ALBERTA THE LAND OF THE FREE
The province of Alberta is known and loved by millions for its natural beauty. It's landscape is a rich variety of open plains, rugged mountains, forests and lakes. It is home to North America’s largest mountain range. Dinosaurs once roamed this province and have left their remains. Adventure-seekers from all over Canada flock to Alberta, especially to Banff and Jasper's spectacular national parks.
However, Alberta is known for more than just its natural beauty. There is something else about Alberta that stands out among Canadian provinces. Alberta screams freedom!
Alberta is known for its conservatism and its libertarian values. It is known for its rugged independence and its many historical stands against the policies of the Federal Liberal government in Ottawa. Alberta is the home of Rebel News. It is the home of the Freedom Convoy Truckers movement. It is the Canadian heartland for social conservatism and political conservatism.
Political conservatism is presently in power under the leadership of premier Mrs. Danielle Smith. Previous to her, Albertans remembered struggling under Covid rolling lock-downs, discrimination, segregation, and confinement, but now, Albertans have broken free.
Prior to being the leader of the United Conservatives and being premier of Alberta, Smith was a journalist and then the leader of the Wild Rose party. In October, 2022 she won the leadership race for the United Conservative Party and then became premier.
From the moment Smith stepped into the position of premier, the gloves have been off and she is leading a province-wide push-back against the Liberal government, a push-back which has grown in its momentum.
This push-back has been most evident with the passing of the landmark legislation, “The Sovereignty Act.” This legislation was passed on December 8, 2022. This Act seeks to protect the common Albertan man, woman and child from Federal legislation that would harm, abuse, take advantage of, or exploit them. It purposes to especially protect them in areas such as natural resources, gun control, COVID-19, public health, education, and agriculture. It boldly directs "political entities"—which include municipalities, municipal police forces, school boards, and regional health authorities— to not enforce "federal rules deemed harmful to Alberta's interests."
How could such an Act nullify a Federal law? It is proposed that the Act would be triggered when a member of the executive council tables a motion in the legislative assembly which would identify a specific federal law or policy that may be considered to be unconstitutional, that is, in violation of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms or if it was outside of the jurisdiction of the Federal government. The provincial legislative assembly would then vote on whether or not to expunge that Federal law. This is meant to reign in the Federal government and keep it from abusing its authority, exploiting common Albertans and to stop it from trying to govern in matters of provincial jurisdiction.
This bold legislation is truly historic. What is coming next?
Although she supported it, and brought it into law, the Sovereignty Act was not the idea of Danielle Smith. Where did the idea come from? It is apart of a larger strategy known as “Free Alberta Strategy” from the Alberta Institute. This organization is a liberty-loving political think-tank which seeks to advance freedom in Alberta and to protect Albertans from Federal overreach. It is important to acknowledge that Danielle Smith has not officially committed to implementing all of the Alberta Strategy, but she is very aware of it, is a friend of the Alberta Institute and has interviewed them before.
The Free Alberta Strategy is a multi-layered strategy that includes proposals such as:
1) Replacing Federal RCMP police forces with local police forces that are directly answerable to the provincial government.
2) Pass an Alberta independent Banking Act
3) Pass an Equalization And Termination And Tax Collection Act
4) Alberta Pension Plan and Alberta Unemployment Insurance
5) Pass an Alberta Judicial Independence Activities
6) Establish International Relations and Trade
Let's now consider these more closely in the words of Free Alberta Strategy.
1)Replacing Federal RCMP police forces with local police forces that are directly answerable to the provincial government.
The Province also has recognized authority28 over all policing in the province, though it has contracted, at this point in time, the federally-controlled RCMP to exercise this power in most of the Province’s rural and smaller communities. It is proposed that the Alberta government terminate its contract with the RCMP immediately and replace rural policing in the province with an Alberta provincial police force, accountable to the Solicitor General of Alberta. All municipal police forces (i.e., Calgary, Edmonton, Lethbridge, etc.) already operate under provincial authority. This reform would ensure the Province controls all aspects of law enforcement against the person.
(Free Alberta Strategy)
2)Pass an Alberta Independent Banking Act
The Free Alberta Strategy proposes passage of the Alberta Independent Banking Act, which would include the following initiatives: 1. Expanding the number of provincially regulated financial institutions and credit unions; 2. Promoting private ownership of these new financial institutions; and 3. Mandating that all provincially regulated financial institutions and credit unions (including ATB) remain compliant with the Alberta Sovereignty Act as it relates to the non-enforcement of federal laws and court decisions deemed to infringe unduly on Alberta’s provincial jurisdiction.
...
(Free Alberta Strategy)
3)Pass an Equalization And Termination And Tax Collection Act
The Free Alberta Strategy proposes passage of the Equalization Termination and Tax Collection Act. This piece of legislation would: 1. Establish the “Alberta Revenue Agency” to collect all provincial taxes; 2. Create the Office of the Alberta Public Sector Employer (“APSE”), which would become the official payor of all Alberta public sector employees. There would be no changes [of] to any collective bargaining agreements, salaries, pensions, or other benefits for these workers as negotiated by their current provincially funded public employers. The only change would be that the APSE would become the provincial agency issuing their paycheck (much like a private corporation paying its staff through an independent payroll company). The APSE would then remit these withholdings to the Alberta Revenue Agency. 3. Permit any private corporation banking with ATB or other provincially regulated financial institution the option of transferring all federal source deductions collected from their employees directly to the Alberta Revenue Agency, instead of the CRA. 4. Mandate that instead of remitting all of the federal tax withholdings 27 collected from private companies and the APSE to the CRA, the Alberta Revenue Agency would instead transfer an amount equal to that of the equalization and federal transfers the federal Government collected from Alberta during that year to the Alberta Treasury and, any surplus remaining thereafter, to the CRA. 5. Opt Alberta out of all federal transfer and other programs that interfere and seek to influence policy in any areas of provincial jurisdiction (i.e., the Canada Health Act, Federal Heath Transfer, education transfers, national daycare program funding, etc.), and officially request the transfer of our population’s share of these federal programming dollars, either through an annual ‘no-strings-attached’ federal transfer amount (based strictly on a per-capita population basis) or, preferably, through the transfer of tax points from Albertans’ federal tax rate to Alberta’s provincial tax rate. If the federal government refuses Alberta’s request, the Alberta Treasury would, using the same method described in the previous paragraphs, increase the amount of federal tax withholdings it retains by those same amounts.
