Editorial: Alberta Separatism Is Winning the Message Battle — Canada Needs a Better Answer

As I travel across Canada and speak with municipal leaders from St. John’s to Victoria, from Whitehorse to Windsor, I continue to hear the same question whenever people discover that I am a municipal affairs reporter based in Alberta. It comes up repeatedly, almost without fail: “Give us your honest thoughts about what is happening with Alberta separatism.”

I always appreciate the question because it shows just how much attention Alberta’s political conversation is receiving across the country. I have never hidden where I stand. I have always been open about being a committed federalist and someone who believes strongly in the idea of Canada. But I also understand that honest conversations require listening, and when I provide my genuine assessment of where this debate stands, I often receive a surprisingly strong reaction. The reason is simple: whether people support it or oppose it, the separatist movement in Alberta currently has something that the pro-Canada side has struggled to develop — a clear, simple, and easy-to-understand message. That message can be summed up in one sentence: Ottawa needs to stop dictating what Alberta can and cannot do.

Love it or hate it, that argument is straightforward. It does not require a lengthy explanation, complicated policy documents, or a detailed history lesson. It is a message that many Albertans immediately understand because it connects to a long-standing feeling that the province does not always have the ability to make decisions that reflect its own priorities. I am not suggesting that this argument is perfect, nor am I saying it represents the full reality of the relationship between Alberta and the federal government.

But when I travel across Alberta and speak with people from different backgrounds and political perspectives, this is the message I consistently hear. Even people who strongly support Canada as a country often tell me that Ottawa needs to give Alberta more room to govern itself and make decisions that work for its residents. Meanwhile, those who support separation argue that Alberta has repeatedly been ignored by federal governments, regardless of whether those governments were Conservative or Liberal.

Their argument is that Ottawa has consistently treated Alberta as a province that can be controlled rather than a partner that deserves a voice.

That is the point I often make when municipal leaders ask me where I think this debate is heading. While public polling may suggest that support for separation is not currently at majority levels, I believe the separatist argument is gaining strength because it is winning the communication battle. Politics is not only about who has the strongest facts or the longest list of accomplishments. It is also about who can explain their vision in a way that connects with people. Right now, the separatist side has a message that is easy to repeat and easy for frustrated citizens to understand. The pro-Canada side, unfortunately, has struggled to match that clarity.

I want to be very clear about my own position. I am a proud federalist. I love Canada. I believe in the idea of this country and everything it represents. I believe in the Canadian identity that stretches from the shores of Newfoundland and Labrador to the mountains of British Columbia, from the Arctic communities of the North to the communities along the Canada-U.S. border. I believe Canada is one of the greatest countries in the world, not because we are perfect, but because we have created a society where people from different backgrounds, cultures, and beliefs can come together and build something stronger. Canada is a place where disagreement is allowed, where debate is possible, and where people have the freedom to challenge the very structure of the country they live in. That freedom itself is something worth protecting.

I am fortunate. I recognize that. I have a home over my head, a good career, opportunities to travel across this country, and the ability to proudly wear the Canadian Maple Leaf as a symbol of who I am. I believe I live in one of the best countries in the world. But when I speak with Albertans who are frustrated, I hear a different experience. I hear people who do not necessarily believe that Canada is working for them. I hear people who feel ignored, dismissed, or misunderstood. That does not mean they hate Canada. It does not mean they are angry at their fellow citizens. It simply means that their experience with the country is different from mine. If we want to have a serious conversation about unity, we have to acknowledge those feelings instead of pretending they do not exist.

This is where I believe the pro-Canada movement has struggled. The argument often becomes a celebration of Canada without explaining why Canada should continue to exist as a united country. Saying “Canada is great” is not enough. Of course, Canada has incredible qualities. Most people already know that. The question is not whether Canada has strengths. The question is why Alberta should remain part of this country. What is the vision? What is the message? What is the reason for someone who feels frustrated with Ottawa to believe that staying within Canada is the better choice?

