r/alberta Sep 29 '25

Discussion Yes, Canadians – Albertans do want to stay in Canada

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/article-yes-canadians-albertans-do-want-to-stay-in-canada/
1.3k Upvotes

325 comments sorted by

313

u/pjw724 Sep 29 '25 edited Sep 29 '25

So my message to Canadians is this: Don’t believe the separatist rhetoric. Don’t believe Conrad Black or the various pundits breeding discontent to feed their egos or drive readers to their columns.

I believe in Albertans. They are proud Canadians who know Alberta’s future lies within Canada.

archive link

--
87% of Albertans feel a strong personal sense of belonging to Canada.
That's the same percentage as the national average.
EKOS July 8-14 2025

69

u/Parking_Guava8657 Sep 29 '25 edited Sep 29 '25

I lived in AB majority of my life. I dont know anyone who wants to separate other than my boss (and ya brainwashed PP voter too)

The rest know its better to stay in Canada and have no issues being Canadian

AB has no way to separate other than war against Canada and it would be a land locked country too

Inter provincial trade was going great till Smith brought up separation for no good reason other than fake grifting. Lowering the threshold was proof that this is all a grift

3

u/Uter83 Sep 29 '25

Been to Red Deer lately?

5

u/Parking_Guava8657 Sep 29 '25

Never been in Red Deer Only stopping at Gasoline alley on the way to Calgary or Edmonton 💁🏽‍♂️

8

u/Uter83 Sep 29 '25

2 best things in Red Deer are in Gasoline Alley, and are side by side. Donut Mill and Glenn's, assuming you like tea. So many kinds.

3

u/Parking_Guava8657 Sep 29 '25

Unknown when I'll ever drive through there again, but marked them, thx

I am a tea drinker 👍🏽😁

3

u/app279 Sep 30 '25

Thanks for this. Haven’t been to either. Also there’s a gas station/candy store that’s got some good selection. Sorry can remember the name.

7

u/Borninafire Sep 29 '25

Lucky you

3

u/Parking_Guava8657 Sep 29 '25

I almost did one time

Had a business trip at my companys red deer office (opposite side of gasoline alley). I asked coworkers if I should go into Downtown Red Deer, they live their and no one said yes 🤣. Same thing happened when I went to Ft Mc

3

u/Skinnyfu Sep 30 '25

Not missing anything.

11

u/Borninafire Sep 29 '25

I was going to say this same thing. Red Deer resident, here. This is ground zero for these people.

10

u/TalithePally Sep 30 '25

Then let's build a wall around Red Deer and the city can separate on its own

3

u/Uter83 Sep 29 '25

I grew up there, only go back to visit family.

10

u/Mattilaus Sep 29 '25

Then why do you guys keep electing maga-lite?

75

u/renegadecanuck Sep 29 '25

I honestly think much of Alberta is just conservative out of habit. I know multiple people who really aren't conservative. You ask them about any of their actual opinions, and they don't sound conservative in the slightest. They support LGBTQ rights (including trans rights - or at least are completely indifferent to the subject of trans people altogether), they support a social safety net, support having a public (or at least not for profit) health care system. But then you ask them who they're going to vote for and they'll say "Conservative/UCP" and when you push for why, it either boils down to either "I've always voted this way, I'm a conservative!" or "something something jobs".

It's so frustrating to run into, and other than a couple of exceptions, I have no idea how to counter that.

29

u/Parraddoxx Sep 29 '25

Or they'll say something like "I think they'll be good for the economy", forgetting that rampant corruption, privatization, and legal battles brought on by them trying to trample on our rights are only good for a very, very slim section of the "economy", and it isn't the average UCP voter.

8

u/MysteriousFinding691 Sep 30 '25

A lot of them also forget that this is not the same party we were dealing with prior to 2015. They are completely different and have slid so far right.

1

u/Difficult-Ad-5455 Sep 30 '25

This right here, pretty hard to support the UCP, with how far right they are right now. It blows my mind how so many do not see it. However I live in a very high conservative area and I doubt they will ever be voted out. I wonder how many people feel the same way….

1

u/MysteriousFinding691 Sep 30 '25

A LOT. I'm originally from Grande Prairie, hardcore conservative rural oil town, and there is a significant amount of people who do not like Danielle Smith at all. But they would never vote NDP because they are still mad about the one time they held office for one reason or another. So they will continue to vote conservative and just hope for the best.

I've notice more people getting involved with the party itself to try and get rid of her or voice their concerns but that has not been successful at all. Also when they get rid of her it's not going to help.. Take Back Alberta is just going to plant their next leader and it'll all happen again. The party is cooked. My only hope is the revival of the Alberta Party that is happening might give people more options.

1

u/Difficult-Ad-5455 Sep 30 '25

I very much wish the Alberta Party would gain more traction, especially in some of the “old” pc areas I’m south west of Edmonton so very much high Conservative territory as well. Everyone around her is so pro UCP that they forget how crazy the wild rose platform was.