(Free Alberta Strategy)
4)Alberta Pension Plan and Alberta Unemployment Insurance
Over the past 10 years, Alberta’s hardworking and comparatively young population has contributed approximately $28 billion more into the CPP than Alberta pensioners have received back in benefits,41 which is an annual cost of nearly $3 billion. This inequity is a substantial portion of the roughly $20 billion in equalization formula and net federal transfers drained from the Province each year.42 There is absolutely no reason for Alberta’s continued participation in the CPP. ...
Properly planned and managed, opting out of the CPP in favour of an Alberta Pension Plan, and replacing EI with an Alberta Unemployment Insurance Plan, would result in a combination of higher benefits for our seniors and those facing unemployment, and lower contribution rates from the paychecks of Alberta workers, thereby benefiting Alberta families to the tune of hundreds, and even thousands, of dollars each year. These are long overdue reforms.
Pass an Alberta Judicial Independence Activities
(Free Alberta Strategy)
5)Pass an Alberta Judicial Independence Activities
The Alberta Judicial Independence Act, which would mandate as follows: 1. The Alberta government shall appoint all future judicial appointments serving in the Province of Alberta (Provincial, Queen’s Bench and Court of Appeal); 2. No future federal judicial appointees will be employed by the Province of Alberta at any court level. Current judges and justices would be ‘grandfathered’ and remain fully employed on the Bench thereby ensuring continuity and recognizing their historical respect for the constitutional rights of Alberta; and 3. The Province would establish a Provincial Tax Court to enforce all provincial tax collection and enforcement activities within the Province of Alberta free from any interference by federal tax courts and the CRA
(Free Alberta Strategy)
6) Establish International Relations and Trade
The Free Alberta Strategy calls on the Government of Alberta to fund and empower its Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs to: 1. Negotiate and implement mutually beneficial bilateral trade and market access arrangements with other provinces, states and 33 nations that result in Alberta gaining full access to all domestic and international markets, including to and through the Atlantic, Pacific, and Arctic Oceans; 2. Work closely with industry on ways to reduce risks associated with the construction of export pipelines and other market access projects; and 3. Work alongside the Government of Canada at any international negotiations of agreements that affect Alberta’s interests. Should the federal government sign on to an agreement that harms Alberta’s interests, Alberta’s Intergovernmental Affairs Minister must alert the Provincial Legislature, and request that it trigger use of the Alberta Sovereignty Act, thereby ensuring the Province will not recognize the validity of that agreement as it affects Alberta; and further, that Alberta will not enforce any federal law or regulation in the province related thereto.
(Free Alberta Strategy)
The above mentioned proposals were put together by legal experts and represent a path forward in Alberta's struggle to be free. Each will likely have to be defended at a supreme court level. However, they represent a path forward.
In the mean time, what has Danielle Smith committed to do?
Here is some of her platform:
-Defending Alberta’s rights under the Canadian constitution
-Accessing federal funding, without strings, to meet Albertan’s needs, values and priorities
-Pushing back against federal programs that create hardships for farmers and ranchers
-Developing stronger relationships with other provinces and territories for areas of cooperation and mutual economic prosperity
-Index all provincial tax brackets retroactive to 2022 resulting in larger rebates on taxes
-Provide an additional $200 per home in rebates on consumer electricity bills and limit spikes in winter electricity rates. Continue natural gas rebate program
-$600 over 6 months to parents for each child under 18 and to every senior (household incomes under $180,000)
-Suspend the provincial fuel tax for at least six month and make the fuel relief program permanent thereafter
-Creating conditions to grow industries, businesses, and job opportunities
-Enhancing trade infrastructure and agreements
-Reducing barriers to interprovincial trade for agriculture and food production
-Continued leadership in hydrogen and petrochemicals and development in helium, lithium, liquefied natural gas, geothermal energy, and minerals
-Developing strategies to address labour market gaps
-Taking action to improve health care delivery and health outcomes
-Improving EMS response times and cut emergency wait times
-Improving access to primary care and address staffing challenges, especially in rural areas
-Reducing wait times for surgeries
Taken from https://www.unitedconservative.ca/
There was a provincial election on May 29 in Alberta. Smith won it big! Alberta's potential is incredible. The floodgates of freedom and prosperity will open wide. If the NDP had won, the Sovereignty Act would have been repealed. Alberta screams freedom! Go Danielle Smith! It is time for reform.
ALBERTA SEPARATISM
FREEDOM. Freedom through separating. Alberta separatism is a movement with a long history. How did it begin and why? In this article we will look at this history and then bring it up to our present day. Our present day is perhaps the pinnacle or high point of Alberta Separation sentiments. Our present day is perhaps the time when this goal could be realized.
Alberta became a Canadian province on September 1, 1905. Prior to that it was basically a district of the North West Territories and of the districts of Athabasca, Assiniboia and Saskatchewan. The premier of the Northwest Territory, Sir Frederick Haultain, wanted to create a giant province that would comprise all of present day Alberta and Saskatchewan and call it “Buffalo.” The Liberal Prime Minister of that day Sir Wilfrid Laurier did not want a strong province of Buffalo because he was concerned that it might become a rival of Ontario and Quebec. In his judgment, it would be easier to control the influence of two smaller provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan. So that is what was created in 1905.
While province-hood may of made sense in 1905, many Albertans question whether it makes sense now. In fact for multiple generations, Albertans have been questioning their inclusion in Canada as to whether there is any benefit or has it become a ball and chain around their ankle. Is Alberta being dragged down under all of the dead-weight of a sluggish Liberal Canada which is exploiting Albertans and driving Alberta into the ground? It is a fair question to ask.
Alberta separatism is basically the belief that Alberta would be better off on it's own or perhaps in a conglomeration of western regions all breaking free of eastern Canada. Some separatists even favour merger with the United States.
