federal policies for causing Alberta’s current anger. She criticized laws that limit oil and gas production, including an emissions cap, net-zero power rules, and the West Coast tanker ban. She said these laws hurt jobs and scare off investors.
“If they scrap these laws,” she said, “people may calm down and not want to separate.”
Ottawa’s Response and New Hopes
Internal Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland stood beside Smith during the press conference. She said the government is trying to help. Freeland mentioned a new federal law passed on Thursday. The law aims to make it easier to approve big projects across Canada.
“I hope Albertans see this as a positive step,” Freeland said. “Canada must stay united and keep moving forward together.”
Smith agreed the new law gave her hope, but she said more action is needed. She repeated her call for Ottawa to remove nine federal laws she says are harming Alberta.
Alberta Launches Its Own Plan
Earlier this week, Smith announced a new 15-member panel. It will travel across Alberta during the summer to ask people how the province can stand up to Ottawa. She said this idea came from former premier Jason Kenney’s panel in 2019.
Smith’s panel will look at creating Alberta’s own pension plan, police force, and tax agency. They’ll also ask people if the province should build its own immigration permit system. This system could block certain immigrants from getting free health care and education unless the province approves them.
Smith believes strong changes like these could help Alberta take more control of its future.
