Before Carney-Trump meeting, Alberta premier vows to honor secession movement if it meets threshold

The conservative premier of Alberta, Danielle Smith, made a stunning formal statement Monday about the future of her province in which she acknowledged a secession movement in her region was mainstream and announced plans to push tough negotiations with Prime Minister Mark Carney.

“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,” Smith said. “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,” she added.

Smith said she does not personally advocate for secession but that her administration would honor a ballot initiative to separate from Canada if citizens meet the threshold because the federal government under liberal “anti-energy, anti-agriculture and anti-resource development policies have scared away global investment to the tune of over a half a trillion dollars.”

“To be clear from the outset, our government will not be putting a vote on separation from Canada on the referendum ballot; however, if there is a successful citizen-led referendum petition that is able to gather the requisite number of signatures requesting such a question to be put to a referendum, our government will respect the democratic process and include that question on the 2026 provincial referendum ballot as well,” she said.

The comment comes the day before Carney is expected to meet with President Donald Trump at the White House for their first official meeting as the leaders of the neighboring countries. The meeting comes amid heightened tensions between the countries due to Trump's tariffs, and his comments about making Canada the 51st U.S. state.

Smith said she understood the frustration that many Albertans felt about electing Carney to a full-term when the Liberal Party has been making life hard for her constituents, but stated she was still hopeful for the future of the country.

"I know how frustrated so many of you have become with our country and the feeling of having politicians living thousands of miles away passing laws and rules that have cost you or your loved ones, jobs, careers, dreams, and opportunities for a brighter future," she said. "I personally still have hope that there is a path forward for a strong and sovereign Alberta within a united Canada.

"This past election demonstrated that attitudes across the country, especially among young people, are changing with respect to understanding the importance of free markets and the development of our natural resources," she continued. "People are pushing back against government censorship and ‘cancel culture’. More Canadians understand that in order for Canada to play a role in ending conflict and poverty at home and abroad - our country must become strong again."

Smith added: "Obviously, we have a ways to go and it will take a lot of work to undo the damage caused by these last 10 years of Liberal rule, but that clear change in public opinion gives me hope. I think it should give all Albertans hope ... Alberta didn’t start this fight, but rest assured…we will finish it…and come out of it stronger and more prosperous than ever."

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.