Many Albertans feel that they are culturally and economically distinct from the rest of Canada, and particularly from Atlantic and Central Canada. Furthermore, many Albertans object to the Liberal equalization policy whereby they are made to over-contribute in taxes to fund the needs and wishes of central and eastern Canada.
What is “Equalization policy?” Essentially the federal government extracts more money from more prosperous provinces and divides it up between less prosperous provinces. Is such a policy necessarily wrong? Is it wrong for the government to take more from one province who has it and give to another province that does not? Not necessarily, if this is done in a reasonable way. However, many Albertans feel that the Federal government has been anything-but reasonable in their equalization policy and that instead, equalization as it is practised today between the provinces is more of an exploitation than an equalization. Equalization was entrenched into the Canadian Constitution with the passing of Liberal Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau's Constitution Act of 1982. This act actually amended the Canadian Constitution, making it difficult to end equalization.
In Canada there has been a considerable imbalance in which Alberta pays the most out of all of the provinces. Consider this quote from the Financial Post;
According to a new study published by the Fraser Institute, from 2007 to 2022 (the latest period of available data), Albertans contributed $244.6 billion more in taxes and other payments to the federal government than they received in federal spending—more than five times as much as British Columbians or Ontarians. The other seven provinces received more federal dollars than they contributed to federal revenues. In other words, Alberta is by far the largest net contributor to Ottawa’s coffers.
Is succession from Canada possible? Yes. On June 29, 2000 the Canadian Senate passed the Clarity Act, which allows a province to succeed from Canada under certain conditions. Some of those conditions are;
1)A referendum on secession must present a clear, unambiguous question about secession.
2)A succession referendum must achieve a “clear majority” to be accepted.
3)The Canadian House of Commons will determine whether the question posed in a secession referendum is clear and if the outcome results from a clear majority.
4)The views of various political and social groups, are to be considered.
(https://albertaprosperityproject.com/what-is-the-roadmap-to-alberta-sovereignty/)
When did Albertans start having thoughts of separation?Alberta separatism began to emerge in the difficult depression years of the 1930's. Many Albertans were upset when the Liberal prime minister claimed that he "would not give a five-cent piece" to non-Liberal provincial governments for unemployment relief. ( Betcherman, Lita-Rose (2002). Ernest Lapointe: Mackenzie King's Great Quebec Lieutenant. University of Toronto Press. p. 175. ISBN). Alberta's government at the time was Social Credit and was headed by premier William Aberhart. Even though there was huge support for separation, within the party and within Alberta, Aberhart opposed succession.
In the 1970's a new wave of separatist sentiments swept Alberta in response to the policies of Liberal Prime minister Pierre Trudeau. Specifically Trudeau legislated a policy of multi-culturalism and a National Energy Program.
Liberal multiculturalism policy involved providing funding assistance to various cultural minorities to see their cultures gain greater expression and greater influence within society. While Liberals applauded it, multiculturalism has not been received well by everyone. Some have felt that Canadian identity and culture should evolve naturally, without government interference and without political social engineering. Some have felt that with government backing, some minorities have become more assertive and controlling and that this has lead to division rather than unity. Also some have criticized the way in which Liberal multi-culturalism favours certain minorities over others. It has been argued that true multi-culturalism if it were to be applied in a non-hypocritical way, would result in Canada having many official languages and not just English and French.
While many Albertans objected to Liberal multi-culturalism, even more have objected to Pierre Trudeau's National energy policy. In the early 1980's Canada's Liberal government imposed price controls on Alberta's oil and gas. These controls created a two price system that forced a lowering of the price of gas in Canada, which primarily benefited Eastern Canadians, while kept the price for international gas sales at their present levels. Taxes were then added to operating revenues as well as export taxes. A Petroleum Incentives Program was then added which served to divert gas exploration away from Western Canada.
What was the effect of the National Energy Policy upon Alberta? This is debated, but according to some, In the aftermath, Alberta's unemployment rose from 3.7% to 12%, their bankruptcy rate rose 150% and some have estimated Alberta's losses to be between 50 billion to 100 billion although Alberta's losses were also affected by the 1980's recession and a crash in oil prices.
These developments resulted in a spike in separatist sentiments and thousands of Albertans poured into huge separation rallies.
While the policies of Liberal Pierre Trudeau provoked a reaction towards Alberta separation, so did the reign of his son Justin Trudeau. On October 19, 2015 Justin Trudeau became the Prime Minister of Canada. One of his statements that Albertans found especially provocative was when he said; “We can't shut down the oil sands tomorrow. We need to phase them out. We need to manage the transition off of our dependence on fossil fuels. That is going to take time," ( https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/justin-trudeau-oilsands-phase-out-1.3934701) Alberta's oil sands constitutes 84.3% of all of Alberta's oil industry. For a Liberal Prime Minister to announce that he wanted to phase it out over time is completely unacceptable to Albertans.
Many Albertans are frustrated over missed opportunities that could have propelled them forward and which they feel The Liberal Federal government has had some responsibility. In 2020 Teck Resources officially withdrew its application to build a $20-billion Frontier oilsands mine. This withdrawal was after nearly a decade of strict regulatory review and a prolonged activist railway blockage.
In 2017 TransCanada Corp. Cancelled its proposal to build the 15 billion Energy East Pipeline from Alberta to New Brunswick. According to Canada Action, this was due to; “Protracted Regulatory Uncertainty, ... Extensive and protracted information requests beyond initial filings, Recusal of the original National Energy Board (NEB) and its replacement by a new panel of limited pertinent regulatory experience, Failure to use the existing regulatory record prior to the NEB’s recusal, ...The government’s decision to change the scope of issues to be addressed by the project proponent in subsequent hearings, Huge Initial Costs with No Guarantees ... the vast majority of which related to regulatory processes and approval ...” and a “Lack of Government Support,” among other things. (https://www.canadaaction.ca/energy-east-pipeline-cancellation-facts)
It is estimated that this pipeline project would have resulted in the transport of 1.1 million barrels of oil per day being delivered from Alberta and Saskatchewan
to refineries and an export terminal in Eastern Canada.
