Alberta's Separatist Push: US Meetings, Ottawa Tensions, and the Sovereignty Debate

• Alberta's latest separatist movement, led by the Alberta Prosperity Project (APP), gained attention after its representatives met with officials from the Donald Trump administration in Washington.
• The APP is leveraging Alberta's Citizen Initiative Act to gather 178,000 signatures for a province-wide referendum on sovereignty, aiming to compel a vote on independence.
• Longstanding grievances in Alberta stem from perceptions that federal policies, particularly on climate and energy, hinder the province's oil-and-gas economy and limit its autonomy.
• Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has asserted Canada's sovereignty, while Alberta Premier Danielle Smith seeks a "strong and sovereign Alberta within a united Canada," condemning US interference.
• Polls indicate that while a segment of Albertans supports independence, the majority prefer reforms within Canada, with support for separation significantly decreasing when costs are considered.

Why It Matters: Alberta's separatist movement is fueled by economic grievances and federal policy clashes, but faces strong opposition.