Alberta, a Canadian province with a significant Ukrainian diaspora and major oil resources, has once again become a focus due to rising separatist sentiment. While calls for separation date back to the 1930s, they intensified after Pierre Trudeau’s National Energy Program in 1980 imposed a substantial federal tax on Alberta’s oil, which severely impacted the local economy and caused unemployment and outmigration.
Economic grievances have grown due to equalization payments—transfers of regional wealth, especially to Quebec. In the 2025-2026 fiscal year, these payments exceeded $25 billion, while Alberta has not received such transfers since 1965. Additional frustration is fed by federal regulations impacting Alberta’s oil industry.
Support for Alberta’s independence ranges from 19% to 36% in recent polls, with youth being the most supportive. However, most separatists prefer an independent Alberta over joining the US, despite occasional references by politicians like Donald Trump. Most Albertans oppose annexation.
Premier Danielle Smith walks a thin line, advocating for greater autonomy while officially supporting Canadian unity. The federal government attempts to ease tension with economic concessions and investments.
In practical terms, there are no clear legal mechanisms for Alberta to secede. Even with a referendum, legal, economic, and logistical barriers make independence nearly impossible. Alberta’s separatism functions more as a political tool to pressure Ottawa into recognizing the crucial role of the province in the national economy.