Alberta's grievances with Ottawa's Liberal government extend further. Many Albertans consider all of the following to be over-reaching breaches of their provincial jurisdiction:
1)Carbon tax (Levied on all Canadians for years, now levied on Alberta's corporations only)
2)Impact Assessment Act (Threatens Alberta's control of energy extraction)
3)Firearm restrictions
4)Fertilizer regulations
5) Radical Climate policies
6)Clean Energy resource regulations that they do not have infrastructure to implement and which do not show acquitted recognition of Alberta's critical need for safe, reliant fossil fuel energy.
9)The impact of federal policies on Alberta's economy.
The Alberta separation movement has continued to evolve with groups such as the Independence Party of Alberta, the Republican Party of Alberta and the Wildrose Independence Party of Alberta (a merger of Wexit Alberta and the Freedom Conservative Party of Alberta) all exerting a degree of influence within Alberta separatism.
One very significant development to emerge is “Free Alberta Strategy,” a policy proposal written by two lawyers Rob Anderson and Derek From and a Calgary University professor Barry Cooper. This proposal advocates for the following measures to be adopted to give Alberta greater sovereignty within Canada;
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Passing into law the Alberta Sovereignty Act (Already happened!)
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Establishing an Alberta Provincial Police Force to replace the RCMP
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Passing into law the Alberta Independent Banking Act designed to expand significantly the number of provincially regulated financial institutions for the purpose of providing Alberta businesses and citizens with protection from enforcement of federal legislation or judicial decisions designated as unenforceable by the Alberta Legislature.
4)Ending federal equalization transfers from Alberta through passing into law the Equalization Termination and Tax Collection Act.
5) Establish an Alberta Pension Plan and Alberta Unemployment Insurance
6)Passing into law, the Alberta Judicial Independence Act.
https://www.freealbertastrategy.com/
Free Alberta Strategy has had great exposure, much support and already one of its objectives, the creation of the Alberta Sovereignty Act has been achieved. The Alberta government has also organized a proposed Alberta Pension Plan to replace the Canada Pension Plan but has now put a referendum for it on hold, sensing a lack of public interest in it, at this time.
The Alberta Sovereignty Act is a landmark piece of legislation that is unprecedented in our nation's history. Although fiercely opposed by the outgoing NDP party, the freshly new United Conservative Party of Alberta passed it into law on December 8, 2022.This Act seeks to protect the common Albertan man, woman and child from Federal legislation that would harm, abuse, take advantage of, or exploit them. It purposes to especially protect them in areas such as natural resources, gun control, COVID-19 mandates, public health, education, and agriculture. It boldly directs "political entities"—which include municipalities, municipal police forces, school boards, and regional health authorities— to not enforce "federal rules deemed harmful to Alberta's interests."How could such an Act nullify a Federal law? The Act is triggered when a member of the executive council tables a motion in the legislative assembly which would identify a specific federal law or policy that may be considered to be unconstitutional, that is, in violation of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms or if it was outside of the jurisdiction of the Federal government. The provincial legislative assembly would then vote on whether or not to expunge that Federal law.
This is meant to reign in the Federal government and keep it from abusing its authority, exploiting common Albertans and to stop it from trying to govern in matters of provincial jurisdiction.
Without a doubt one of the most important people in charting the future that Alberta takes is premier Danielle Smith. Smith who formerly was a lobbyist, columnist, and leader of the Wild Rose Party was elected to lead the United Conservative Party (making her Premier also) and then was re-elected by Albertans to be the Premier of Alberta in 2023.
In her short time as Albert's Premier, Mrs. Danielle Smith has shown exceptional leadership and courage in Alberta's ongoing war against Ottawa. Her victory over the provincial NDP can also be seen as a victory for Albertan autonomy. That is because the provincial NDP is an affiliate of the Federal NDP Party. This is not true of conservative parties. Danielle Smith's United Conservative Party is a separate entity from the Federal Conservative Party and this gives her greater independence in standing for Albertan's interests.
Smith has laid out the values on which her party stands and they can be read on the United Conservative Party website. They support;
A robust civil society made up of free individuals, strong families, and volunteer associations. Freedom of speech, worship and assembly, without government or corporate censorship of mainstream or social media. Affirm the family as the building block of society and the means by which citizens pass on their values and beliefs and ensure that families are protected from intrusion by government. Economic freedom in a market economy which encourages the creation of wealth through free enterprise, and the protection of the right to own, enjoy and exchange property. Limited government, including low levels of taxation to help generate economic growth while allowing Albertans to enjoy the fruits of their own labour. Fiscal responsibility, including balanced budgets, debt reduction,and respect for taxpayer's money. Protecting public safety as a primary responsibility of government. Control spending and dramatically reduce the size of government and encourage municipal governments to do the same. Protect and defend the ownership rights of Alberta to utilize its natural resources for the benefit of Albertans.
(bout/https://www.unitedconservative.ca/about/)
Danielle Smith is a true reformer, reflecting the dreams of Albertans, who feel trampled on, long to be free and yet dream of better days ahead. With determination and intensity she has lead Albert's government to stand and resist much of Ottawa's over-reach.
She boldly declares;
“No longer will Alberta ask permission from Ottawa to be prosperous and free,” Smith said in her acceptance speech Thursday night. “We will not have our voices silenced and censored. We will not be told what we must put in our bodies in order to work or to travel. We will not have our resources landlocked or our energy phased out of existence by virtue-signalling prime ministers.”
https://theconversation.com/how-danielle-smith-won-in-alberta-and-what-it-means-for-canada-191238
After one year Mrs Smith stood before the people of Alberta once again and announced to them all that her government had achieved in the past year. It is truly extraordinary. She has turned the boat around and Alberta is on an incredible upswing. It is too long to quote all of it but here is some of it;
“It is a tremendous honour to serve Albertans as their Premier. Alberta is truly one of the best places in the world to live, work and raise a family. Over the last 118 years, we have written an incredible story together. And I am proud that in the last year, I have had the opportunity to work with an incredible team to help write this latest chapter.
