Alberta NDP to address separation as Calgary petition signing gets underway

Alberta’s Opposition NDP is set to hold a news conference in Calgary on Monday to respond to the province’s growing separatist movement, as a petition campaign calling for Alberta’s independence gets underway in the city.

The news conference coincides with a signature-gathering event hosted by Stay Free Alberta, an independence group seeking to trigger a provincial referendum on whether Alberta should separate from Canada. The petition signing is scheduled to take place at the Calgary Stampede’s Big Four Roadhouse.

The separatist push reflects long-standing frustration among some Albertans toward the federal government. However, NDP leader Naheed Nenshi has pushed back strongly against the movement, saying his party supports a united Canada and accusing the governing United Conservative Party (UCP) of failing to clearly denounce separatism.

Premier Danielle Smith addressed the issue over the weekend during a Corus Radio call-in show, saying she is allowing the signature-collection process to proceed. Smith has repeatedly stated she supports “a strong and sovereign Alberta within a united Canada.”

The renewed debate has drawn international attention after U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent suggested that most Albertans want to separate and join the United States. Both Smith and petition organizer Mitch Silvestre rejected that notion, emphasizing the movement is not about becoming part of the U.S.

Public opinion polling suggests support for separation remains limited. A recent Ipsos poll released earlier this month found that 28 per cent of Albertans support independence, with roughly half maintaining that position when potential consequences are outlined. Support was highest among those aged 18 to 34, while Albertans aged 55 and older were most likely to oppose separation.

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The issue has also surfaced in popular culture. Canadian country singer Paul Brandt sparked debate online after sharing an image on X featuring lyrics from his song Alberta Bound, with the line “I’ve got independence in my veins” prominently highlighted. Brandt has not commented further, and reactions from fans have been sharply divided.

Meanwhile, both UCP and NDP MLAs have approved funding for Elections Alberta to prepare for a potential referendum later this year. What remains unclear is which question would appear on the ballot — whether Alberta should leave Canada or remain part of it.

Legal representatives on both sides believe the final decision rests with the premier. Jeffrey Rath, a lawyer for Silvestre, and former deputy premier Thomas Lukaszuk, who led a petition to keep Alberta in Canada that gathered more than 400,000 signatures, have both suggested Smith is likely to select the separatist question.

With files from The Canadian Press