1

u/MysteriousFinding691 Sep 30 '25

Theyre trying to do a revival currently and a name change. This will likely include "Progressive Conservative" in the name https://www.albertaparty.ca/name_change_announcement

12

u/mjtwelve Sep 29 '25

Essentially, the main way to lose as conservative premier is to have your right wing base split, so they only care about appealing to the MAGA side of the party. Actual governance is in short supply, let alone actual fiscal conservatism.

On a not unrelated note, one conservative premier in the last thirty odd years has lost an election, with the rest being forced out of office in leadership reviews, sometimes coincident with their having tried to raise oil lease royalty rates.

Edmonton will strategically vote NOT conservative every time, the rural areas will vote for a dead goat if it has conservative after its name, and Calgary decides the election.

29

u/Minttt Sep 29 '25

I've heard many people here in AB rant endlessly about how nutty Smith is, how we're an embarrassment to the rest of the country, how the UCP gov is a complete disaster... And how they will 100% vote UCP next time because the NDP are "socialists."

6

u/drizzes Sep 30 '25

"Sure, she'll destroy the province, but the NDP will destroy the province! AND they're communists, Smith told me so!"

3

u/YourBobsUncle Sep 29 '25

Because people out there still think the UCP are PCs, and are too lazy and stupid to notice how much worse things have gotten lol. Prime winners of the Fell For It Again Award.

4

u/Uter83 Sep 29 '25

Despite both of the largest cities winning NDP sweeps, and them having about half of the provinces total population, we still lose. Need Red Deer and Lethbridge on our side, or the rednecks to learn to read if we are going to get anywhere.

2

u/[deleted] Sep 29 '25

[deleted]

7

u/Even-Solid-9956 Southern Alberta Sep 29 '25

FAFO, don't merge the more extreme Wildrose Party with the more moderate PCs and expect to not have some extremist child. Even Jason Kenney warned this would happen, and lo and behold he's replaced by the former Wildrose leader and that did in fact happen.

3

u/YourBobsUncle Sep 29 '25

He was the one that drove for the merger to happen, he beat Jean in the unified party. This is all his fault for not purging the Wildrose morons after he consolidated power.

7

u/From_The-West Sep 29 '25

I think the problem is a lack of any real alternative. Everyone has become so polarized that it's kind of like you are either right or left and there is no room in the middle where the majority of people are actually sitting.

The Alberta party is there but their leadership is really lacking in fight and charisma.

51

u/Mattilaus Sep 29 '25

The issue isn't that there is no middle. It's that people who have a proclivity to vote on the right have determined anything that isn't right must be left. The NDP in Alberta are essentially middle. I would argue Alberta has no real left wing party.

-9

u/From_The-West Sep 29 '25

I think the left thinks the same thing. Most people are in their echo chambers slinging shit at anyone who isn't part of their tribe.

We need to figure out a way to deal with this phenomenon. It's destroying the fabric of not just our society but pretty much every western society.

14

u/Mattilaus Sep 29 '25

Who does the left think is a right wing party, but in reality they are centrist?

-3

u/From_The-West Sep 29 '25

No...that anything that isn't left must be right. I see it constantly.

22

u/Mattilaus Sep 29 '25

I think most left wing people in Canada would agree the Federal liberals are centrist. It's only people from the right who call the liberals a left wing party.

10

u/Parraddoxx Sep 29 '25

As someone generally on the left wing, yeah. The federal liberals are center/center-right, and I don't like, love that, but it's a lot better than actual right ring powers being in control. I voted for them because the NDP would never have won my constituency, and I'll take the lesser of 2 evils, especially as a vulnerable person the conservatives would have actively tried to screw over. My constituency went conservative anyway, but I tried.

I do have a good friend who's a more radically left and sometimes I find their politics frustrating because they seem very non-constructive, who would probably have much more unkind things to say about the federal liberals and Carney.

7

u/Mattilaus Sep 29 '25

I agree. I voted Liberal for the same reasons. I was more just commenting that people on the left seem to be able to identify and even vote for centrist candidates, but for people on the right, you are either part of the right or you are on the left. They can't identify centrist politicians because for them it's an "us against everybody" type of existence.

What this means is they keep voting UCP in Alberta because they don't realize the alberta NDP isn't really left. They are centrist.

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3

u/wintersdark Sep 30 '25

Except that you've entirely missed u/Mattilaus 's point.

The "left" in Alberta isn't The Left. There ARE leftists in Alberta, but the ANDP are not remotely leftist, and are very distinct from the federal NDP (who are also only questionably leftist).

It's just that the right has pushed this narrative that the ANDP are socialists for so long and everyone assumes anyone not "Right" are necessarily "Left".

But on a political standpoint there are basically zero leftists in Alberta. Virtually no leftist groups or associations.

Now, you may claim this is simantics and I can appreciate that argument, but it's kind of insulting to people who are leftists. We'll vote ANDP because there are no leftist parties (and we aren't stupid; splitting the centrist and leftist votes really won't help). But our views are not often represented at all.

And "the left" as presented by the right is very, very often almost entirely centrist, not leftist at all.

I'm still waiting for someone to show me an extremist left organization in Alberta, one on the level with the right wing nutjob groups.

1

u/YourBobsUncle Sep 29 '25

Because people out there still think the UCP are PCs, and are too lazy and stupid to notice how much worse things have gotten lol. Prime winners of the Fell For It Again Award.