“When I was sworn into office on Oct. 11, 2022, I promised that we would not have our voices silenced or censored by Ottawa, we would address the inflation and affordability crisis driven by the fiscally destructive policies of the federal government, we would get our own fiscal house in order and balance the budget to enable us to afford to be compassionate, and we would address concerns in our public health system.
“I am proud to say that over the past 12 months, we have made significant progress for Albertans in every one of those areas.
“In the fall 2022 legislative session, we passed the Alberta Sovereignty within a United Canada Act to stand up for Alberta, Albertans and our constitutional jurisdiction. In the spring 2023 legislative session, we introduced and passed the Alberta Firearms Act to continue to strengthen Alberta’s position within Confederation. Continuing in 2023, we also released a strategy to reform the broken equalization formula, pushed the federal government on bail reform, resulting in the introduction of federal Bill C-48, and fought back against the federal government’s so-called Just Transition.
“With inflation at its worst in decades and life getting more expensive for Albertans, we provided a suite of inflation-relief measures to help families pay their bills. Because we recognized the extra difficulty on families and seniors, we provided $100 monthly payments for up to six months for every eligible child and senior, and provided an additional $10 million to food banks throughout the province to help those who were struggling most. We expanded the low-income transit pass and indexed AISH, income supports and the Alberta Seniors Benefit. We extended the pause on the fuel tax to save Albertans more money every time they fill up their tanks, while the federal government continues making life more expensive for families through their ever-growing carbon tax.
...
“We extended interest-free student loans to 12 months, offering students more certainty in their personal budgeting, and we capped tuition increases so Alberta’s post-secondary institutions can retain their competitive advantage when attracting students. ...
“For only the fourth time in 15 years, we presented Albertans with a balanced budget in February. That budget also provided Albertans with a fiscal framework to guide future government spending, debt repayment and savings so that Alberta can continue moving forward in prosperity. We paid off $13 billion in debt, significantly reducing our annual interest payments – ¬funds that are better spent on providing the services and infrastructure Albertans need. We also added $2 billion to the Heritage Savings Trust Fund, which will increase our investment income each year and provide more fiscal stability for the province in the long term.
“Our improved finances enable us to provide additional funding for schools, hospitals and roads so Albertans have access to the infrastructure they need for a growing population. We have also provided funding to close learning gaps experienced by younger students and have expanded seats at universities in high-demand programs. To improve outdoor and recreation opportunities for Albertans and visitors, we allocated $200 million to improve the province’s campgrounds and trails.
“We are continuing to build our economy by creating an Agri-Processing Investment Tax Credit, building strong partnerships with other western provinces to build economic corridors that connect markets across the Prairies, expanding the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program to invite nearly 10,000 newcomers, and by creating pathways for more skills training opportunities for the most in-demand jobs in our province. At the same time, we are working with Alberta municipalities by changing the municipal funding model to provide them with funding stability and by making the payment of municipal taxes a condition of wellsite transfers.
...
“Health care remains a top priority for Albertans and we have begun the hard work of repairing and improving our health care system. We brought in more ambulances during peak hours in Calgary and Edmonton and we fast-tracked patient transfers at hospitals to ensure our highly skilled paramedics can respond to more emergencies and do so more quickly. We introduced alternative transportation for non-urgent hospital transfers and have reduced the number of code reds that occur in the province. We have fixed problems with emergency department patient flow, helping us reduce overall hospital wait times, and we have increased our surgical capacity and are projected to eliminate the surgical backlog in the new year.
“I am proud to have addressed the concerns of many Albertans in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic. We put an end to provincial mask mandates, and we replaced the chief medical officer of health and the AHS board. We established a public health emergencies governance review panel to examine the pandemic response and to recommend changes to improve how we handle potential future public health emergencies.
“We have stopped at nothing in our pursuit to improve health care services and supports for Albertans. We worked with our provincial colleagues to fight for increased federal health transfers, and I am proud to have signed a $24-billion health deal with the federal government. When our province and country faced supply issues with children’s pain and fever medication, we stepped up to ensure that parents would have access to these medications. And we honoured Alberta firefighters and the health risks they face by providing them with presumptive cancer coverage.
....
“We recognize that public safety is another top concern for Albertans. We share that concern and are taking action to ensure all Albertans feel safe in their communities. This includes establishing public safety task forces in Edmonton and Calgary, committing to provide funding to hire 100 more police officers, increasing the scope and number of sheriffs, and increasing the number of prosecutors available in Alberta’s courts.
“Furthermore, we are introducing additional accountability measures in partnership with police services. We have passed an updated Police Act that will establish a new, independent body for investigating complaints against police, and have taken steps to mandate body-worn cameras for police. At the same time, we are working with municipalities and Indigenous communities that want to establish their own, local police services.
....
“As a united government, we accomplished all this while managing the pressures of an unprecedented wildfire season that included support for more than 38,000 evacuees from Alberta communities and more than 21,000 evacuees from the Northwest Territories. ...
...
https://www.alberta.ca/release.cfm?xID=890743792ADA4-D57D-6365-759CC6027AF662C5
On April 28, 2025 Canadians returned to office a minority Liberal government to rule federal politics. The response in Alberta is jaw-dropping. How could they? After all Alberta has endured, is she to face another four years like the last 10? The eyes of Albertans have turned to their leader Danielle Smith for a response. Here is some of what she has said;
“The federal government has taken hostile actions against Alberta and against the Constitution and against our right to develop our resources, and every action we have taken has been to reassert that the Constitution matters, the division of powers matters,” - Danielle Smith
https://edmontonjournal.com/news/politics/alberta-premier-danielle-smith-mark-carney-reset
“A large majority of Albertans are deeply frustrated that the same government that overtly attacked our provincial economy almost unabated for the past 10 years has been returned to government,” - Danielle Smith
https://edmontonjournal.com/news/politics/alberta-premier-danielle-smith-mark-carney-reset
“As premier, I will not permit the status quo to continue.” - Danielle Smith
https://edmontonjournal.com/news/politics/alberta-premier-danielle-smith-mark-carney-reset
“We had a very frank discussion in which I made it clear that Albertans will no longer tolerate the way we’ve been treated by the federal Liberals over the past 10 years,” - Danielle Smith
https://edmontonjournal.com/news/politics/alberta-premier-danielle-smith-mark-carney-reset
Smith in her recent meeting with Canada's newly elected Prime minister laid out the following demands;
A guaranteeing Alberta full access to oil and gas corridors,
repealing Bill C-69,
lifting the tanker ban off the B.C. coast,
eliminating the oil and gas emissions cap,
scrapping the Clean Electricity Regulations,
abandoning the net-zero car mandate,
returning oversight of the industrial carbon tax to the provinces
ending federal censorship of energy companies.
https://edmontonjournal.com/news/politics/prime-minister-carney-smith-edmonton-housing
She also said;”“our province is no longer agreeable to subsidizing other large provinces ..."