I hear municipal leaders, elected officials, and ordinary citizens talk about how much they love Canada. I hear them talk about the accomplishments of this country and the importance of unity. Those are important conversations, but they often stop too early. They do not explain what Canada can become. They do not explain how the country can improve. They do not provide a vision for the future. Too often, the pro-Canada argument appears to be built around opposition to separation rather than inspiration for remaining united. It becomes a message of fear instead of hope. It becomes about why the other side is wrong instead of why this side is worth fighting for.

A successful movement cannot simply tell people what they should reject. It has to tell them what they should support. It has to give people something meaningful to believe in. If the message is only that separatists are dangerous or misguided, then the conversation has already been lost. People who are considering separation are not necessarily looking for a fight. Many are looking for recognition. They want to know that their concerns matter. They want to know that their province has a future within Canada where they feel respected and represented.

We should also remember the sacrifices that built this country. Generations of Canadians served in uniform during conflicts around the world, including the First World War, the Second World War, the Korean War, Afghanistan, and countless peacekeeping missions. Canadian men and women made enormous sacrifices to protect the freedoms that allow us to have these debates today. They fought for a country where people could disagree openly, where political movements could exist, and where citizens could determine their future through democratic conversation. We should never forget that the ability to debate Canada’s future peacefully is itself a privilege.

However, another concern I have with the current pro-Canada response is the lack of a unifying figure or movement that people can rally behind. Too often, the groups advocating for Canadian unity appear divided, reactive, and focused more on attacking opponents than presenting a positive vision. When leaders of these organizations engage in personal attacks against those on the other side, they weaken their own argument. The debate should not be about whether someone is a good or bad person because of their political beliefs. It should be about the ideas themselves.

When Calgary Mayor Jeromy Farkas, business organizations, or other community voices raise concerns about potential economic impacts from separation, those conversations deserve attention, but they also need to be placed into context. People and businesses move for many reasons. Investment decisions are influenced by economic opportunity, market conditions, quality of life, and countless other factors. Alberta already experiences people moving in and out of the province. Separation would not suddenly create a completely new reality where movement no longer exists. The world is constantly changing, and governments have to compete to attract people, investment, and opportunity.

When I speak with municipal leaders, I often tell them that if I were making a prediction based on political engagement alone, I believe the separatist side currently has an advantage. They appear more organized, more motivated, and more likely to encourage their supporters to participate. That does not mean they will automatically win. It means they have built a movement where people feel they have something to fight for. Meanwhile, many Canadians - who live in Alberta - who support unity may not feel the same urgency because they have not been given a compelling reason to act.

That has to change. The pro-Canada side needs to stop simply defending the past and start explaining the future. It needs to present a Canada where people believe they have the ability to succeed regardless of whether they work in energy, agriculture, forestry, technology, manufacturing, or renewable industries. Canada’s strength has always been its ability to bring different regions, industries, and communities together. Our differences are not weaknesses. They are what make this country stronger.

Canada works because we are united, not because we are identical. A country built on compromise, cooperation, and conversation will always have disagreements. That is normal. The goal should not be to eliminate disagreement but to ensure that disagreement does not destroy our ability to work together.

I do not know where this debate will ultimately end. If a vote were held today, I believe the separatist movement would have a strong chance of advancing to the next stage of the process. The reason is not necessarily because most Albertans want to leave Canada. The reason is that one side has created a clearer emotional connection with voters. The pro-Canada side has not yet answered the most important question: why should Alberta stay?

The answer cannot simply be that Canada is already great. The answer must be that Canada can continue to become better. It must be a message of possibility, not just protection. It must recognize frustrations while showing that those frustrations can be addressed within a united country.

Those who believe in Canada cannot spend all their time explaining why separation is a bad idea. They must explain why Canada is worth choosing. They must stop focusing only on what they oppose and start talking about what they support. Because in the end, people do not rally around fear. They rally around hope, purpose, and a vision of something better.

If Canada is truly the greatest country in the world, then those who believe that have a responsibility to explain why. Not through attacks. Not through dismissing concerns. But through a clear, positive message about why Alberta’s future can still be stronger as part of Canada.