Introduction:

 

Over the last century of Canada’s History, there has been a call within Alberta for a separation from the Canadian government. This movement, while it may seem new to outsiders and those uninvolved in Canadian politics, actually has existed since 1905 when Alberta joined the confederation. In order to trace this movement it’s necessary to look at Alberta’s history as a whole as well. 

 

History of Alberta:

 

Similar to almost all of North America, Alberta Canada was originally inhabited by Native Americans. More specifically the land was home to the Blackfoot Confederacy, Cree, Dene, Nakota Sioux, and other First Nations, who built thriving societies based on hunting, trade, and stewardship of the plains and forests albertahisto. In the 18th and 19th centuries, following European discovery, Alberta was a hub for the Hudson’s Bay Company and North West Company and they began building trading posts along the major northern rivers, the Athabasca, Peace, and North Saskatchewan. 

 

In the 1870s the land was bought by the Dominion of Canada from the Hudson’s Bay Company in order to continue western expansion. The Hudson Bay Company was willing to sell this land because by the mid‑19th century the fur trade was in decline and the Hudson Bay Company’s profits were shrinking. Between 1870 and 1905, Alberta had a dramatic transformation from being  a Hudson’s Bay Company territory into a fully recognized province of Canada

 

In 1905, Canada’s federal government passed the Alberta Act, creating Alberta as a province alongside Saskatchewan. However, this change began a struggle in which the spark of the Alberta Separatist movement began. Ottawa, the federal government, retained authority over Alberta’s natural resources until 1930. This lack of autonomy for Alberta planted the seeds of resentment and a sense of unequal treatment compared to older provinces.

 

During the 1940s to 1970s Alberta felt alienated from the federal government. The province, which was largely agricultural, changed due to the discovery of oil reserves in 1947. The people of Alberta began to see their province as an economic powerhouse, and yet the federal policies and exertion of Ottawa control over Alberta’s oil industry left the people of Alberta resenting the federal government.

 

In the 1980s, Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau’s National Energy Program was a catalyst for the growth of the separatist movement. The NEP was a federal policy designed to increase Canadian control over the oil industry, ensure energy security, and redistribute oil revenues. This program was largely unpopular with Albertans.

 

Between the 1990s and 2000s, Separatism quieted but never disappeared as groups like the Alberta Independence Party kept the idea alive, however, it was more symbolic than politically effective. 

 

Modern Dilemmas:

 

In 2019, the Canadian federal election returned a Liberal government under Justin Trudeau, with little support from Alberta. Therefore, the Wexit (western exit) movement emerged and was rallying cry for independence. Wexit registered as a federal party before merging into the Maverick Party, which advocates for Alberta autonomy or independence.

 

In 2022 the Alberta Sovereignty Act was introduced and passed by premier Danielle Smith which asserted Alberta’s right to refuse federal policies deemed harmful. While not outright separatism, it reflected a sovereignty‑first mindset.

 

On October 25, 2025, a large independence-themed rally was held under the banner Voices of Independence in Edmonton. Organizers framed it as a grassroots push for Alberta sovereignty and independence, drawing attention to federal policies they see as harmful. Independence‑aligned organizations continue even now  to host meetings and rallies across Alberta, including Calgary and Edmonton, often coordinated through networks like the Alberta Prosperity Project.

 

Pros and Cons for Alberta Separation:

 

If Alberta gained separation from the Canadian government, Alberta would obtain full sovereignty over its oil, gas, and agricultural wealth, without federal taxation or redistribution. They would also gain Independence in that they would be able to set their own carbon policies, energy exports, and trade deals. Furthermore, Albertans would no longer be subject to federal decisions shaped by Central Canada or Quebec.

 

However, if Alberta gained separation from the Canadian government, serious legal issues and moral questions would be raised due to the fact Alberta is bound by Treaties 6, 7, and 8, which were signed with Indigenous nations under the Crown. Furthermore, analysts warn that separation talk already scares away investment. Independence could disrupt trade, especially with Canada and the U.S., Alberta’s largest partner (Canuck Post).  Finally, Canada’s Constitution does not provide a clear path for provincial secession. A referendum would trigger years of legal battles, similar to Quebec’s sovereignty debates. 

 

Sources:

 

Smith, Peter, Davidson, Robert Bruce, Harrison, Raymond O., Spalding, David A.E.. "Alberta". Encyclopedia Britannica, 16 Nov. 2025, https://www.britannica.com/place/Alberta-province. Accessed 16 November 2025.

 

Canuck Post. “Analysis on Alberta Seeking Independence Through a Referendum: Potential Pathways, Similar Movements (e.g. Quebec, Brexit, etc.), and How the U.S. Would React to an Independent Alberta.” Canuck Post, 2025, https://canuckpost.com/analysis-on-alberta-seeking-independence-through-a-referendum-potential-pathways-similar-movements-e-g-quebec-brexit-etc-and-how-the-u-s-would-react-to-an-independent-alberta/.

 

CBC News. “Alberta Passes Sovereignty Act after Amendments.” CBC News, 8 Dec. 2022, https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/alberta-sovereignty-act-1.6678407.

 

Centre for Constitutional Studies. “The Alberta Sovereignty Within a United Canada Act.” University of Alberta, 2023, https://www.constitutionalstudies.ca/2023/10/alberta-sovereignty-act/.

 

Friesen, Gerald. The Canadian Prairies: A History. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1987.

 

McMaster University. “Adrienne Davidson on Alberta Separatism and Identity Politics.” McMaster News, 2021, https://dailynews.mcmaster.ca/articles/alberta-separatism-adrienne-davidson/.

 

“The National Energy Program.” The Canadian Encyclopedia, Historica Canada, 2015, https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/national-energy-program.

 

Further Readings:

 

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/csis-referndums-foreign-interference-9.6977513