What all of this amounts to is Alberta has had enough. The people of Alberta are demanding change. The Liberal government in Ottawa had better tread carefully because any further abuse may very well be “the last straw.” Many Albertans already feel that this election has been the last straw and they are ready to separate.
Albertans are sensitive about any attempt of the Federal government to interfere with or potentially interfere with Alberta's trade with the United States. This is because the majority of Alberta's trade is conducted with the United States through Montana and not with the rest of Canada.Danielle Smith has publicly warned that if the federal government imposes an export ban on Alberta oil to the America in response to expected U.S. tariffs that it would create a “national unity crisis.” (https://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/canada/barring-alberta-energy-exports-in-response-to-trump-would-lead-to-national-unity-crisis-danielle-smith/ar-BB1rnlUo)
If the Carney government ignores this warning Canada, as we now know it, may be over.
But that's not all. Smith just tabled a Bill 54, which if passed, will dramatically lower the signature threshold for referendums and will extend the signature collection period. All of this makes separation easier to achieve.
Does Premier Smith support separation? This is what she has to say;
We are well aware that there is large and growing number of Albertans that have lost hope in Alberta having a free and prosperous future as a part of Canada. Many of these Albertans are organizing petitions to trigger a citizen initiated referendum, as I mentioned earlier. The vast majority of these individuals are not fringe voices to be marginalized or vilified - they are loyal Albertans. They are quite literally our friends and neighbours who have just had enough of having their livelihoods and prosperity attacked by a hostile federal government. They are frustrated - and they have every reason to be. ... As most Albertans know, I have repeatedly stated I do not support Alberta separating from Canada. I personally still have hope that there is a path forward for a strong and sovereign Alberta within a united Canada. ... Now, none of us know what the future holds should Ottawa, for whatever reason, continue to attack our province as they have done over the last decade. Ultimately that will be for Albertans to decide and I will accept their judgement.
Danielle Smith is not advocating for separatism but if the people of Alberta choose separation – She will accept that judgment. She will let Albertans decide and has tabled a Bill 54, which if passed, will dramatically lower the signature threshold for referendums and will extend the signature collection period. All of this makes separation easier to achieve.
The latest group to erupt to the forefront for reform and Alberta sovereignty – Alberta Prosperity Project, which by December of 2022 had started 140 “Educational Chapters” throughout Alberta. They are organizing a signatures for a separation campaign already. They claim that their objectives in doing so are to; “...negotiate sovereignty WITHIN Canada. However, if this endeavour proves futile, the pursuit of sovereignty WITHOUT Canada becomes inevitable.” (https://albertaprosperityproject.com/what-is-the-roadmap-to-alberta-sovereignty/)They are receiving much attention from social media and media outlets such as Rebel News. Danielle Smith has commented on the Alberta Prosperity Project and said that she takes this movement “very, very seriously,” (https://www.desmog.com/2022/12/14/alberta-premier-danielle-smith-backs-separatists-calling-undrip-marxist-agenda/)
The Alberta Prosperity Project makes the following explanation of their position in the following quotes;
From a governance perspective, sovereignty for Alberta means having the authority to make legislative decisions without federal intervention, especially in areas deemed critical to the province’s prosperity and way of life. This includes energy development, environmental policies, and taxation. Many federal initiatives in these areas have been viewed by Albertans as overreach into provincial jurisdiction and detrimental to the provincial economy. Increased sovereignty would allow Alberta to craft policies more closely aligned with its own interests and economic realities.
https://albertaprosperityproject.com/what-does-alberta-sovereignty-mean/
The federal government’s encroachment into provincial domains undermines Alberta’s autonomy and governance. Federal overreach stifles innovation, hampers economic growth, and limits the province’s ability to address its unique challenges effectively. Alberta’s voice is drowned out by Ottawa’s directives, leaving its concerns unaddressed and its potential untapped. Furthermore, the federal government appears to be relinquishing Canadian sovereignty and national welfare in favour of adhering to directives from unelected global entities – which is a betrayal of all Canadians.
https://albertaprosperityproject.com/what-is-the-future-of-alberta-if-we-do-nothing/
The erosion of individual freedoms and rights looms large as federal mandates and regulations encroach on personal liberties. Albertans face the prospect of increased government control, surveillance, and intrusion into their lives, undermining the province’s democratic principles and values.
https://albertaprosperityproject.com/what-is-the-future-of-alberta-if-we-do-nothing/
The Alberta Prosperity Project also seeks to protect the social values of Albertans who see their society and the world very differently than Liberal easterners. Many Albertans are unhappy with Liberal and NDP governments forcing a value-system on them which is alien to them and in many ways opposite to Albertan values. The Alberta Prosperity Project says “Culturally, the sovereignty movement reflects a broader sense of Western alienation, where Alberta’s distinct identity and values feel marginalized within the national dialogue.”(https://albertaprosperityproject.com/what-does-alberta-sovereignty-mean/) They list as one of their grievances “The Federal Government’s support of wokeness, cancel culture, critical race theory, the rewriting of history, and the tearing down of historical monuments” (https://albertaprosperityproject.com/what-does-alberta-sovereignty-mean/)They say further;
Federal policies exacerbate socioeconomic disparities and cultural tensions within Alberta. Divisions deepen as ideological agendas, such as critical race theory and gender identity politics, sow discord, undermine social cohesion, and weaken institutions that are coerced into hiring employees on factors other than merit. The fabric of Alberta’s diverse communities risks unraveling under the weight of federal dictates and societal upheaval though ideological and cultural division.
