Alberta to the ballot box: does the richest province of Canada want to become independent?

Alberta to the ballot box: does the richest province of Canada want to become independent? Canadian Prime Minister Carney once again addressed the voters in the province of Alberta during a pro-Canada campaign meeting yesterday. They will go to the ballot box on Monday to vote on a separation from Canada. Carney's message to the electorate was clear: vote against separation. "This is not a game. This is not poker. A vote against Canada is a dangerous bluff that will lead to years of uncertainty and missed opportunities for the residents of Alberta and the rest of Canada," said Carney. He pointed out to his audience that it is a public secret that the American president Trump would very much like Canada to join as the 51st state. 'They are trying to break us' A vote for an independent Alberta would play Trump's hand, who is waging a trade war with Canada, Carney argued. "Some outside our borders are trying to break us so they can get control of us." According to Carney, this must "never" happen. Precisely because there is so much at stake for Canada, the Prime Minister campaigned for a pro-Canada offensive to Edmonton, the capital of Alberta, where he grew up. The referendum on Monday does not yet have a final outcome. If a majority says 'no' to the question of whether Alberta should remain part of Canada, there will be another referendum in 2027. Only then will the decision be binding. As far as Carney is concerned, this will not happen. As Prime Minister, he wants to prevent Canada from breaking apart, while Trump openly speculates about annexing the land. In recent years, Carney has therefore made a deliberate effort to appeal to the ties with Alberta, after relations under his predecessor Trudeau had become seriously strained. For many separatists, Trudeau was the face of the climate policy in their eyes that harmed the economic interests of Alberta. Carney was therefore delighted that the federal government in Ottawa and the critical province of Alberta reached an agreement in 2025 on a smoother energy policy for the large oil industry there and a new oil pipeline to the west coast. Great economic interests are also at play. Alberta is rich in oil, natural gas, and coal, and has a large agricultural sector. The oil reserves in Alberta are among the largest in the world, making it the richest province in the country. Much of the oil and natural gas is exported to the US. This is precisely what makes a separation from the rest of the country attractive to separatists. Although only 5.1 million people live in the vast province, the province pays a significant amount of tax to the federal government in Ottawa through exports. The criticism in Alberta has been that it receives little of these proceeds back for years. The reasoning of supporters of a separate state is therefore simple: with separation, no one in Alberta will have to worry about money. In times of inflation, high fuel prices, and a difficult housing market, this is an attractive prospect for many. Furthermore, the population of the agricultural province has historically been weak in relation to the US. Canadian media reported earlier this year that there are close ties between the supporters of the secession and the government of Trump and his MAGA movement. During the Forever Canadian meeting where Carney spoke, thousands of supporters of independence stood to demonstrate. They expressed their dissatisfaction with Carney, who was born in Alberta. Banners were held up with texts such as: "Say no to Carney's new world order." One supporter had previously told local media that he fears that Carney, as revenge for the trade war with the US, will further tax oil exports. Should an independent Alberta actually come to pass, that is a matter of great question. Polls consistently show that the vast majority of voters in Alberta want the province to remain with Canada. Only 30 percent of the electorate would support the separatists. Taniele Smith, the Premier of Alberta, is not one of them. Although she and Carney have a sometimes tense relationship, she said during the pro-Canada campaign meeting: "For the first time in a long time, Alberta and Canada are shoulder to shoulder."