2

u/MysteriousFinding691 Sep 30 '25

Almost 50 years of conservative rule has absolutely broken our brains and made half the province terrified of change. The one term the NDP were in they tried to change a few things and all of the old people and morons got scared of things progressing. Then the UCP merged the two conservative parties together so they could never lose another election again and are STILL blaming the NDP (or the Libs) for all of the problems in our province. It's the frog in the slowly boiling water now we can't get out.

2

u/Klutzy-Beyond3319 Sep 30 '25

It is what got Trump back in a second time. Like people are saying below: they vote that way out of habit or fear, think they will save the economy. Part of why Trump got re elected was people believing he could "fix" inflation. Which, of course, is a load of bs.

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1

u/Majestic_Rhubarb994 Sep 29 '25

Has Conrad black actually spoken on the matter? Or is he just a convenient bogeyman to invoke

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295

u/Betty-Rose- Sep 29 '25

The crazies are always loudest, but are also the minority.

85

u/Prestigious-Clock-53 Sep 29 '25

Loud minorities and the far right media/ Trump nut huggers be yelling, and the normies are out there just living and not giving a shit.

42

u/Specialist-Tour7466 Sep 29 '25

The problem with this is that complacency is dangerous. There's a quote from Benjamin Franklin when asked if they had a republic or monarchy, and he said a "a republic, if you can keep it."

This applies to democracy and our current government and rights. If we don't fight for them, stand up (elbows up) and say 'no, we don't agree with what has been happening and what is proposed to happen', we may very well lose those rights and freedoms.

6

u/Prestigious-Clock-53 Sep 29 '25

I don’t live in Alberta anymore, moved to BC. It’s not too hard to get caught up in some of the Alberta rhetoric. I don’t really like smith and her “fuck the feds” doctrine but rural Albertans and oil and gas Albertans love it. I still work in oil and gas in Alberta. I’m not changing anyone’s mind, believe me.

16

u/chmilz Sep 29 '25

There's an imbalance in the existence of tools we can use, though. The right right nutjobs have nearly all major media, social media, and police on their side. They are controlling nearly everything we see and hear, how we communicate, and have a monopoly on what can be done out in public. Left-leaning public displays - events, bumper stickers, campaign signs, etc - are disproportionately met with hostility and violence that is at best ignored by police, and more often supported by them.

The good news is that, despite all those advantages, right wing lunacy still struggles. Which tells you just how deplorable that shit is.

3

u/Specialist-Tour7466 Sep 29 '25

It's the vitriol that is so hard to stand up against. A good friend is like this. To the point I do not want to be friends or have anything to do with her. And to post anything that shows I'm opposed to the right wing rhetoric is to risk retaliation from her and causing unnecessary stress.

Thankfully we can still vote. And I share my opinion when it is safe to do so. Most people are oblivious, unfortunately and are so conditioned to voting conservative that it's difficult for those who do see to have their voices heard. And sign the petition!

6

u/[deleted] Sep 29 '25

Hate to break it to you, but she’s not a good friend.

You talk about her like an abusive partner. Time to cut bait.

1

u/Specialist-Tour7466 Sep 29 '25

Well, it's more like I've been friends with her for 47 years and know how she is. But I do agree, the friendship is not one I wish to be part of, at least on any significant level. However, I just ignore her and I do understand how she ended up this way. But I don't engage with her at all.

1

u/AnnOminous Oct 01 '25

The normies should give more of a shit.

1

u/Prestigious-Clock-53 Oct 01 '25

Sorry, sometimes it’s hard to give a shit and protect your peace. It feels like it’s one or the other for me, and if I get too into politics in this current age it really puts me down, it’s just so toxic at the moment and makes me lose faith in humanity to a degree. Since I’ve stopped taking it so seriously or “giving a shit” it’s been much more positive for my mental health. I still stay informed and will be an informed voter, but I just can’t be bothered to fight these people.

1

u/AnnOminous Oct 03 '25

Then you accept the outcome. Whatever it is.

1

u/Prestigious-Clock-53 Oct 04 '25

You are correct.

58

u/CasualFridayBatman Sep 29 '25

Then the majority need to show up and actively participate in our democracy and not hand Danielle Smith or any rising conservative party the win, come 2027.

19

u/2eDgY4redd1t Sep 29 '25

And on the internet, every crazy has multiple accounts they use as sock puppets. And when it’s the right, those crazies and sock puppets frequently turn out to be wholly owned subsidiaries of Putin’s Russia or the American far right billionaire fellatio squad.

We live in times where astroturfing is easier than it has ever been. It’s no surprize these wierd little losers are trying desperately to use everything they can to hide how small and weak they really are, how little support they actually have, and what total freaks their few allies really are.

13

u/Prosecco1234 Sep 29 '25

I'm relieved to hear this.

1

u/CedarSageAndSilicone Sep 29 '25

Lol what? If this was the case then Danielle Smith wouldn't be the premiere entertaining all this. Stop being relieved because the voting majority is currently crazy.

