If Liberals Win, Nearly 1 in 3 Albertans Are Ready To Leave Canada
A growing conversation about Alberta’s future has sparked new calls for potential separation if the Liberal Party returns to power in the upcoming federal election. According to a recent Angus Reid poll, 30% of Albertans surveyed would support leaving Canada under another Liberal government, reigniting a debate that has simmered over pipeline politics and regional concerns in recent years.
Alberta lawyer Jeffrey Rath has announced plans to speak on the steps of the legislature to advocate for provincial independence.
“No more federal income tax, no more GST, no more carbon tax, no more capital gains tax,” he said, explaining that large sums leave Alberta annually to subsidize programs in other provinces.
Although he has been quoted as suggesting a partnership with the US, Rath clarified his stance: “When I talk Alberta statehood, I’m talking about Alberta independence, with a possible merger with the United States.”
Premier Danielle Smith has indicated she will form a “What’s Next?” panel following the federal vote, gauging support for sovereignty. She says that if Albertans favor the idea, it could be put to a referendum.
While emphasizing she wants the country to function effectively, Smith also made clear that it has to work for Alberta, stating, “It hasn’t for the last 10 years because of terrible policies by the Liberals.”
Angus Reid’s research associate Jon Roe notes that while separation sentiment in Alberta remains significant, anger was even higher in 2019 following the cancellation of the Energy East pipeline and the introduction of Bill C-69, which critics dubbed the “no more pipeline bill.”
The findings come from two online surveys of Angus Reid Forum members conducted in late March among thousands of Canadian adults, with a margin of error of plus or minus two percentage points, 19 times out of 20.
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