https://albertaprosperityproject.com/what-is-the-future-of-alberta-if-we-do-nothing/
The Alberta Prosperity Project is determined that this kind of manipulation must stop now. They conclude;
The journey toward Alberta’s sovereignty is a road defined by strategic planning, widespread public education, and resolute advocacy. By supporting leaders and politicians who favour Alberta’s sovereignty and by meticulously preparing for the impending signature campaign, the Alberta Prosperity Project is laying the groundwork for a future where Alberta wields greater control over its destiny. Every Albertan can play a pivotal role in this historic voyage by staying informed, participating in the conversation, and engaging in the referendum process. For a sovereign and prosperous Alberta, the time for action is now
https://albertaprosperityproject.com/what-is-the-roadmap-to-alberta-sovereignty/
FREEDOM. Alberta has been held down but the winds of change are coming. The Alberta separatist movement has a long history. We are now living in the peak of that history. Many Albertans feel like they are being phased out by Liberal Prime Ministers. Many Albertans feel that equalization is really explotation. Woke agenda, big government or radical environmentalism Are not acceptable to many Albertans. Albertans see a way out and many of them are now moving in that direction. Alberta values are beginning to rise to the top as Albertans begin to cut-loose of all of the politics, ideology and social engineering of Liberal Canada. A REFERENDUM. Let the voice of Albertans be heard. Perhaps Alberta can't do anything about the spilt milk of past lost opportunities, but new bright opportunities are now in front of her. Premier Danielle Smith has opened a new door in front of Alberta, which may or may not be fully realized within Canada. Albertans will make the decision. On the other side of that door are; “A robust civil society made up of free individuals, strong families, and volunteer associations. Freedom of speech, worship and assembly, without government or corporate censorship of mainstream or social media. Affirm the family as the building block of society and the means by which citizens pass on their values and beliefs and ensure that families are protected from intrusion by government. Economic freedom in a market economy which encourages the creation of wealth through free enterprise, and the protection of the right to own, enjoy and exchange property. Limited government, including low levels of taxation to help generate economic growth while allowing Albertans to enjoy the fruits of their own labour. Fiscal responsibility, including balanced budgets, debt reduction,and respect for taxpayer's money. Protecting public safety as a primary responsibility of government. Control spending and dramatically reduce the size of government and encourage municipal governments to do the same. Protect and defend the ownership rights of Alberta to utilize its natural resources for the benefit of Albertans.” The groundwork for a future where Alberta holds greater control over its destiny has been laid. Will Albertans now step through that door?
Shawn Stevens
“We had a very frank discussion in which I made it clear that Albertans will no longer tolerate the way we’ve been treated by the federal Liberals over the past 10 years,” - Danielle Smith
REFFERENCES
Betcherman, Lita-Rose (2002). Ernest Lapointe: Mackenzie King's Great Quebec Lieutenant. University of Toronto Press. p. 175. ISBN .
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Lyon_Mackenzie_King#cite_note-Betcherman-40
https://pier21.ca/research/immigration-history/canadian-multiculturalism-policy-1971
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Energy_Program
https://history.alberta.ca/energyheritage/gas/transformation/west-vs-east/nep.aspx
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/justin-trudeau-oilsands-phase-out-1.3934701
https://www.canadaaction.ca/energy-east-pipeline-cancellation-facts
https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-sovereignty-within-a-united-canada-act
s://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danielle_Smith
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alberta_Sovereignty_Within_a_United_Canada_Act
https://www.freealbertastrategy.com
https://www.unitedconservative.ca/
https://albertapolitics.ca/2023/04/ndp-would-repeal-sovereignty-act-restore-balance-to-workplace-law-christina-gray-tells-afl-convention/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danielle_Smith
https://www.alberta.ca/release.cfm?xID=890743792ADA4-D57D-6365-759CC6027AF662C5
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equalization_payments_in_Canada
https://albertaprosperityproject.com/what-is-the-roadmap-to-alberta-sovereignty/
https://albertaprosperityproject.com/what-is-the-roadmap-to-alberta-sovereignty/
ALBERTA IS A DISTINCT SOCIETY
Conservative, rugged, hard-working, freedom-loving, individualistic mavericks who react adversely to liberalism, socialism and government bureaucracy – If someone is expressing these values, there is a very good chance that they are an Albertan.
Is Alberta a distinct society? Should the Alberta identity be formally recognized and respected by other parts of Canada? What is an Albertan?
Before we dig into this topic, we should consider the province of Quebec, a province that does hold the status of a “Distinct Society” within Canada.
The 1967 Commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism referred to Canada as being a country constituted of “two great distinct cultures” — English and French — with a “distinct society” being in Quebec and an “English-speaking society” being in the Rest of Canada (ROC) (Canada, Royal Commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism, Report of the Royal Commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism, book 1 (Ottawa: Privy Council Office, 1967) at para 43.)
Understanding of Quebec as a distinct society would evolve over succeeding years. Key identifying elements of Quebec society, culture and governance included the french language, Roman Catholicism, French institutions, strict autonomy over provincial matters, a civil law system that is distinct from the common law system used in the rest of Canada, control over immigration policy, family law and cultural preservation.
Mr. Robert Bourassa, former Premier of Quebec summed it up this way;
“English Canada must clearly understand that, whatever is said or done, Quebec is, today and forever, a distinct society, free and able to assume control of its destiny and its development.” (Quoted in https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/quebec-as-a-distinct-society)
Quebec political leaders have a long history of pushing back against federalism, such as former Bloc Québécois Leader Lucien Bouchard slamming the Federal government as “the federal mother hen.” (Quoted in https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/new-distinct-society-law) Quebecers do not look favourably on a government in Ottawa meddling with matters of Quebec jurisdiction.