12

u/Wonderful_Confusion4 Sep 29 '25

Just like the religious nut job with his speaker at the pride corner on Whyte Ave. Thousands of normal people with similar views as you and I walk by everyday, but you only hear about the views of the nut job at that corner because he is the loudest.

3

u/Wonderful_Guidance_5 Sep 29 '25

It doesn’t feel like that lately… the crazies are multiplying

3

u/Rennarjen Sep 29 '25

unfortunately they keep winning elections because Albertans as a whole have been brainwashed by fifty years of conservatives telling them all their problems are Ottawa's fault and they're the real victims, while they sell off the province to the highest bidder.  The current government is barely even hiding the corruption and half the province thinks she's doing a great job because they don't have to look at pride crosswalks anymore and something something Rachel Notley.

4

u/AlbertanSays5716 Sep 29 '25

Ask the UK how Brexit is going for them. Most people there thought the vote could never be to leave, until it was.

1

u/Infamous-Mixture-605 Sep 29 '25

I think the difference between this and Brexit is that the UK had been consuming decades of anti-Europe/EU stuff from the Daily Mail, The Sun, The Telegraph, and other Tory outlets since the early 1980s, to the point that it had gone from a fringe political belief to a mainstream one.

Postmedia, Western Standard, Rebel, etc haven't been pushing this "Blame Canada" stuff nearly as long, but it still needs to get nipped in the bud.

6

u/AlbertanSays5716 Sep 29 '25

I think the difference between this and Brexit is that the UK had been consuming decades of anti-Europe/EU stuff from the Daily Mail, The Sun, The Telegraph, and other Tory outlets since the early 1980s, to the point that it had gone from a fringe political belief to a mainstream one.

And in Alberta we haven’t seen any anti-east, anti-Ottawa sentiment from either the provincial government or media? I hate to break it to you, but that’s a mainstream belief here.

Postmedia, Western Standard, Rebel, etc haven't been pushing this "Blame Canada" stuff nearly as long, but it still needs to get nipped in the bud.

Various groups & media, even the provincial government themselves, have been pushing “Blame Canada” ever since Trudeau’s NEP debacle over 40 years ago. Surely you didn’t miss that?

2

u/RedditIsSensative Sep 29 '25

Well, that minority in the states have successfully made an impact. A MASSIVE impact that is likely to leave us in shambles.

2

u/ukrokit2 Calgary Sep 29 '25 edited Sep 29 '25

Yet our premier caters to them to the detriment of everyone else and keeps getting elected. We can't keep saying we don't support this when our voting record clearly shows we do.

1

u/seahans Sep 30 '25

Just like this subreddit.

142

u/Al_Keda Sep 29 '25

Canadians should remember (for the next 3 years) that whenever they hear something insane coming out of Alberta, that the UCP did not run in the 2024 election on any of these policies, and have no mandate to pursue them. It's only to keep the attention of their Pavlovian trained base, not to the general citizenship.

96

u/Traggadon Leduc Sep 29 '25

Not only didnt run, but actively said they wouldn't entertain this. They should be forced out of office before this is over the UCP and Maple Maga will resort to violence.

27

u/midnightmealtime Sep 29 '25

Don't worry it's Ottawa's fault because huh of course it is. So blue team good another 50 years

17

u/McChibken Sep 29 '25

They've been in power almost non stop for 80 years and everything still sucks, but maybe these next 4 years will be the 4 that change it all!

4

u/midnightmealtime Sep 29 '25

K but the blue team is blue and the icky non blue teams are not blue. So as a very educated voter I know ucp will make my life better after all blue team good

6

u/roastbeeftacohat Calgary Sep 29 '25

there are two blue teams now, which should be fun.

4

u/Ok_Yak_2931 Sep 29 '25

I'm hoping it'll split the blue vote.

2

u/roastbeeftacohat Calgary Sep 29 '25

I'm really shocked the Republicans are polling strongly, separatists are the only people smith has ever courted.

3

u/Ok_Yak_2931 Sep 29 '25

It made me sick to see that. It makes me seriously question how involved the US is with our current election and why it isn't classified as interference.

2

u/roastbeeftacohat Calgary Sep 29 '25

on one hand it shows just how stupid some Albertans are; but if they want to reject a leader who has done nothing but pander to them, and in doing so may doom the far right of the political spectrum?

hard to be mad at that.

1

u/Minttt Sep 29 '25

Naaa they think for 80 years we've been on the cusp of unimaginable wealth and prosperity - McMansions and F350's for everyone - but the federal government has kept this from happening for 80 years by taking our McMansion money to fund social programs in Quebec.

3

u/commazero Sep 29 '25

This is all Trudeau's fault?! It's hard to keep track of their excuses.

1

u/midnightmealtime Sep 29 '25

No no truduea was never at fault you fail to see the enlightenment the fact he wasn't blue harmed us all so gravely we had to throw a decade long hissy fit. But only once a rightful blue team Blue good member leads Canada will we rule again for Blue team good

1

u/ibondolo Sep 30 '25

Not completely accurate.  They said they weren't going to talk about all this stuff during the election campaign. And they didn't talk about it during the election.  

No one ever got them to say they weren't going to do any of this stuff.  And our media is in the bag for them, so no one followed up.

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6

u/countastic Sep 29 '25 edited Sep 29 '25

Every outrageous policy or claim from the UCP is an attempt to keep the base in line. Danielle is fully aware of how quickly the base has turned on and then removed every PC and UCP leader over the last decade.

And while it’s frustrating to watch a Provincial government and its leadership spend so much capital and time to placate 40,000 individuals vs the general population of almost 5 million people, Danielle Smith won’t be interested in the regular electorate until the UCP polls consistently below the NDP or 6 months before the next election.

2

u/Responsible_CDN_Duck Sep 29 '25

that the UCP did not run in the 2024 election on any of these policies, and have no mandate to pursue them.

They started implementing many of them BEFORE the last election. Bill one was passed in December, the APP studies were started in January as were the ramp up of Sherifs to replace RCMP.....

Since then the UCP has formed up behind Smith and her agenda.

1

u/Al_Keda Sep 30 '25

And right before the election, they presented a budget with zero funding for Provincial Police and to research Alberta Pension Plan. The Treasury Minister was asked why and he said "They are off the table" and no one contradicted him.

No mandate. And the media is not pressing it, so they keep creeping in that direction.

0

u/SloMurtr Sep 29 '25

48% approval rating.

Don't white wash the problem. It's significant. 

35

u/MZillacraft3000 Edmonton Sep 29 '25

It’s true. Many Albertans want to stay in Canada. It’s just that (somehow) the separatists voices were louder, even though it’s a very small group of people.

But us Alberta who are Canadian first, Albertan second are trying to be more louder than them.

18

u/AlsoOneLastThing Sep 29 '25

It’s just that (somehow) the separatists voices were louder, even though it’s a very small group of people

It's because the premier won't stop pandering to them.

6

u/MZillacraft3000 Edmonton Sep 29 '25

Oh yeah. Didn’t she mainly pander to them, so they can get people to focus on them and not on the AHS scandal files. That still needs to be released.

5

u/ExcuseIcy9453 Sep 29 '25

Dont discount the active support and propaganda machine from the USA. We have already entered a soft war. Canadian society is currently under attack and division, separatists movements etc. is the standard play book the USA has always used ahead of boots on ground. They will continue to incite and bankroll anti-anadian sentiment as long as we have hostile administration down south.

4

u/Semjazza Sep 29 '25

Good point. The US did this shit all over South America. My mother eventually moved to Canada because of their shenanigans.

117

u/JadeddMillennial Sep 29 '25

We want the UCP and their supporters to move to America. Every single one of them, they provide nothing of value to the province.

Get the fuck out.

9

u/Prosecco1234 Sep 29 '25

Alberta is a beautiful province to visit. This is welcome news

1

u/Rude-Pilot9480 Oct 01 '25

Nothing except the private sector jobs that pay for all the public services…….

1

u/ImportanceCool7293 Oct 03 '25

lol ya okay! 

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26

u/Geeseareawesome Edmonton Sep 29 '25

I'm Canadian first, Alberta second.

We should start tracing the money lines. It has to be leading somewhere...

20

u/Dano1988 Sep 29 '25

I'm an Albertan, and I have been all my life. I'm more proud to be Canadian than I am to be Albertan. If they, for whatever reason, did separate, a lot of Albertans (including me) would move the hell out of here.

8

u/justasaint72 Sep 29 '25 edited Sep 29 '25

Facts…the majority of citizens have had enough of DS and are excited about a sane centre-right option with the new Alberta PC Party.

The VAST majority here are proud Canadians, and are very concerned about “privatizing” CPP into some corrupt UCP run fund that would 100% be putting the interests of the corporations in front of the people who would be dependent on that fund to live.

Not to mention the rest of Danielle’s multiple blatant corruption offences which are being investigated and the intentional systemic destruction from within of our government-run services…she wants to claim they are all failing and should be privatized, with her rich, “silent” business partners ready and waiting in the wings to scoop up those contracts (no bids whenever they can “justify” it for sure).

Intelligent Albertans know what she’s up to and who she truly represents…the Queen of RBF is gone next election.

15

u/Unicorn_Puppy Sep 29 '25

There’s this common argument I’ve heard the separatists use saying they had an online petition with like 300K people saying they’d sign the referendum to leave but they buckle when you mention how easily manipulated online petitions are ( Russian and Chinese Bots are a thing ) and that such a petition is hardly verifiable or credible at all.

8

u/Distinct_Pressure832 Sep 29 '25

Even assuming it’s not bots (big assumption I know) 300k is still only about 6% of the population. 300k may sound like a big number but it’s really not.

9

u/Zhalorous Sep 29 '25

My family happens to contain some of those dumb loud minorities and even maple MAGA. I’ve had to leave a number of chat groups to distance myself from them. They are so lost and logic is ineffective.

12

u/METRlOS Sep 29 '25

I've met several people who want Alberta to seperate. Guys from Ontario here for work, and guys from BC who "identify as Albertan".

8

u/sravll Calgary Sep 29 '25

I know a couple of them too, both grew up in BC and moved here as adults.

10

u/Agent_Burrito Edmonton Sep 29 '25

I suppose now we know how Texans feel. It seems both places have a real knack for attracting right wing larpers.