What about Alberta and Albertans? Do they have an identity of their own? Do they have an identity screaming to be recognized, respected and defended. If Albertans have their own identity and this identity needs defending, who does it need defending against? From their political flip-opposite - modern Liberals.
An organization, based out of The University of Alberta, called “Common Ground” has been researching Alberta identity for years. After talking with fellow Albertan adults they concluded;
“'Our studies with adults have found that there is incredible consensus about what it means to 'be Albertan.' When asked to draw the typical member of our provincial community, an overwhelming majority depict a farmer, a cowboy, or an oil worker — predominantly conservative, male, middle-aged, white, blue-collar workers.” (https://cground.substack.com/p/becoming-albertan?r=25ad13&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&triedRedirect=true)
As they continued their research they conducted an experiment where students in the school system were asked to “Draw me an Albertan.” Over 300 youth participated. Here are some of the results;
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Younger children are more likely to draw themselves.
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Older students are more likely to see the average Albertan as a man.
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By middle school, students have absorbed common stereotypes about the Albertan identity.
What then were the identifying features (which Common Ground calls “stereotypes”) that middle school youth were drawing? They drew cowboys and farmers.
Albertans know that they are different, conservatively different, beautifully different. Many Albertans aspire to a greater self-determination and fair treatment within or outside of the federation of Canada. Many Albertans feel that that noble goal of self-determination, as well as Albertan identity itself, is treated as a threat by its ideological opposite, modern Liberalism and Liberal governments.
This was written in 2025. The Canadian Liberalism of our post-modern times is an expression of wokeism, radical environmentalism, globalism, shutting down of freedom of speech, cancel culture, radical race and gender ideology and aggressive punishment and suppression of dissent. This value system is alien to most Albertans.
Many Albertans feel coerced and manipulated as Liberals from other parts of Canada, make their values the law of the land and then try to force them on Albertans and others.
Albertans remind Ottawa that Albertans have their own “Alberta Bill Of Rights” that must not be violated by Liberal Federal Governments who would like to impose their values on Albertans. The Alberta Bill of Rights defends Albertan's rights to liberty, security, property, equality before the law, freedom of religion, speech and expression, freedom of assembly and association, freedom of the press, parental rights (especially in regards to education), medical decisions and firearms. It was further amended in 2024 to strengthen protections on medical rights and property rights. This implies that Albertans want the Federal government to understand and respect that it is not the place of federal governments to contradict human rights in these areas.
Under the brave leadership of Alberta's Premier, Mrs. Danielle Smith, measures have been put in place to defend Albertan's from over-reaching Federal controls. Alberta passed into law “The Alberta Sovereignty Act,” a piece of legislation that seeks to put a protective wall between Albertans and an aggressive Federal Government. The government of Alberta explains;
The Alberta Sovereignty within a United Canada Act defends Alberta’s interests by giving our province a legal framework to push back on federal laws or policies that negatively impact the province.
The act will be used to address federal legislation and policies that are unconstitutional, violate Albertans’ charter rights or that affect or interfere with our provincial constitutional rights.
The act gives Alberta a democratic legislative framework for defending the federal-provincial division of powers while respecting Canada's Constitution and the courts.
https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-sovereignty-within-a-united-canada-act
Another brave voice in this hour is that of The Alberta Prosperity Project, an Albertan, citizen led, grass-roots movement that seeks to inform Albertan's of their rights. They say;
Culturally, the sovereignty movement reflects a broader sense of Western alienation, where Alberta’s distinct identity and values feel marginalized within the national dialogue. ...”; they object to; “The Federal Government’s support of wokeness, cancel culture, critical race theory, the rewriting of history, and the tearing down of historical monuments.”
They say further;
Sovereignty concerns extend from infringements on basic rights and freedoms, such as during the recent public health crisis and with proposed legislative changes. Albertans are also resistant to the perceived erosion of the moral and ethical foundations of governance.
Examples include the following:
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Using a questionable public health crisis to infringe on basic constitutional freedoms (e.g., freedom of speech, freedom of association, freedom to travel) and mortgage the futures of our children with grossly wasteful spending and crippling debt.
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The Federal Government’s plan to eliminate the right to self-defence (including the right to use whatever force is available to defend life, liberty, and property) and the right to own and bear arms.
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The elimination of the supremacy of God, which provides a moral and ethical foundation for a civil society, the rule of law, policies, and governance, as well as for the development of a “Constitution” that protects individual freedoms and rights, and which is foundational to the success of Western civilization.
Alberta sovereignty encompasses economic, governance, cultural, and human rights dimensions, furled by grievances against perceived federal overreach and neglect.
https://albertaprosperityproject.com/what-does-alberta-sovereignty-mean/
Can it be that ideological differences between post-modern Liberal Canadians and Conservatives have led Liberal Canadian governments to impose their value system on many Albertans and others who believe very differently from them and that this is a fundamental violation of human rights?
Again The Alberta Prosperity Project claims;
Federal policies exacerbate socioeconomic disparities and cultural tensions within Alberta. Divisions deepen as ideological agendas, such as critical race theory and gender identity politics, sow discord, undermine social cohesion, and weaken institutions that are coerced into hiring employees on factors other than merit. The fabric of Alberta’s diverse communities risks unravelling under the weight of federal dictates and societal upheaval though ideological and cultural division.
https://albertaprosperityproject.com/what-is-the-future-of-alberta-if-we-do-nothing/
Is Alberta a distinct society? Should the Alberta identity be formally recognized and respected by other parts of Canada? What is an Albertan? Do Albertans need a mother hen? Do Albertans have a right to their distinctives, their rights and their identity? Do they have a right to free and to assume control of their destiny and their development? Do they have the right to Liberty, security, property, equality before the law, freedom of religion, speech and expression, freedom of assembly and association, freedom of the press, parental rights, medical decisions and firearms? Do they have the right to be an Albertan? Is there room in Canada for an Albertan, or is it time for Alberta to leave?
Shawn Stevens
REFERENCES
Canada, Royal Commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism, Report of the Royal Commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism, book 1 (Ottawa: Privy Council Office, 1967) at para 43.The
https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/quebec-as-a-distinct-society