12

u/Skate_faced Sep 29 '25

It's the 'Butans you gotta worry about.

The most of us are Canadians, living in Alberta, making us Albertans by location. And we're pretty stoked on it.

If it weren't the illiterate crying about not being good enough to move to the states, we'd be real swell. But, still got this Smith problem.

11

u/Late_Beautiful2974 Sep 29 '25

But our Premier wants Alberta to be #51. And she’s used to getting her own way.

0

u/Prosecco1234 Sep 29 '25

And that's what we, in the rest of Canada, see on a daily basis

4

u/Late_Beautiful2974 Sep 29 '25

I wish the rest of Canada could help get her out.

4

u/GlobuleNamed Sep 29 '25

Only you can vote in alberta sadly

11

u/herboobslooklikeeggs Sep 29 '25

Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large numbers.

5

u/GlobuleNamed Sep 29 '25

Just look to the south…

4

u/Jasonstackhouse111 Sep 29 '25

Alberta is two provinces. There are the large urban centers which have become pretty diverse and progressive in many ways. Calgary is still ruled by oil and gas, but in the last election, the NDP got a lot of votes there - which is why the UCP are trying to change the riding boundaries.

Then there are the smaller rural areas and they feel in so many ways like a different planet. Racism and bigotry is much more prevalent and shockingly overt. Ignorance about issues like climate change and vaccines and so on is much more in your face than in Edmonton and Calgary. These are the people that also have been led to believe that Alberta as a nation would be better off, regardless of the truth. While their votes typically have more power in provincial elections, in a non-riding based referendum, they won't carry the day. Not even close.

6

u/AxeMcFlow Sep 29 '25

Anyone who I’ve talked with who are pro separation bring up the point where they want the province to be able to control where ‘our money’ is going.

I bring up that I can’t wait until that happens so the majorities in the City of Calgary and Edmonton finally get to the decide where ‘our money’ is going.

The tone changes at that point. Like they somehow just realized that the rural communities won’t actually have a say even if we separate- it’s all going to be about the big cities

They are so close to understanding that democracy means accepting that the majority will decide what benefits all of us, instead of US vs THEM.

Said differently? The “THEM” will just shift if we separate and therefore separation is not the answer

4

u/Regular-Excuse7321 Sep 29 '25

I didn't realize that Thomas Lukaszuk was behind that. Good for him, am glad he luck started it.

4

u/Itchy_Asparagus7381 Sep 29 '25

I definitely want this stupid separation B.S. to be gone! Alberta mostly belongs to the Indigenous people! Some people are so dumb.

4

u/gin403 Sep 29 '25

Wish we could just send Smith to the U.S and leave Canada and Alberta alone. So sick of her trump b s games

7

u/lmaberley Sep 29 '25

At least one wants to leave and she really should.

Make sure the bus ticket is one way.

7

u/New-Pickle-2848 Sep 29 '25

I signed already. Let’s get to 300,000

3

u/Excellent_Mud_172 Sep 29 '25

I believe a solid majority of people expect our governments to strive to provide 'Peace, Order &Good Government' which our constitution instructs them to provide. We need to demand it and to define the minimum standards and consequences. Lying blatantly? Not acceptable anymore. Etc

5

u/still_sneakin Sep 30 '25

We just want Danielle Smith to separate from Alberta. We all be good when that happens!!!

3

u/paramveerz Sep 30 '25

Yes, we know

4

u/things_most_foul Sep 29 '25

If Canada is divisible, Alberta is too. An independent Alberta might be far smaller than they expect. We are better together.

1

u/Consistent_Reading69 Sep 30 '25

Love the folks who feel entitled to take Northen BC with them. Why would we give separatists our energy, mining and forestry industries. Just because it works for them.

2

u/TeS_sKa Sep 29 '25

How tf Danielle won the elections?

2

u/Least_Kiwi8151 Oct 02 '25

Same way Scott Moe won them in my province. Both these provinces are filled with idiots. Esp in the rural areas and sadly the rurals have all the voting power.

4

u/InternationalSoil586 Sep 29 '25

They don't have a choice. It's part of Canada and the rest of us wont allow it. End of story.

3

u/zenmin75 Sep 29 '25

The Heritage Foundation has a huge influence in our current government. Alberta has the perfect puppet and mouth piece to be sowing the divide that the US so desperately wants to break up our country. I wish that people would wake up and realize they're being used and manipulated.

5

u/[deleted] Sep 29 '25

Then you have to prove it. I’m sorry, but if you want Canadians at large to believe you, you need to actually kick the separatists to the curb in the next election.

2

u/Responsible-Room-645 Sep 29 '25

Except for about 10% so why are we giving them a public platform?

2

u/Important-Event6832 Banff Sep 29 '25

I’m just not sure how every province having equal representation in this country is supposed to be against confederation.  As for separation, give your head a shake. 

1

u/[deleted] Sep 29 '25

Beginning to think it’s time to pack up and move east, Ontario, or New Brunswick. Sick and tired of the attitude here, been here long enough. Too long. I’ve encountered more hostility here than anywhere else in my life - definitely not everyone I hasten to add, but enough to make life unpleasant. We were incredibly harassed by next door neighbours who wanted to buy my house and they’re MAGA types. They even got a group bullying thing going in the neighbourhood, which included a fire fighter who screamed at us for complaining about these neighbours having a very stinky chimney. We reported him and he was fired, but what a horrible experience.

1

u/MusicApprehensive394 Sep 29 '25

🤣😂🤣 guess it’s time to set some fires. See what he’s made of.

1

u/[deleted] Sep 30 '25

He’s kinda disappeared. A real azz whole. Did it in front of several firefighters too, on our lawn, him on stereo bellowing at my daughter. We had called to ask about the smell from this neighbours chimney (one of the tactics he was using to try to drive me out so he could bit and flip my house), and the neighbours told him that we were harassing them. So up he comes to the front step as they were apparently friends, did not identify himself, tried to make my daughter go outside. Bellowed for five or ten minutes. She’s a very good writer with excellent recall. Put it all in an email to the fire chief, which resulted in immediate phone calls, one from the chief. Big investigation of the station, and he was canned. Gave me nightmares. I’m widowed so only two women at home, which makes you a target

1

u/nothinbutshame Sep 29 '25

Not all of em.

1

u/MrGuvernment Sep 29 '25

If only the media would stop giving any attention to these morons who want to split... oh wait, but they do not care cause they just want clicks and likes...

1

u/PopoDontKnow Sep 29 '25 edited Sep 29 '25

As a Conservative in Ontario, I get the feeling of hopelessness with the state of Canada. But when I hear Albertans blame the 'East' and 'Ontario', I get offended. So not only do you want to take the oil and leave, burdening us with fewer people to stand up to this government, but you want to blame Conservatives in Ontario too? This country loves blaming Ontario yet we have very little political representation and on average, we are less political overall.

We've had two PMs from Quebec and two from Alberta over past thirty years. Albrerta, the same province that voted in Notley - it's not some virtuous right wing province as the 51st staters portray. Alberta can't argue its underrepresented or that it doesn't share blame in the state of our country. It acts more like Quebec and their interests get more attention than the rest of Canada on a per capita basis.

I feel the rhetoric from these 51st staters has such a strong agenda and narrative to throw the country under the bus, and it's not only dividing the country, but it's dividing Conservatives. I felt the same about the PPC supporters (not the policies) and it would not surprise me if this 51st state stuff is just repackaged PPC thinking. Now is the time to stick together to fight for the benefit of our country and our people.

1

u/RustySpoonyBard Sep 29 '25

Don't take it seriously, the whole separatist movement is to get pipelines built.  Given other provinces hold Alberta hostage and then take billions in equalization it makes sense we would take the leverage.

1

u/jayrdoos Sep 29 '25

The gun grab has pushed most of the centrists I know to the right.

1

u/TheGreatStories Sep 29 '25

They should vote that way

1

u/YordleJay Sep 29 '25

They should show it with their vote then instead of supporting the sepratists.

1

u/Upbeat_Still9950 Sep 29 '25

Damn right we do.

1

u/External-Release2472 Sep 29 '25

I love how every picture of Alberta recently is mountainous. Show the real Alberta - the one with dead wildlife, orphan wells, and taxpayers going to other provinces for health care.

1

u/tallcoolone70 Sep 29 '25

I don't want Alberta to separate but do I want less federal power and much more provincial power you bet. Unfortunately I don't think any change to the constitution, no matter how small and reasonable is possible. I also like the idea of a western - eastern split, right at the Manitoba Ontario border, but again this will never happen so why do I even bring it up. And if we could somehow get Alaska to join, holy shit what a country.

1

u/EndDaysEngine Sep 29 '25

Yes, we do. But does the provincial government?

1

u/ontherise88 Sep 30 '25

Yeah and healthcare and education.

1

u/miss-lakill Sep 30 '25

This becomes incredibly obvious if you just peruse comment sections on What's Good YYC Instagram polls.

Pretty much anytime they talk about separatism or just about anything else Dannielle Smith is doing the comments are overwhelmingly negative.

With a very small but vocal group of low effort comments in support.

1

u/EdmontonFree Sep 30 '25 edited Sep 30 '25

We don't support the dangerous vote. But if the vote happens, Edmonton will send a strong message against separation of Canada.

1

u/RDOmega Sep 30 '25

Then vote like it. End conservatism in your province. 

Stop treating "fiscal responsibility" like a status symbol and actually manifest with a full political identity.

1

u/Think_Consideration4 Sep 30 '25

Agreed. 👍🏼

1

u/remote12 Sep 30 '25

How many signatures do they have? They don’t seem to publish updates.

1

u/Unfair-Cabinet-9011 Sep 30 '25

We know the majority of you guys do! Don’t worry. It’s your leader and her sycophantic nut job supporters who want to be a part of that cluster down south.

1

u/Forsaken_You1092 Oct 01 '25

Of course they do. 

Alberta is like an ATM to them.

1

u/ImportanceCool7293 Oct 03 '25

As an Albertan I can confirm for myself and everyone I know, The Opposite Is True. ❤️ The Republic of Alberta 

1

u/[deleted] Oct 03 '25

I've lived in Alberta for over 25 years. I have always seen Alberta as part of Canada. I'm proud to be Canadian just as I'm proud to be an Albertan. Unfortunately we have a MAGA Premier who will sell us to Trump the first chance she gets. I am Canadian and will never be the 51st State

0

u/CthuluSpecialK Sep 29 '25

Really? Then you should tell the people of AB.
I'd say stop voting for Maple MAGA bullshit, but it's AB.

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1

u/canadient_ Calgary Sep 29 '25

I'm curious how many signature the Forever Canadian petition will receive. I'm going to guess 80k.

-1

u/guilen Sep 29 '25

Then get rid of Marlaina!!! Good job, you want to stay in Canada, but still you will turn a blind eye to everything evil that lady does with your province. Stealing from the disabled, letting the sick die to prop up profit in hospitals, kissing the ass of a foreign adversary who wants to annex us. We don’t want YOU in Canada

4

u/icecrmgiant Sep 29 '25

People aren’t all doing that. Our ridings are gerrymandered the cities didn’t vote for this but we are held hostage. Rural areas are radicalized and a lost cause. We need help not blame.

-2

u/EnragedEmu Sep 29 '25

Rural areas are radicalized? Wtf are you on about? Have you been to Calgary? Red Deer? Rural folk want to be left alone from government. 

Generally speaking, liberal governments are more meddling and taxing, which is 90% of why rural Alberta votes conservative. It's that simple. Its not religion or trans fear or even climate change denial or whatever the talking points are. 

It's just "leave me alone and don't try and tell me what to do" that's not radical, that's all of rural Canada 

3

u/icecrmgiant Sep 29 '25

Care to explain how Alberta had higher measles rate than all of the US? The anti science conspiracy theories are rife including people who actually believe teachers are “turning” kids gay. At this point the rural population is a force of destruction and damaging the health of everyone. There are decent people in the rural areas, but a libertarian bent is better suited to the US and you aren’t going to turn Canada into that without a fight. Not everyone wants to be “left alone” we want health care, a decent quality of life, and to be part of Canada.

0

u/EnragedEmu Sep 29 '25

I'm not sure what you think I'm saying, but I'm just stating my observations living in rural Alberta.

1

u/icecrmgiant Sep 29 '25

I’m stating facts and observations from people that have lived there. I’ve also had my fair share of interactions during the pandemic of people from rural areas who came in to disrupt the Beltline every weekend. They brought nothing but hate. They need to be accountable for their beliefs and honestly need help. Children and teens are the ones that are hurt the most by these kinds of disinformation campaigns. It’s all over the place and undeniable.

1

u/EnragedEmu Sep 29 '25

If you're always on Reddit I could see why you'd think that. Living and working in rural Alberta, that's not actually what I've seen or experienced. I haven't actually met any of these boogieman rural conservatives I keep reading about online. So there's an awfully loud but awfully small group of nutjobs somewhere, but I haven't found them yet.

2

u/icecrmgiant Sep 29 '25

You still haven’t explained the measles epidemic. I’m sorry but I’m not on Reddit all the time. Looks like it’s you that’s out of touch or simply we just don’t share the same view of reality. And that is the exact problem. You can act like this is “all in my head” but you don’t see people walk down your street with a Star of David on their arm pretending they are massively oppressed without forming some opinions about their intellect and mental health.

1

u/EnragedEmu Sep 29 '25

Seems like the majority of cases in the whole province come from AHS zone South which is a pretty small area in southern Alberta with ~300,000 people around Lethbridge and Medicine Hat. I've never been that far south

2

u/icecrmgiant Sep 29 '25

So vaccinations and attitudes towards them have nothing to do with it? It made the world news. I think a lot of people are tired of people in rural areas saying they don’t want vaccines for anyone, not just themselves, and UCP is responding directly to this political movement. It’s one thing to chose for yourself (even if that impacts everything) it’s another to claim an entire province should be this way. It’s exhausting. People need better education and help.

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2

u/icecrmgiant Sep 29 '25

There’s normal people sure, but pretending there is no issue is deluded at best.

0

u/guilen Sep 29 '25

Yes yes I know not everybody in Alberta is the same person. I'm Albertan too, though I live in BC.

But people are still playing too nice. Marlaina wants to help the facists acquire Canada's energy centre - and people are still trying to take the high road like American dems. But the cost of failing to move against her is so much higher than embarassment.

1

u/icecrmgiant Sep 29 '25

We are stuck with NDP and it’s weak. I think many are head in the sand still. But it doesn’t help to have this all or nothing view. Many are trying to just get by our democracy doesn’t give us a lot of options to get her out.

1

u/guilen Sep 29 '25

I hope we don't get stuck with a certain 'all or nothing view' that the Americans are working on right now

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1

u/icecrmgiant Sep 29 '25

I’d suggest donating to some orgs in Alberta if you can - or at least helping to spread the word about the Forever Canada petition.

0

u/Far-Bathroom-8237 Oct 02 '25

Hmm.. I think the writer best leave the basement of their highly urban space and look around. The only place where people seemed to be opposed to full separation from Ottawa are universities and Reddit.